Football is a game of rules, well, laws, so in pretty much the same vein so is football supporting. That means that the further you travel to watch an away win the better the result, meaning that todays 580 mile round trip to see City win 3-0 at Blyth Spartans was easily as memorable as those 9-0's and 10-0's that the club have recorded in Tiger Roar's time watching City!
A healthy number of fans made the trip, 40+ and they were rewarded with a performance where David Mehew's men bossed their Geordie counterparts and made them look average, especially in a first half where the City manager must've been disappointed to only see his charges get the one goal.
And that came from the penalty spot when Blyth captain Gareth Williams was maybe harshly adjudged to have handled as he went to ground in the area trying to prevent a Lee Smith run. It's worth bearing in mind that of all the penalties that we've been awarded in the past couple of seasons it's the first since the game away at Hemel Hempstead in November 2006 that has been given for handball. Smith dispatched the spot kick straight down the middle, mindful that he'd scored from the spot at home going to the keepers left.
The award enraged Blyth manager Mick Tait so much that he was ordered from the dugout by the referee, a man who now became the butt of abuse from the majority of the crowd and it was with this in mind that he didn't give City a second, more blatant penalty when the outstanding Will Morford was hauled down by goalkeeper Jack Norton. For reasons unknown it was Norton's last contribution as we were greeted with the rare sight of the number one being shown on the substitution board as he was replaced by Mark Bell.
It made scant difference to the balance of the game though as all the attacking came at Bell's end where the new keeper was forced into action and pulled off a brilliant save from Smith, before almost immediately at the other end Robert Dale nodded a free header straight into Mike Green's hands from point blank range. A foot either side and it was a goal. There was a goal at the other end, but Jack Harris' wind assisted inswinging corner which went straight in was ruled out by the referee because there were probably too many bodies in the box or maybe he was still feeling the sharp tongues of the home fans.
The Spartans couldn't be any worse in the second half surely? They started well and it was thanks to Mike Green who somehow got a touch on Paul Brayson's shot to send it narrowly around the post which kept City's lead intact. After keeping Blyth at bay during their best spell of the game Lee Smith effectively killed off the game when he ran onto a pass from Morford on a City breakaway and rounded the keeper before somehow slotting the ball home from a seemingly impossible angle.
Blyth lost interest after Green had again dived full length to deny them while City new boy Neikell Plummer really should've marked his debut with a goal after spurning two very good chances before Jack Pitcher won City's second penalty and Smith cooly slotted it home to complete his deserved hat-trick.
City remain in nineteenth place despite the win but are now seven points ahead of Vauxhall Motors and twelve from Harrogate Town.
City have bolstered their squad with the addition of centre-forward Neikell Plummer on loan from Bristol Rovers. Plummer played a big part in Paulton Rovers' FA Cup run and is being released by the Gas at the end of the season so Boris is using the remiander of the season to have a look at him. Meanwhile former Tiger Ben Hunt has joined Newport County on loan.
Some of the City fans who made the mammoth journey to Blyth today
Tuesday March 23rd 2010
Matt Rose pass of the season!
It's taken a full eight months since the start of the 2009/10 Blue Square North season for City to register their first home draw, and it came with cheers from as far away as Fleetwood as their title rivals dropped two points at the Corinium.
Mike Symons had put City in front after thirteen minutes when he got in behind a flat Southport defence to connect with Jack Harris' through ball and finish into Tony McMillan's top corner, despite the keeper getting something onto the shot. As the wind and rain tore across Cirencester City grew in confidence but couldn't find a second goal and as has been the case this year were punished for a mistake at the back when Neil Mustoe and Tom Hamblin dithered over a clearance and Matty McGinn laid on a pass for Chris Simm after he'd finally got the ball from under his feet. Simm finished with aplomb.
Although the Tigers had the chance to go back in front almost immediately when Ryan O'Hara appeared unmarked at the far post but somehow snatched at his shot and could only watch it bobble harmlessly across the face of goal. Not to be outdone though Lee Smith restored the lead when he was the recipient of a great pass from man of the match Matt Rose, whether it was more luck than judgement remains to be seen but there was nothing left to chance with the finish as Smudger poked home his eighteenth goal of the campaign.
