Swindon Town under-18s battled hard but their magical FA Youth Cup journey came to an end after a 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Bristol City.

Bristol City controlled much of the first half as Swindon struggled to get to grips with their physicality, and Billy Phillips netted to give them a reward for their superiority.

Swindon rallied after the break and put the hosts under a great deal of pressure, but they could not find a way through to keep their dream alive.

Despite the defeat, this team is still one of only six in the history of the club to make the quarter-finals of the Youth Cup and can be immensely proud of their efforts from Aldershot Town all the way through to tonight.

Sean Wood made one change from the side that had seen off Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in the last round as a now fully fit Fletcher Hubbard returned to the starting line-up in place of Logan Coles. Sonny Hart returned to the team after being suspended for the game against Leyton Orient at the weekend.

Swindon had already claimed some eye-catching scalps in this competition, but Bristol City went about demonstrating why they play at a higher level from the first whistle. Elijah Morrison was impressing in the early exchanges with his direct running down the flank.

It was Morrison who helped to create the first big chance as he did a quick stepover to get free of Joel McGregor and whip a cross into the middle. The original ball was defended but deflected into the path of Phillips, whose effort slammed into the side netting.

After 15 minutes a ball into the channel set Ephraim Yeboah in behind. Redman Evans came out to meet him, but the striker was able to round him, but with the angle against him he tried to cut the ball back but Sonny Hart was well positioned to make the block.

The onslaught continued as City won a free-kick on the right side of the box after a foul by Harry Chard. Taine Anderson stepped up to take it and he fizzed an effort that whistled just over the crossbar.

A long ball from the back was misjudged by Hart and that allowed Yeboah another chance to run into the channels. He had a man square in the middle in a two-v-one but got his cross all wrong and it sailed out for a goal kick.

It took 32 minutes for Swindon to have a shot, and it came after lovely play. Josh Keyes got into the area and looked to find Fletcher Hubbard with a backheel. The ball was just too far ahead of the winger but did come for Jaxon Brown. With options limited, he went for a shot that came off a Bristol City leg and looped onto the roof of the net.

Hubbard was again picked up the ball in front of the defence. Brown made a clever run in behind and Hubbard tried to find him, but Joseph Duncan was out quickly and was just able to beat the midfielder to the ball.

With half time drawing near, Yeboah made another run into the channels, shrugging off Hart and finding Phillips in the area. He steadied himself and fired an effort into the top corner of the net.

Two minutes after the restart Swindon had a big chance to level it up as again Brown was able to run free into the Bristol City penalty area, Hubbard found him, but he scuffed his shot wide of the far post.

Swindon had more authority about them in the second half, but City were proving a tough nut to crack and despite some nice and intricate football, Joseph Duncan had not had a lot to do.

The hosts certainly still carried a threat and Phillips took down a long ball with great close control after 64 minutes, drove to the edge of the area, shifted the ball onto his left foot, and shot just over the top.

Swindon had a big chance from a short corner as Hubbard found Stewart at the far post with a cross, he nodded it back into the middle and Duncan slipped. Hart and Miles Obodo tried frantically but could not find the touch to send the ball into the net from the mad scramble.

The hosts went up the other end and had a glorious chance of their own as Calum Hewlett crossed to an unmarked Morrison at the far post. As it looked simpler to score than miss, he got his angles wrong and sent his effort beyond the far post.

With time against Swindon, Conor Britchford-Stanley got away from his marker and slipped Obodo in behind. He had options in the middle but went it alone, but could only find the side netting.

BCFC starting XI: Duncan, James, Campbell-Slowey, Anderson, Hewlett, Meerholz, Phillips, Morrison, Yeboah.

BCFC substitutes: Witchard, Filer, Kasvosve, Bak, Davies, Foxwell, Griffin.

STFC starting XI: Evans, McGregor, Chard, Stewart, Hunt, Hart, Hubbard, Brown, Ameen, Keyes, Alston.

STFC substitutes: McCormick, Britchford-Stanley, Adams, Obodo, Gonzalez, Coles, Hutt.