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Tiger Roar frontpage archive - 2014 Q1
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Saturday March 29th 2014 |
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Nat Jarvis brought save
Joe Hanks struggled
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It had to end somewhere and unsurprisingly it ended at Boston, a place where we've lost every league game that we've played and only scored once, through Mike Wyatt fourteen years ago!
Tim Harris had to reshuffle his pace again with injury preventing both Adam Mann and Billy Jones making the long trip across country. Rory Winters came in at right back while Marcus Giglio deputised on the other side.
Good work from Matt Groves ended in a goalmouth scramble as City made an encouraging start but Boston always looked a threat and after being kept at bay when they got close to Mike Green's goal they broke the deadlock when Liam Agnew fired home a worldy after cutting in from the right wing. Harris will be concerned that it came from a similar area to the one where Histon scored in the week.
Both Lewis Hogg and Nat Jarvis brought saves from Boston keeper Lewis King but the game seemed to be won and lost in midfield where Hogg and youngster Joe Hanks were beaten by clever passing and slick movement. Boston's Junior Konadu stood out but had to leave the field following a sickening clash of heads with his own team mate Conor Marshall.
City did enough to warrant Boston needing a second goal and it came when Ricky Miller rounded Will Morford and dived to the ground winning a penalty which he smashed down the middle.
A strong ref wouldn't have given it but lets be fair who do you appease? 1200 home fans or a couple of dozen away? Even when we at Boston the referee was a lemon!
City : Green, Winters, Giglio (Morford 83), Coupe, Harris, Hanks, Hogg, Groves, Jarvis (Parker 60), Griffin, Gosling (Williams 77). Subs n/u : Roome, Webb
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Boston players Conor Marshall and Junior Konadu clash heads |
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Tuesday March 25th 2014 |
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Charlie Griffin brace
Matt Groves header
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Remember that feeling of impending doom from a few months ago? Remember the furore surrounding Boris' sacking? Does anyone still harbour those thoughts?
City have now won five of their last six games, having only won as many games all season and the surge has seen us lift ourselves out of the relegation places and into what looks like a safe haven in mid table. We've even gone above Gainsborough!
On paper this was an away win all the way but we still needed to score the goals and it was a surprise to see Matt Groves get the first with a well placed far post header, even more so considering he'd missed an absolute sitter on Saturday!
Histon had the cheek to equalise, a smart run and finish by Adi Yussuff that swerved and dipped on it's way past Mike Green but goal machine Charlie Griffin made amneds when he was in the right place at the right time to nod home Jack Harris' header from a corner.
Histon barely threatned from then on in and City had several chances to kill the game through Nat Jarvis, Jake Gosling and Will Morford before Griffin showed them how with a wonderful standing volley from outside the box.
The win will encourage City ahead of Saturday's tough away trip to Boston.
City : Green, Roome, Jones (Giglio 64), Coupe, Harris, Hanks, Hogg, Groves (Williams 89), Jarvis (Morford 76), Griffin, Gosling. Subs n/u : Webb, Rose
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Charlie Griffin heads City's second goal at Histon |
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Saturday March 22nd 2014 |
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Charlie Griffin thumping header
Adam Mann offside
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A win's a win right? This was ugly and Stalybridge might well wonder how they came out of it pointless, but at times this season we've felt their pain so it's time that fortune favoured the Tigers isn't it?
As a supporter the way I've been feeling these past few weeks I could've put my house on a home win and in my mind we'd already won, and we've won at Histon on Tuesday too so it's a good job that Tim Harris has his way of inspiring his players!
As it happened it only took one goal, a thumping header from Charlie Griffin midway through the first half from a sumptuous Billy Jones free kick. He's on fire. Adam Mann had had the ball in the Stalybridge net but the linesman put paid to his celebrations after he'd just strode offside.
City had had the better of the first half and Matt Groves should've done better with a free header in front of goal, while Lewis Hogg drilled a shot wide in the second half.
Stalybridge will rue their missed chances, their manager Keithy Briggs bemoaning that that was five great chances missed as the game crept into injury time. City's goal led a charmed life at times as well as Mike Green being superb, stretching every sinew to reach one effort that looked as though it might creep under the bar.
All aboard the fun bus the Histon.
City : Green, Roome, Jones, Coupe, Harris, Hanks, Hogg, Groves (Parker 59), Mann, Griffin (Jarvis 59), Gosling (Morford 76). Subs n/u : Giglio, Winters
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Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's Jack Harris |
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Tuesday March 18th 2014 |
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Jake Gosling walked it in
Charlie Griffin nodded home
Lewis Hogg sealed the win
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There are few finer things in life than seeing your team win away under the floodlights at the home of a team at the top of the league.