With the elements weathered at the start of the second half Southport started a storm of their own and the warning signs were there when a header smacked back off the crossbar before the Liverpool side equalised with a clever move from a corner where Steve Daly made room at the near post to send in a bullet header from Ashley Winn's set piece. City did their best to keep their point and as Southport seemed to run out of ideas David Mehew's men were still looking to take all three points.
With diminutive former Tiger Luke Ballinger sat in the stand 'Port brought on a substitute, Fola Onibujie who was probably the height of two Bally's stood on each others shoulders but he had little effect and Will Morford, who'd been a menace to Southport all game had a great chance to win it for City but McMillan denied him his glory as he dashed off his line to smother the shot.
1st and 2nd Half Highlights of the 2-2 home draw against Southport
Saturday March 20th 2010
Jack Harris injured at Hinckley
James Palmer so was he!
In a game settled as early as the fourth minute City were left to rue their inability to force at last a point against playoff hopefuls Hinckley United, who had to play for an hour with ten men.
On a muddy and wet pitch mistakes would prove costly for both teams as Neil Mustoe found out on Hinckley's first real attack when despite sliding in and winning a tackle, he lost control of the ball to left winger Alex Taylor who regained possession and cut inside before drilling home a shot off of a City defender.
Both Mike Symons and Lee Smith had shots across veteran Hinckley keeper Chris MacKenzie's goal before the home side were reduced to ten men when United's on-loan striker Andre Gray was shown a straight red for a dangerous challenge that saw Jack Harris leave the field too, injured. Just before the break City had shots pinging around the Hinckley box with a Jack Pitcher effort catching a defender square in the face before Greg Lake's effort flew narrowly wide.
Matt Rose saw his shot cleared off the line by a defender at the start of the second half as Hinckley formed a staunch rearguard which was proving very hard to penetrate. Marc Richards moved into midfield to replace James Palmer who limped off and was replaced by Lee Molyneaux and Ryan O'Hara added quality to the left flank but City were kept at bay by a combination of fearless defender and the often raised linesmans flag.
The defeat did no real damage to the Tigers' league position with Harrogate losing at home to Fleetwood and Vauxhall Motors without a game.
The game at Hinckley marked the end of Ben Hunt's three month loan spell from Bristol Rovers. Well done Ben, Tiger Roar wishes you all the best for the future.
Jack Harris lies injured at Hinckley whilst Neil Mustoe makes his feelings known to the referee
Monday March 15th 2010
Jack Harris valuable equaliser
City earned a superb point on the road tonight thanks to a 2-2 draw away at Droylsden, their third punishing midweek away trip to Manchester this season.
Lee Smith gave the Tigers a fantastic start as early as the fourth minute when he arrived unmarked to head home after Ben Hunt's shot had been parried by the home keeper. Hunt had a great chance to score himself right away when put through one on one but the keeper redeemed himself and he was left to rue that miss as Lee Ellington levelled with a direct free kick just before the break.
The Bloods had a perfect start to the second half when Steve Halford got in ahead of Mike Green at a corner to head them in front but a flurry of substitutions from City saw the Tigers eventually peg level when Jack Harris powered a header in off the bar to earn a fantastic point.
City : Green, Mustoe, Lake (O'Hara 67), Richards, Hamblin, Rose (Palmer 70), Smith, Webb, Hunt, Morford (Symons 59), Harris.J. Subs n/u : Pitcher, Molyneaux
Saturday March 13th 2010
Mike Symons scored the winner
Matt Rose made the goal
It wasn't pretty, but it doesn't matter, the three points earned against Vauxhall Motors today will probably be enough to ensure that the Wirrall team finishes the season below us owing to the fact that they've played five more games. If we do finish below them with that statistic in mind then we'll deserve to!
The match itself was decided in the 22nd minute when Mike Symons cooly stroked home his eighth goal of the season after Matt Rose had made an uncharacteristic but welcome run forward before laying the ball off to the City striker to finish from just inside the penalty area..
