It was a double dose of seventh heaven this afternoon as both of the Womens teams recorded 7-0 wins; the First team played their postponed WFA tie away at Stocwood and bettered last weeks 4-1 win there. It was 5-0 at the break, overall the goals came from Georgi Slanina-Wertz, Maggie Neall (2), Paige Todd and the usual hat trick from Sachika Kanelo-Grun.
At Meadow Park the reserve team continued their great form with a victory against Downend Flyers Reserves. Nicole Lewis bagged a first half hat trick including a header from a corner and two tap in's before Kate Ambrey lobbed the keeper to make it 4-0 at the break. She then scored twice early in the second half to complete her second hat trick in two games before Emine Akkurt made it seven.
City sit proudly top of the table with an 100% record.
Nicole Lewis watches her header go in for the first goal of her hat trick.
Saturday September 28th 2024
Joe Hanks saviour again
City record a 1-0 win away at Tiverton thanks to a Joe Hanks penalty after a Tiverton defender had punched the ball but were almost sucker punched when Asa Hall was denied by Nathan Harvery deep into injury time. A wins a win but by a single goal margin again. Why can't we kill games off?
City : Harvey, Leadbitter, Duffus, Grubb (Hamilton 90+3), Smalley (Williams 58), Hanks, Richards-Everton, Dawson, Emmett, McGregor, Baidoo (Burns 87). Subs not used - J.Thompson, Ball.
Tiverton : Z.Baker, Thompson, D.Jones, J.Jones, Britton (Forkuo 70), Wright, Hall, Churchley (Crawford 78), Jeremy (Murray 63), Gerring (Simons 78), Parker. Sub not used - M.Baker.
Sunday September 22nd 2024
Lee Smith two goals
Jack Harris looking old!
A trememdous occasion at Meadow Park today as a team of City Legends beat their Manchester United counterparts 3-2 in front of a crowd of 2126, a great turnout despite the terrible weather.
Lee Smith, who else! Gave City the lead with a left footed drive into the far corner before one of the guest players Lee Trundle beat the offside and rounded Kev Sawyer in the City goal to equalise.
With the threat of penalties looming United took the lead midway through the second half when Chris Eagles soared in to beat Sam Tandy but Jamie Reid got City back into the game with a lovely standing half volley from outside the area before Smith turned Tom Parrinello's cross home to win it.
Look out for a game against Liverpool Legends in March.
City Legends : Kev Sawyer, Michael Green, Gary Kemp, Marc Richards, Alex Sykes, Jamie Reid, Chris Burns, Tom Webb, Neil Mustoe, Lee Smith, Jody Bevan. Subs - Sam Tandy, Lyndon Tompkins, Tommy Callinan, Darren Mullings, Dan Avery, Matt Rose, Jack Harris, Matt Coupe, Tom Parrinello, Matt Sysum.
Manchester United Legends : Nick Culkin, Keith Gillespie, Chris Casper, Matt Kilgannon, Danny Pugh, Chris Eagles, Luke Chadwick, Micky Gray, Scott Murray, Danny Webber, Lee Trundle. Subs - Matt Jansen, Russell Beardsmore, Paul Goodman, Lee Hughes.
Just down the road at Gloucester All Blues the Women's reserve team marched to another huge victory, this time 9-1 against North Bristol Wanderers. Kate Ambrey escaped from goalkeeping duties to smash home four goals whilst Hollie Handisides grabbed a brace. The others came from Nicole Lewis, Mirry Smith and Kami Stichter.
The Women's First's WFA Cup tie at Stockwood was called off due to a waterlogged pitch. With it originally being switched from Meadow Park due to the Legends match, hopefully the rearranged game will be back at home.
The City team line up before this afternoon's game against Man Utd Legends.
Saturday September 21st 2024
Ed Williams came closest
What sounded like a dreadfully uninspiring game away at the kind of place that is a million miles away from the likes of Scunthrorpe, Stockport or any of the other teams we've faced in the National League North it seemed that Ed Williams had City's only chance to break the deadlock. Glad I didn't go. They're probably glad too.