That said it should've come as no surprise; this was the fifth time that we'd visited Brackley and fifth time that we've come away with all three points.
Tim Harris doesn't seem afraid to change a winning team whether he has a choice or not and it showed as Adam Mann replaced Connor Waldon to accomodate the well again Matt Groves in midfield. It was a good move as Mann's pace put the fear of God into the Brackley defence. At right back Matt Roome had a comfortable league debut up against Glenn Walker who'd impressed for the Saints in their live televised FA Cup game.
The first half ended goalless as City attacked up the slope and with the wind at their backs and one might've thought they'd spurned their chance to go ahead as they'd edged the contest.
City actually got better going downhill and Jake Gosling should've scored before he did, but when he did it was a defence splitting pass from Charlie Griffin that made the goal as the Exeter loanee dropped his shoulder and left Brackley keeper Billy Turley on his ass as he walked the ball in. Great goal.
We looked good and had our chances but old demons came to haunt us as Brackley scored a well worked equaliser, Izak Reid bending a smart shot beyoind the unsighted Mike Green. However, sixty-four seconds after that ball had hit the back of the net Griffin had done the same at the bottom of the hill when he nodded in a superb cross from Joe Parker. This is a new Gloucester City.
There was talk before the game that when Griffin signed Boris had an agreement with his mate Jon Brady (the Brackley manager) not to play him in this fixture. Good job that Tim didn't feel the need to honour someone else's promise.
The Tigers did a better job of running down the clock then than they did on Saturday at Gainsborough, this time adding to their lead with a Lewis Hogg free kick which for some reason Turley decided was going wide when it was going in.
Two big games to come now; Stalybridge at Whaddon and Histon away. Win both of those and we'll be a long way ahead of the relegation zone.
City : Green, Roome, Jones, Coupe, Harris, Goddard, Hogg, Groves (Parker 63), Mann, Griffin, Gosling (Hanks 89). Subs n/u : Giglio, Webb, Waldon
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City winger Jake Gosling leaves Billy Turley on his ass as he scores the opening goal |
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Saturday March 15th 2014 |
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Charlie Griffin opening goal
Connor Waldon finally a goal
Jordan Goddard great strike
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In fairness three goals away from home should net three points, but in this case City only came away from Gainsborough thanks to some slack defending.
Northolme was almost stunned into silence when Charlie Griffin powered his way through to give the Tigers an early lead, diverting a bouncing past past the reach of Trinity keeper Phil Barnes. But City felt the sting from the Lincolnshire sides tail as they scored twice in a matter of minutes to take the lead.
Goalkeeper Mike Green won't want to watch the replay as he got nowhere near a corner and Jonathan Margetts, on loan from Hull City squeezed a header between Jordan Goddard and the post. Goddard will wonder how he managed it too. Then an offside looking Margetts strode into space beyond the City defence finishing easliy past Green.
It could be a case of bad timing for Greener having lost his place to the hapless Stuart Moore under the reign of David Mehew but with Tim Harris in place now will he find more competition in his way?
To be behind was a bit of a sucker punch too having seen Griffin strike the Gainsborough crossbar with a superb dipping volley. To ease the pain City Chairman Stuart Pike gave me a voucher for a free meal at Burger Star!
It wasn't long before City were level and another defensive rick made it possible, this time defender Callum Howe inexplicably losing his footing in the penalty area leaving Connor Waldon with the relatively simple task of nodding the ball past Barnes. Connor needed that goal. He's struggled on this second loan spell and strikers need goals. Hopefully he can sign off at Brackley with a few more.
The start of the second half saw City take the lead, Goddard making up for his part in their first by rifling home a loose ball in the penalty area from Billy Jones' throw.
There was a long time to go and Tim Harris' men grew in confidence and had the chances to put the game beyond their hosts but were caught out by more sloppiness at the back which ultimately saw Rory Winters impede Margetts and Simon Russell slot home from the spot.
With Stalybridge winning City drop a place.
City : Green, Green, Jones, Coupe, Winters, Waldon (Parker 65), Hogg, Goddard, Mann, Griffin, Gosling (Hanks 75). Subs n/u : Giglio, Webb, Rose
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Monday March 10th 2014 |
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Charlie Griffin equalised
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We are out of the County Cup.
Oh Well.
Still, that's two games of Vern's ban done.
Charlie Griffin equalised midway through the second half and Muzzie and Rosey got a game. Sam Rawlings played too. And it was cold. Match report over.