Vauxhall, who have been on a decent run of late found themselves in the position that so many other teams have at the Corinium this season, a goal down with their tails up but ultimately they didn't have the quality in attack that those that have turned the scoreline on it's head have.
City remian in nineteenth place, but now three points ahead of Vauxhall Motors with those five games in hand. Harrogate are a further five points behind with both games against the Yorkshire side likely to be massive.
The massive home and away games against fellow strugglers Harrogate Town have both now been re-arranged making for a vital week wrapped around Clift/Phelps day in April. City welcome the Yorkshire side to the Corinium on Thursday 15th and make the long trip up to Wetherby Road the following Tuesday. Both games kick off at 7.45pm.
City have dropped further into the mire this week after Farsley Celtic's results were expunged (lovely word that) meaning that the Tigers' excellent 1-0 win at the Throstle Nest didn't happen, however, even though they won't count this season they will remain in the TR archive.
And finally City boss David Mehew has snapped up Scottish U-17 winger Ryan O'Hara from Salisbury City. The Swindon based player has previously represented Swindon Town, Dundee United and Gretna.
Ben Hunt gives chase against Vauxhall Motors
Saturday March 6th 2010
Biffa Bacon Alfreton defender
Matt Rose City goalscorer
"I think I may have made a mistake there" were the words that came from the female assistant referee to City substitute Will Morford after her wrong decision to award a throw to the home side had seen the ball in Mike Green's net ten seconds later.
No shit Sherlock.
That's not to say that Alfreton were not the better team, they were built like brick shithouses and well marshalled by Biffa Bacon at centre-half. They came at City from the off and how the ball didn't find the net in the first five minutes was anybody's guess, especially when Liam Hearn, an England "C" team striker contrived to scoop the ball up and over the crossbar whilst unmarked at the far post in front of an open goal.
A goal was coming and they did eventually find the net when Paul Clayton finished from about the same spot that Hearn was unable to. City offered very little up front with Lee Smith being contained on the right and Mike Symons giving his all despite suffering from a heavy cold.
Boris would've been content at only being a goal down at the break after being under such heavy pressure so to be dealt such a severe blow by an inept official that effectively handed the game to the home team as winger Christopher Hall netted, it mattered little when Hearn did find the net with a powerful shot into the top corner five minutes later.
Even Matt Rose's first goal since *that* goal couldn't provide the impetus to get City back into the game, although it wasn't for the want of trying, but it was disappointing that the Tiger's needed to be two goals down before they really gave their hosts something to worry about. The introduction of Will Morford and Jack Pitcher for Symo and Ben Hunt made a vast improvement and how City didn't at least get a second is a mystery and they beasted Alfreton for the final fifteen minutes.
City's fans will no doubt only want to look at the league table with one eye as the defeat leaves the club in nineteenth place, with the prospect of losing three points to come if Farsley Celtic are thrown out as seems likely.
Both teams observe a minutes silence for the late Macclesfield Town manager Keith Alexander
Wednesday February 24th 2010
Whaddon Rd new home?
Gloucester City face a stark reality if they wish to continue to play their football at either the BSN or BSS level; spend £40,000 upgrading the Corinium Stadium or move somewhere that meets the ground grading criteria. Aghast City fans were therefore surprised to learn that the one main option being considered is a two-year ground share deal with local rivals Cheltenham Town.
Even though talks are at an early stage it seems to Tiger Roar that other than sharing with the Rugby Club at Kingsholm it is the most sensible thing to do. For one it's closer than Cirencester and it's also a new, fresh experience that would be better than a return to the New Lawn which in itself wouldn't really capture the imagination of the travel weary and dwindling City faithful.
Despite the initial negative reaction from some quarters, including a potentially damaging Facebook group surely everyone can see the bigger picture as far as City are concerned? As for Cheltenham and what it offers them, well, even if they only get a couple of hundred in their ground for BSN games, surely thats better than having the place sit empty for nine days out of ten?
All these talks may well be academic however if results continue to go against City. Last night the Tigers were due to play at Harrogate Town in the BSN but snow in Yorkshire put paid to the game whilst good results for the teams below us has seen the comfortable ten point gap reduced to just four. Ironically Harrogate are also the visitors to the Corinium Stadium this coming Saturday in a game which is now a must win for David Mehew's men.