City : Harvey, Reckord, Duffus, Ball, Grubb, Hanks (Burns 60), Richards-Everton, Dawson, Emmett, McGregor (Williams 67), Baidoo (Smalley 76). Subs not used - J.Thompson, Hamilton.
You might've noticed that I've previously mentioned the last time that we played Gosport at Meadow Park. That 9-0 came three months and a day after we'd hosted Cardiff City in the FA Cup at home.
Since then our record in the Famous Cup has been frankly appalling and tonight was no different. Just two appearances in the competition proper in 35 years since then.
OK, we might've had six first teamers sat in the stand but that's no excuse, everyone gets injuries. As the Gosport perspective liked to point out on Saturday, a "defensive error" gifted the Portsmouth side the opener when goalkeeper Nathan Harvey somehow lost control giving the Gosport man an open goal.
I think the only time that their keeper made a save was from Harry Emmett's run and shot from the left. Everything else they seemed to get something in the way of.
This is what concerns me, we try to play nice football and but when we get the ball into areas that we might hurt opponents we are just too slow. Everyone seems able to get two of three players around our man with the ball; that's not just Gosport but most teams that I've seen.
Then there's that old footballing adage about not having a plan "B". I don't think we did. We played Kabaddi passes around the back four all night, rarely penetrating the centre of the penalty area. We could've stuck BRE up front and knocked it long but we didn't and Gosport killed the game with their second down the left, apparently that's where they hurt us on Saturday too.
And despite having six players on the bench the only change was to bring on a defender for King Baidoo when we needed a goal!!!!
We got just what we deserved tonight. Gosport are rewarded with a trip to Oxford City.
City : Harvey, Reckord, Duffus, Grubb, Smalley, Walters, Richards-Everton, Dawson, Emmett, Burns, King (Ball 78). Subs not used - C.Thompson, Chovanec, Williams, Hanks, Hundt.
Gosport : Gosney, Lee, Walsh-Smith, Morrison, Williams (Faniyan 64), Tarbuck, Murray, Hollands, Yearwood, Wooden (Kavanagh 64), Stanley (Towse 64). Subs not used - Evans, Agbeseyi, Jones, Searle.
The Gosport goalkeeper saves Harry Emmett's shot with his face.
Sunday September 15th 2024
Mirry Smith rattled the bar
It was another good day for both of the Women's teams as they both won their games by four goals to one.
In Bristol the first team played what was essentially a warm up game for next weeks WFA Cup tie at Stockwood Wanderers and won thanks to goals from Sachiko Kaneko-Grun, Maggie Neall and Paige Todd.
At Meadow Park the Reserves were made to work for their win against Southmead. Chloe Day scored the only goal of the first half when her shot nicked off of a defender to elude the goalkeeper. Wasteful City were made to pay when Southmead grabbed an equaliser at the start of the second half but Hollie Handisides nipped in front of the keeper to put her side back in front. Nicole Lewis nodded in the third from a Mirry Smith free kick before Ellie Briscoe rounded things off with a lovely move to knock the ball around the keeper before firing into the empty net.
After winning their first three games 11-0, 5-1 and 4-1 you'd think that City would be top of the league, but they aren't; FGR Development are by virtue of having scored one more goal and conceeded one less!
Defender Claire Gabb threads a pass to set up a City attack
Saturday September 14th 2024
Dayle Grubb first City goal
Two-nil and we FA Cuped it up.
Goals from Joe "M"anks and Dayle Grubb in the first half weren't enough to see us through to the next round of the cup as the home side scored twice in the second to earn a replay at Meadow Park on Tuesday evening. The last time we played Gosport at home on a Tuesday it was 9-0. The time before that it was 6-1!
City : Harvey, Reckord, Duffus, Phillips (Emmett 12), Grubb, Smalley, Walters, Hanks (Baidoo 70), Richards-Everton, Dawson, Burns. Subs not used - C.Thompson, Chovanec, Giles, Hundt, Williams.
A win's a win I suppose but Hungerford will leave Meadow Park wondering how they didn't get at least a point.