City : Green, Green (Mustoe 61), Giglio, Rose, Roome, Waldon, Hogg, Rawlings, Binns (Parker 46), Griffin, Groves. Subs n/u : Phillips, Jones, Webb
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Marcus Giglio wins a header for City at Evesham tonight |
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Saturday March 8th 2014 |
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Adam Mann strikers instinct
Lewis Hogg header
Rory Winters impressed
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Fallen Giants they may be but todays superb 2-0 win against Stockport County could well rate as Gloucester City AFC's finest result.
Many of us have grown up seeing the team from the Greater Manchester conurbation impress in various divisions of the Football League under Danny Bergara and seeing lanky ex-Mile Oak Rovers striker Kevin Francis terrorise defences before Peter Crouch was even out of his growbag. The brilliance of up's and down's have however seen them fall this far and now City have taken four points from them this season.
157 of their fans made their way to Whaddon, which was a good number considering that they haven't had the best of seasons. Talking of numbers they almost lost a player when midfielder Mark Battersby was left at the services on the M5; they had to send a taxi to pick him up!
Onto the game and they say don't change a winning team but City boss Tim Harris ignored that mantra with Nat Jarvis, Billy Jones and Rory Winters all coming in. Winters was superb at centre-half and while Jones might've blown out a few cobwebs having not played for a while he'll only get better. Jarvis looks like he's enjoying playing again after not having the most fluent season so far with his previous two clubs.
Ultimately it was an easy win. Adam Mann rifling home City's first on the rebound midway through the first half after Matt Groves had killed a hanging cross, turned and brought a smart save from Ian Ormson in the Stockport goal then towards the end of the second half Lewis Hogg headed home a lovely reaching cross from substitute Charlie Griffin.
Hogg and Darren Mullings in the middle of midfield were what won the game for the Tigers, they are the best pairing in my opinion. While Hoggy got the plaudits for his goal, Mullings didn't seem to contribute too much at the business end but he was simply everywhere and gave his opponents no time to settle on the ball. Harris could do a lot worse than to build his future team around these two.
Lady Luck had her say today too. Moments after Mann had scored City looked to have shot themselves in the foot when County's on loan Barnsley striker Rhys Oates was presented with an open goal from two yards. He hit the post. Here's the to prove it!
For the first time in an age City are now out of the relegation zone.
City : Green, Green, Jones, Coupe, Winters, Waldon (Griffin 46), Hogg, Mullings, Mann, Jarvis (Parker 54), Groves (Goddard 72). Subs n/u : Giglio, Rose
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City fan Phil Gough is presented with a signed shirt for his 60th Birthday |
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Tuesday March 4th 2014 |
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Charlie Griffin Offside? Who cares!
Adam Mann If you don't shoot...
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New Manager, fresh impetus. This was a joy to watch.
For once Histon didn't have that annoying habit of beating us although it looked like the game may follow suit as the unloved Cambridge team weathered the early storm and had two good chances to take the lead; first when Lewis Hogg cleared off of the line from a corner then moments later the Tigers turned defence into attack to score.
Hogg found Matt Groves on the right wing who did a nifty one-two with Connor Waldon before scurrying forwards playing another one-two off of a defender, although this may not have been deliberate before finding the unmarked Charlie Griffin who tapped the ball in. Was he offside? Histon thought so but the lino didn't and the scoreline read 1-0 to the good guys.
It was a tense evening at Whaddon Road but Histon shot themselves in the foot when Zak Mills picked up his second yellow card for a crunching foul on the impressive Groves. They added to their own misery when goalkeeper Barney McGlaughlin let a speculative shot from Adam Mann through his legs.
Histon were terrible and are getting sucked into a relegation battle which now may number just two teams with the news that Vauxhall Motors have resigned their place in the Conference.
City now need to build on this and need your supprt when they entertain Stockport County at Whaddon Road on Saturday (k/o 3pm).
City : Moore, Green, Giglio, Coupe, Harris, Goddard, Hogg, Mullings, Jarvis ( xx), Griffin ( xx), Groves ( xx). Subs n/u : Mike Green, Winters
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Jack Harris shapes to connect to a corner against Histon |
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Saturday March 1st 2014 |
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Marcus Giglio own goal
Jack Harris headed equaliser
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It was a case of same shit, different day at the final whistle at Solihull today. A spirited performance under the guidance of caretake Matt Rose that ultimately yielded nothing.
The home side were gifted an early lead. I'd like to tell you what happened but I was busy taking photos of Tim Harris, all I know that it went down as an own goal by Marcus Giglio.