City make back page headlines on both the Gloucester Citizen and Gloucestershire Echo
Saturday February 20th 2010
Lee Smith another penalty
James Palmer man of the match
"The old adage that a football match lasts for ninety minutes", words uttered by the late Alan Towers on BBC Midlands Today after our FA Cup draw at Cardiff still ring true now after City first saw three points and then one cruelly snatched from their grasp thanks to a penalty kick scored as the clock struck five pm.
Tigers boss David Mehew sprung a few surprises with his team selection leaving out the likes of Lee Molyneaux, Neil Mustoe and Mike Symons, maybe with an eye on the head to head against Harrogate in the coming week. City had battled well through the game and Celtic had looked a shadow of the team that taught Boris' men a footballing lesson prior to Christmas but neither side really threatened each others goalkeeper, with Lee Smith coming closest for the Tigers with a speculative dipping effort from distance which just cleared the crossbar.
At the start of the second half City took the lead when Smith scored from the penalty spot for the second week running. Striker Ben Hunt had danced his way into the box only to be tripped by defender John Hardiker, the referee pointed straight at the spot without the need of CCTV to prove his guilt.
City's makeshift team looked as though they'd be able to hang on for a surprise victory but moments after Will Morford had been replaced by Symons the Manchester side bagged an equaliser when Joe O'Neill benefitted from a bit of penalty area pinball and when the ball landed at his feet he made no mistake. Worse was to come deep into injury time when Greg Lake was ruled to have brought down the goalscorer and Celtic were awarded a spot kick of their own.
Despite not having scored a penalty in their last six attempts Captain Warren Peyton coolly sent Mike Green the wrong way as Stalybridge completed a somewhat fortuitous double over City.
City : Green, Aldrich (Mustoe 54), Lake, Richards, Hamblin, Palmer, Smith, Webb, Hunt, Morford (Symons 79), Harris.J (Pitcher 60). Subs n/u : Molyneaux, Rose
Midfielder Jamie Reid has called time on his City career for a second time and opted to move back to Cirencester Town. Tiger Roar wishes Jamie all the best.
Lee Smith's penalty hits the back of the net and City's fans celebrate
Saturday February 13th 2010
Lee Smith consolation penalty
Tom Webb should've scored
Greg Lake impressive debut
It has often been commented this season that in the Blue Square North there is a league within a league, and that we are very much in the lower of the two. Well, if evidence were ever needed of this assumption then it exists at Fleetwood Town.
With a suggested weekly wage budget approaching £20,000 (about ten times what we pay) and a rebuilt stadium which includes a bar better than most nightclubs underneath a fabulous terrace than runs the length of the pitch with live video feed of the game for those who don't want to go outside. Added to that Highbury Stadium is also about to get a brand new £4M stand that will make the ground better than many in the Football League.
Besides, it's all about what happens on the pitch and at the start of the game it's always 0-0 and eleven men against eleven. City tried their luck and despite forcing a number of free kicks were unable to breach a Fleetwood rearguard well marshalled by Steve McNulty, the kind of player who doesn't look like much of a footballer, but is (and cost £17,000!).
The home side took the lead with something of a freak effort when Sean Clancy, brother of bap baring WAG Abby jumped for a header with Lee Smith on the corner of City's penalty area, connected first and saw his effort loop agonisingly over Mike Green.
Blue Square North player of the month Nick Rogan scored twice in quick succession. His first came as a result of Marc Richards failing to connect with a pass and Rogan made room to fire past Green before five minutes later he nodded in his second and the Cods' third after a bamboozling run from impressive winger Jamie Mullan.
With the threat of a hammering hanging over the Tigers manager David Mehew sent on new signing Greg Lake to shore up the left hand side and City looked altogether better in the second half. Even to the point when Lee Smith scored from the spot after McNulty had brought him down.
Tom Webb had a great chance to get a second when he got in behind the Town defence but keeper Craig Dootson did well to block his shot before bizarrely launching a tirade of verbals at the City captain. It just goes to show that all the money in the world can't buy class.