It all started well enough when Ben Richards-Everton finally got his first City goal, nodding in an Ed Williams cross from the left hand side on the second phase of a corner. City continued to pepper the Hungryford goal and 42 year old veteran stopper Ryan Clarke made a couple of saves for the cameras.
At the other end City's keeper, newly signed Nathan Harvey on loan from Dagenham and Redbridge looked decent keeping out a shot from former Tiger Louis McGrory. Harvey had a very good game but could do nothing to prevent a shot from Ellis Watts finding the far corner.
The beasts from Bulpit Lane were everywhere, closing down everything City had as Mike Cook's men struggled to get out of their own half. Fortunately Harvey wasn't really troubled despite the amount of possession the opposition had.
Then Brandon Smalley won it, cutting across the edge of the penalty area from the left hand side and seeing his shot deflected in off of a defender's toe.
We'll take it but we're left wondering where our 3-0's and 4-0's are. We might well be the most undeserving third placed team in the country.
City : Harvey, Leadbitter, Duffus, Pinchard (Burns 47), Williams, Grubb, Smalley (Phillips 90+3), Hanks (Baidoo 90+5), Richards-Everton, Dawson, Emmett. Subs not used - Walters, Chovanec, Giles.
Hungerford - Clarke, Tyler, Medford-Smith (Dobson 86), Berry-Hargreaves, Jarra, Hooper (Bancroft 86), McGrory, Shepherd, Watts, Harding (Regula 64), Santos (Akers 75). Sub not used - Softley.
Contrasting emotions after Brandon Smalley's winning goal
Sunday September 8th 2024
Zoe Gabb goal for reserves
Two good wins for Gloucester City Women today. The First XI won 6-1 away at Olveston United and the Reserves won 5-1 at Bristol Ladies Union.
Goals for the Firsts came from Laina Warren, two for Sachi Kaneko-Grun, Maggie Neale, Luca Davis and Michaela Major whilst in the reserve game Nicole Lewis, Zoe Gabb, Kate Ambrey and Ellie Briscoe found the net with the scoreline was rounded off with an own goal.
The mission this season is to go straight back up. If we mess it up it will only be our own fault and on the evidence of today that will be because we don't take out chances.
The record books will show that we won 2-1 away at Marlow but the chances that we missed. My God, we missed some chances.
How it was goalless at the break is a mystery. Kieran Phillips had a great opportunity to put us ahead in the first minute but hit the post with a clear shot at goal from inside the penalty box. Later on he was put through on his own but delayed so much that a defender was able to block his shot. Not to single him out but he really needs a goal.
The closest the home side came was a shot from the number 7 well saved by Jared Thompson. The same player then went in hard on the City keeper but somehow escaped a booking, however as the game progressed he picked up two and was sent straight off.
Harry Pinchard hit the post. I could go on!
The goal finally came right at the start of the second half after Brandon Smalley had strode towards goal then appeared to be fouled as he entered the box. As everyone screamed for a penalty Joe Hanks smashed the ball into the roof of the net. Eight goals in seven games now. Ridiculous.
City never do things the easy way and Marlow equalised on a breakaway.
But Smalley was to be the hero when he turned home a cut back from Ed Williams to win it for City. You know what they say, sooner or later someone's going to get a right hammering.
City : Thompson, Leadbitter, Duffus, Pinchard, Phillips (Williams 66), Grubb (Burns 84), Smalley, Hanks, Richards-Everton, Dawson, Emmett. Subs not used - Walters, Chovanec, Giles.
Joe Hanks putting his head in where it hurts against Marlow
Sunday September 1st 2024
Michaela Major four goals
After playing in the Severn Sport Trophy almost a month ago I thought it was strange that the Womens' teams didn't have any other practice matches before the big kick off, unless they were keeping them a secret from me. Although looking at today's results maybe they've stumbled upon a brilliant new formula!
With the first team in WFA Cup action away at Cheltenham Saracens in a part of that town that is even less salubrious than most of the rest of it the reserves were in action at Meadow Park against Longwell Green.
Both games garnered a ridiculous amount of goals. The First XI netted nine times without reply whilst it was 11-0 here, twenty goals scored on the opening day of the season.