The Tigers got level when Jack Harris powered home a header from Jordan Goddard's corner and was unlucky in the second half when he repeated the feat only to see it adjudged to have been cleared off of the line by Richard Taundry, although, Nat Jarvis who was following the ball in said that it was over the line. When you're at the bottom you don't get any luck.
It's players like Harris, a find by Boris who may be persuaded that their future lies elsewhere being part of the Bristol pack at the club. One would hope that that won't be the case because Vern is a firm favourite among the City faithful.
The winning goal was disappointing. Even though the Moors were in the ascendency they weren't creating chances and it looked odd how Stuart Moore, such a tall goalkeeper was so easily beaten by Ryan Beswick's looping header.
The game finished on a sour note with Solihull's Alex Dean under pressure from Lewis Hogg, "Go down, go down" came the shout from teammate Dior Angus. Disgraceful. I thought ungentlemanly conduct was a bookable offence?
With new boss Harris watching proceedings from the balcony he had the opportunity to run the rule over his inherited squad. Would he have been unimpressed with the chance that Charlie Griffin spurned by his lack of pace? Did Connor Waldon get long enough to impress? Do Joe Parker and Jarvis have an advatagew being known to Harris?
If Tim brings in new faces at the rate he did when he took over in 2006 then we might be in for a surprise. I wonder what Jorge Ferro's doing?
City : Moore, Green, Giglio, Coupe, Harris, Goddard, Hogg, Mullings, Jarvis ( xx), Griffin ( xx), Groves ( xx). Subs n/u : Mike Green, Winters
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New boss Tim Harris watches over his new team at Solihull |
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Tuesday February 25th 2014 |
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Matt Groves shot into corner
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A point away from home has to be a good one right?
Matt Rose's first game in charge came at Colwyn Bay, the place that he'd made his last appearance in a City shirt and saw his team surrender a lead given to them by Matt Groves with a penalty just before half time.
Groves had cut in from the left before firing home but Jordan Goddard's clumsy tackle gave the hosts a lifeline and even though Stuart Moore saved Marc Williams' penalty the striker tapped home the rebound.
City : Moore, Green, Giglio, Coupe, Harris, Goddard, Hogg, Mullings, Jarvis (Waldon xx), Griffin, Groves. Subs n/u : Mike Green, Webb, Parker, Rose
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Saturday February 22nd 2014 |
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Lewis Hogg screamer
Jack Harris red card
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Boris is gone.
City supporters were left shocked after the Citizen reported that manager David Mehew had been sacked after the clubs 1-1 home draw with top team North Ferriby United today. Suggestions that it happened straight after the final whistle were false as Boris had conducted his usual interview with Tigers TV and at the time it was clear that he had no idea of what was to follow.
Tiger Roar would like to place on record it's appreciation for what he had done for the club since his appointment at the start of the 2008/09 season, including that memorable day at Farnborough and those two FA Cup first round games. All the best Boris!
What made it more of a surprise was the fact that it came after such an impressive result. Lewis Hogg had given Mehew's men the lead with a shot which curled into the top corner from Charlie Griffin's clever knock down but the Tigers were pegged back thanks to a well placed free kick at the start of the second half. Ferriby were picking up yellow cards like they were going out of fashion yet it was City's Jack Harris who was shown a red one as the game approached injury time.
City : Moore, Green, Winters, Coupe, Harris, Hogg, Parker (Goddard 71), Mullings, Griffin, Waldon (Jarvis 64 (Giglio 90)), Mann. Subs n/u : Mike Green, Webb
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Tuesday February 18th 2014 |
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Charlie Griffin goal
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A month to the day after City were last in action they might wish they weren't after falling to a 1-3 defeat to in form Barrow at Whaddon Road.
A disappointing crowd of 421, well, 422 really because I didn't go through the turnstile witnessed the Tigers struggle after taking a first half lead from a clever Charlie Griffin header. Minutes later the Cumbrians were back in it when debutant goalkeeper Stuart Moore flapped at a hanging cross and Sam Sheridan needed no second invite to bury the loose ball.
Boris had played mind games with his opposite number Darren Edmondson trying to counter his formation with a 3-5-2 of his own although being a wing back might've been a tough task for Marcus Giglio who chundered on the halfway line just before the break.
In the second half, despite having a shot cleared off of the line Barrow excelled and their two further goals didn't flatter them. Moore showed that his confidence wasn't knocked pulling off a stunning save to keep the scores down.