The defeat, which was always a likely outcome saw City remain in fifteenth place although both Solihull and Harrogate won to close the gap at the bottom.
A date has been fixed for City's last outstanding game to be re-arranged. Southport will visit the Corinium Stadium on Tuesday March 23rd (k/o 7.45pm).
Fleetwood keeper Craig Dootson is beaten by Lee Smith's penalty and it's now 1-3
Thursday February 11th 2010
Brian Godfrey rest in peace
City Legend Brian Godfrey sadly passed away this morning in hospital near his home in Cyprus after a lengthy and courageous battle against leukaemia. He was 69.
Brian was City manager between June 1987 and November 1991 during which time he led the club to the Beazer Homes League Midland Division Championship and the also the second round proper of the FA Cup for the only time in the clubs history. He had a second spell in charge between February 1992 and March 1994 as well as spells as assistant manager under both Tommy Callinan and Chris Burns before his retirement in 2002. In total he took charge of 370 games as City's boss.
Rest in Peace Brian.
City have added left back Greg Lake to the squad ahead of Saturday's difficult trip to Fleetwood Town. The former Team Bath player was highly thought of at Frome Town where he played alongside former Tiger Luke Ballinger.
Saturday February 6th 2010
Mike Green penalty save
Ben Hunt quality finish
City have now recorded back to back victories for the second time this season after their second one-goal win in a week, this time away at Farsley Celtic.
After enduring a dreadful spell in January with defeat after defeat which saw the Tigers slipping towards the relegation spaces, eleven points now seperate us and the drop as no-one below us won and City leapfrogged their hosts to move into fourteenth place.
David Mehew's men started the game strongly but suffered a sucker punch when Marc Richards was adjudged to have fouled an opponent and Farsley were awarded a penalty but for the first time this season Mike Green guessed right and pushed Dominic Krief's spot kick away to safety. Four minutes later a quickly taken free kick saw Mike Symons feed Jack Pitcher who centered a low cross to the feet of Ben Hunt who showed his class as he danced around a defender before slotting the ball coolly past goalkeeper Josh Bell.
Symons himself should've scored a second for the Tigers from Tom Webb's cross but somehow failed to connect cleanly whilst stood virtually on the goalline to ease what turned out to be a nervy eighty-odd minutes for the fifty or so travelling fans at the Throstle Nest. City gave as good as they got but Celtic always looked dangerous and their wing play was among the best we've seen this season, it was just as well though that they couldn't cross!!
One man who stood out was the referee, who, having already awarded one penalty was determined not to point to the spot for a second time, even though both Lee Smith and Symo were victims of obvious fouls in the box. His refusal to award a spot kick to City was probably the reason why Matt Rose wasn't penalised for his misdemeanour on a Farsley player in the penalty area!
When the final whistle blew around the fog shrouded ground the City faithful were audibly pleased!
Player movement at City has seen Lee Marshall rejoin his previous club Paulton Rovers whilst Boris hopes to tempt Frome Town defender Greg Lake to City after missing out of former Yeovil star Andy Lindegard who has been poached by Truro City with a bank busting offer.
City goalscorer Ben Hunt is congratulated by Jack Harris, Tom Webb & Jack Pitcher
Tuesday February 2nd 2010
Marc Richards just a hero tonight!
In years to come you'll look back at the score from tonights game and be happy to see that City beat Solihull Moors 1-0 at the Corinium and completed the double over their mid to lower table rivals. The fact that it was the ugliest of ugly wins will mean little.
The game was decided as early as the fourth minute when Marc Richards notched his second goal in two games as he headed home Lee Smith's well aimed free kick. The following ninety minutes were a time wasting exercise, in fact it's a shame that they didn't waste time at the start of the game too because I had five minutes in the golden goal!
City's sheet was kept clean with a mixture of luck and judgement, all helped by the presence of new signing Lee Molyneaux who has joined the club from Evesham United. Although, behind him Mike Green put in one of his best performances for a while, all summed up by a stunning save from a close range header as the game approached injury time.
The Tigers are now nine points clear of the drop zone.
Along with the signing of Molyneaux, defender Lee Marshall has been transfer listed.
1st and 2nd Half Highlights of the 1-0 win at home to Solihull Moors
Saturday January 30th 2010
Marc Richards hero and villain
Life in the Blue Square North can be cruel, just as City fans will testify following todays 1-2 reverse at home to Alfreton, our sixth defeat in seven games.
After a less than entertaining first half, which drew little complaint with the majority of the crowd happy with substance over style it was City who took the lead twenty minutes after the break when Marc Richards prodded home Lee Smith's corner. But a little over five minutes later the goal hero turned villain when he hung a leg out and tripped an Alfreton forward leaving the referee no choice but to point to the spot. Anthony Howell sent Mike Green the wrong way.
Three minutes later and things got worse when a mix up in defence by four City defenders against a forward that looked suspiciously offside gifted the Nottinghamshire side the ball for Paul Clayton to sweep home the winning goal.
Two things have to be added. Fair play to Alfreton's fans, who are only the second BSN team to bring a coach to the Corinium this season (the other was Telford), added to that they actually made some noise.
Another defeat, this time at home to Hinckley United means City's recent run of form is now just three points from the last fifteen, something that must change if the club is to retain it's position at this level of football for next season.
Things could've been so much better had Lee Smith evaded United keeper Chris Mackenzie with his penalty kick, especially as Ben Hunt had already given the Tigers the lead but the experience stopper blocked Smudger's effort and before we knew it City's single goal lead had been turned on it's head.
The Birmingham side had equalised with a Connor Franklin header from a free kick before Lee Marshall chose to appeal for offside instead of playing the whistle and left Matt West the freedom of the right wing to pick out a cross and give James Mace a free header inside the six yard box. To compound our woes Tom Hamblin and Mike Green got involved in an unholy mix up and West came away with the ball before rolling it into an empty net.
There was hope at the start of the second half when Hinckley keeper Mackenzie aimed a clearance at a defender and the ball sat nicely for Jack Pitcher to score with ease, but it was for nothing as Hunt was caught in possession and Hinckley's counter attack, targetting City's left hand side ended swiftly with West's second and their fourth goal of the night.
West swept home his third and Hinckley's fifth, again with the ball coming from City's left hand side before Marshall was relieved by new boy Rob Aldrich. Jamie Reid was givenb a game in the centre of midfield and had been on less than five minutes when, for his first foul was booked!
Hunt's second took some gloss off of Hinckley's win but City will need to think hard after this result if they are to arrest a slide down the Blue Square North.
A 530 mile round trip for a league game, surely a first for Gloucester City.
The team, minus the ailing Ben Hunt experimented with an overnight stay in Lancaster en route to the Lake District and for almost eighty minutes in looked as though the expense would pay dividends as the Tigers gave as good as they got without being able to find the touch of class or luck to score a vital goal.
The first half had seen both teams coming close, with Tom Webb proving to be City's hero when his diving header on the line cleared a goalbound header from a Wukkie corner and City's best effort came from a stunning forty yard attempted lob that beat keeper Tony Caig but not the crossbar, from Tom Hamblin of all people.
City stepped up a gear in the second half but were unable to penetrate their hosts backline, but had to be cautious after Webb picked up a booking meaning the midfield would lose it's edge. Lee Smith, despite not having his best of games almost put City in front with a clever turn and toepoke that was touched over the bar, although, the referee who was very kind to the home side all afternoon gave a goal kick.
Recently re-signed Jamie Reid replaced the injured Jack Harris and it was down Reid's right wing that City were caught out when Mike Green appeared to bring down a Workington forward. The penalty went straight down the middle and even though City looked crestfallen they still put together a good move which, much to the theme of the afternoon lacked a decent final ball.
Minutes later Reid was caught in possession and Gareth Arnison went on a mazy run before shooting unopposed past Green.
City would've felt robbed as Workington took three points that they absolutely did not deserve.
Man of the Match Jack Pitcher stretches for a ball at Workington
Saturday January 16th 2010
James Baldwin Banbury bound
If you're thinking of going to Ciren to watch City's clash with top of the table Southport today, then don't! The game was called off yesterday owing to the amount of snow still on the pitch at the Corinium Stadium. By the time City kick off next week they will have gone more than three weeks without a game.