City : Moore, Hogg, Giglio (Groves 74), Coupe, Harris, Goddard (Michael Green 65), Webb, Mullings, Griffin, Waldon (Jarvis 74), Mann. Subs n/u : Mike Green, Parker
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Barrow keeper Tony McMillan can only watch as Charlie Griffin's header hits the back of the net |
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Monday February 17th 2014 |
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Connor Waldon re-signs
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While the club have been dealt a heavy blow with seven consecutive games called off due to poorly prepared pitches or adverse weather off the field changes have been afoot.
Matt Rose has replaced Adie Harris as Assistant Manager while seven players have been added to the squad in the past month. We already know about Charlie Griffin, Jordan Goddard, Nat Jarvis and Adam Mann but since then we've signed defender Rory Winters who is a student at Hartpury College. He has been joined by goalkeeper Stuart Moore from Championship side Reading while Swindon striker Connor Waldon returns for a second loan spell after spending a month at Tamworth in the Conference Premier.
Don't forget tomorrow's Pay What You Want game against Barrow at Whaddon. Bollocks to Manchester City on ITV, come and support your local team.
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Saturday January 18th 2014 |
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Joe Parker pulled one back
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It's hard to know whether to laugh or cry after this result; City get a deserved point with a late equaliser at Stalybridge but the teams around them at the foot of the table all seem to lose!
There's a long way to go though and Boris said as much when he approached the travelling supporters at the end of the game with an impassioned "Stick with us" plea which was met with a round of applause.
Previous visits to Bower Fold have yielded very little, every time bar one seeing the Tigers concede four goals and when a deflected free kick and Mike Green's misjudged attempt to claim a cross saw us 0-2 down at the break it seemed like it might turn out to be one of those days again especially as new boy Charlie Griffin had had a goal chalked off by the wanker, erm, referee.
But Joe Parker gave us hope and after a couple of very good saves by the home keeper Darren Mullings finally forced home an equaliser and while it was good to net an away point City had done well enough to win.
City : Mike Green, Michael Green, Giglio, Coupe (Webb 70), Harris, Goddard, Hogg, Mullings, Griffin, Morford (Parker 56), Groves (Wilson 72). Subs n/u : Phillips, Turl
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Joe Parker is brought down but as ever no penalty is awarded to City |
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Thursday January 17th 2014 |
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Darren Edwards let go
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In a surprise move City have released centre-forward Darren Edwards and brought in experienced striker Charlie Griffin. Also leaving are midfielder Matt Liddiard who has returned to Cirencester Town for another loan spell while coming in to replace him is Jordan Goddard from Bristol Rovers. City have also put in seven days notice of approach for Adam Mann.
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Sunday February 2nd 2014 |
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Adam Mann back from Shortwood
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Following the postponement of the Pay What You Want game against Histon on Tuesday it has been announced that game at Whaddon against Barrow, another victim of the pitch will now take on that title and will be played on Tuesday 18th February 2014. Keeps your eyes on the fixtures page for news of more re-arranged games.
The weather will have frustrated City boss David Mehew who will have been keen to have unleashed new attackers Adam Mann and Nat Jarvis on his opponents.
The club have released plans for their vision of the new Meadow Park into the public domain, a pdf of an aerial view can be seen . It looks much better than the original plan which could've easily been turned into an office block if the football club wasn't there, this, with it's thousand seater stand will look like Colwyn Bay and will suit me fine. |
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Saturday January 11th 2014 |
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Matt Groves pulled one back
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It's said that some people don't know that they're drowning until they start to gargle. What are we?
We have almost half a season left and having endured dead rubbers at the tail end of our previous Conference North campaigns maybe this current jam we're in will turn out to be a blessing in disguise.
Of course I'm only writing this because we lost again, this time 2-3 at home to Bradford Park Avenue.
At one stage City were nil-three down and all hope seemed lost but agoal from the improving Matt Groves, his first league goal of the season and a late header from substitute Will Morford filled everyone with hope until the shrill blast of the final whistle had the effect of a pin on a balloon.
Talking of balloons it would be remiss of me not to mention Avenue's goalkeeper John Lamb who sounded as though he'd been inhaling helium, there's nothing funnier than an angry man with a high pitched voice!
City : Mike Green, Michael Green, Giglio, Coupe, Harris, Hogg, Parker (Morfod 54), Mullings, Edwards (Liddiard 72), Wilson (Turl 72), Groves. Subs n/u : Phillips, Binns
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Will Morford heads home City's second with five minutes to go |
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Tiger Roar news streams from Oct, Nov & Dec 2013 can be found
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Page last updated : 26th August 2014 |
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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. |
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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. |
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