Defender James Baldwin has left the club on a temporary basis to get some matches in with Zamaretto League side Banbury United.
There are tentative plans being made to run a supporters coach for next Saturdays mammoth trip to Workington for the Blue Square North game. It'll be an expensive outlay for the Supporters Trust so chances are it will be more expensive than normal, with costs for adults being at least £20. If you want a seat register your interest here.
Wednesday January 13th 2010
Jamie Reid back with City
Even though there have been no games to concentrate on City manager David Mehew has been busy, first re-signing striker Ben Hunt from Bristol Rovers for another month and then tempting Jamie Reid back from Cirencester Town for his second spell with the Tigers.
Some more dates for your diaries; the games against Hinckley United and Droylsden have been rearranged for Tuesday 26th January (7:45pm) and Monday 15th March (7:45pm) respectively.
With the current weather City's home game against Southport on Saturday may be in doubt but there is still a coach running to the game if it's on, so if you want a seat register your interest here.
Tuesday January 5th 2010
Snow joke
City unsurprisingly suffered another game lost to the elements tonight as the big freeze clamied the home game against Hinckley United, the second time that the game has had to be called off. Saturdays trip to Droylsden is also looking doubtful, the supporters have taken an early decision to cancel their coach to the game as well.
A couple of dates for your diaries, the games against both Solihull Moors (home) and the trip to Harrogate Town have new dates; Solihull is Tuesday February 2nd and Harrogate three weeks later on the 23rd, just four days before the Yorkshire side are due to visit the Corinium!
Both games kick off at 7.45pm.
Friday January 1st 2010
Lee Smith opening goal
Mike Symons MOM & goal
After a nightmare December, barring the victory at Eastwood on the 1st City got back to winning ways with a comfotable 2-0 win against a poor Redditch team that looked like they'd rather be anywhere but the Cirencester Ice Rink.
And thats an apt description of the conditions, especially the area around the bottom goal kept in the shade by the arena because the pitch was rock hard and getting harder as the sun went down and the winter night drew in.
Redditch's best chance of scoring fell to striker Matthew Blair who broke free one on one with Mike Green, but as the forward, who'd scored the opener on Boxing Day was about to shoot the ball took a bobble and he spooned his effort over the bar. The Reds were left to regret that miss three minuted later when Lee Smith was found by a clever pass from Ben Hunt and the City top scorer got his fourteenth of the season by accurately placing the ball inside goalkeeper Daniel Lewis' near post.
Mike Symons got City's second not long into the second half, a goal which virtually killed the game as keeper Lewis came but got nowhere near to Lee Marshall's long throw and Symo was left woth the simple task of teasing the home faithful by waiting, waiting, waiting and then firing the ball past two defenders high into the net!
At two down Redditch's tactics changed, thats if they had any in the first place as whenever a player slipped on the now icy surface they'd surround the referee pleading for an abandonment. Officials get alot of stick so I was pleased to see Mr Russell of Bristol stay strong and see the game out to the end.
Ben Hunt beats ex-Scuzzer Jerry Gill under Boris' watchful gaze
Tiger Roar news streams from Oct, Nov & Dec 2009 can be found here
Page last updated : 6th May 2010
Tiger Roar is an unofficial, independant production. It has nothing to do with Gloucester City AFC 1980 Ltd or the Gloucester City Supporters Trust. All comments expressed on here (unless stated) are those of the author and not those of the football club.
Most content on this site is copyright of the site owner and must not be reproduced without prior permission (unless waived by the author). Please do not use or remotely link to any of the images or videos on this site.
Lots of statistical information is courtesy of the great work done by club historian Tim Clark. His book is The Complete Record of Gloucester City AFC 1883–2009. (566 pgs) Tiger Timbo Publications. ISBN 978-0-9557425-1-4.
I would like to express thanks to everyone who has helped make this website possible through donations, images, video clips and statistical information. If you feel I have used your own copyrighted material and would like it removed, please do not hesitate to contact me to discuss it's removal because it makes Nathan Walker cry.
Above all, enjoy the website and please come back for more!