The Reserves' line-up looked pretty strong and so it proved as new striker Michaela Major netted four times on her debut whilst last seasons top scorer Nicole Lewis bagged a brace, as did Mirry Smith who scored with a 20 yard free kick and capped the performance with a long range effort from almost halfway.
The other goals came from Zoe Gabb, Ellie Bidhendy and Ellie Briscoe.
You'd think that such a massive win would put them top of the league, but no, FGR Devs also won 11-0 whilst spare a thought for Bitton who won 9-1 away from home and are only third!
The team line up before the game against Longwell Green
Saturday August 31st 2024
Luca Robinson impressive debut
City made progress in the FA Cup with a relatively comfortable win against Western League side Paulton Rovers.
Two first half goals; one an own goal after Kev Dawson had a shot cleared off of the line and then a Joe Hanks penalty after Kieran Phillips had been fouled were enough to see the Tigers progress against the side managed by former City keeper Ray Johnston.
There were two new faces in the City line up with Luca Robinson starting on the right wing whilst a youth teamer from Cheltenham came on at half time on the opposite flank. Robinson, dual-signed with Cirencester impressed and set up KP with a chance which he wasn't able to put away from six yards out.
City created plenty of chances without really punishing the opposition but then they threw themselves at everything and on another day it might've been a cricket score whilst had Paulton had a bit more luck we might've had our usual FA Cup sob story!
City : Thompson, Duffus, Ball (Walters 46), Williams (Burns 75), Pinchard, Phillips, Grubb, Hanks, Richards-Everton, Robinson (Smalley 66), Dawson. Subs not used - Hamilton, Giles, Chovanec.
Paulton Rovers - Jackson, Farion, Humphries, Dancey, Ford, Hill (McBeam 81), Jaiyeoba, Osborne, Simpson, Hailston (Eglin 81), Rawlings (Murgatroyd 53). Subs not used - Collins, Dyke, Creely, Ingram.
Only an idiot would get in front of a Joe Hanks penalty!
Monday August 26th 2024
Joe Hanks another brace
Kieran Phillps ninety minutes
A tough win today against International opponents.
The general feeling amongst the supporters was that it was a good game but again, the second half was one way traffic making it a hard watch. I think City had two chances and scored one, the other being a header over by substitute Harry Burns.
Joe Hanks had scored in the first half, a well worked set piece saw him bury his shot and then at the start of the second he scored the winner with shouts for handball echoing around the T-End after the ball had struck the hand of a Merthyr defender.
Hanks almost scored again immediately after his first when he stooped down for the World's lowest ever diving header only to see his effort come back off of the post.
It's a good job that we're clinical though because we didn't make many chances. Merthyr always looked dangerous going forwards; they'd had an early goal disallowed for offside but pegged level when Ricardo Rees had a run and shot into the bottom corner.
We tried to sign him in the summer according to one good source but according to another we definately didn't. Not sure why he wasn't playing but former City left back Noah Smerdon was a spectator today. If they don't want him we'll have him back!
For City it was good to see both Keiran Phillips and Dayle Grubb start their first games of the season. Unfortunately KP was used as that battering ram up front which didn't suit his game when he first started under Lee Mansell. Grubb struggled to make an impression, we'll hope to see much more from him in the weeks ahead.
It would be remiss of me not to mention Harry Pinchard too, always in the faces of his fellow countrymen catching them in possession on more than one occasion. The best player on the park.
City : Thompson, Leadbitter (Williams 62), Duffus, Ball, Pinchard, Phillips, Grubb (Burns 75), Smalley, Hanks, Richards-Everton, Dawson. Subs not used - Hamilton, Giles, Chovanec.
Merthyr Town - Fuller, John (Jarvis 75), Handley, Angel, Rhodes (Harris 75), J.Evans, Lucas (Livermore 29), K.Evans (Thomas 81), Twamley, Rees, Simpson. Subs not used - Ryan-Phillips.
Joe Hanks can't stoop much lower with this diving header!
Saturday August 24th 2024
Riley McGregor new signing
City fell to defeat for the first time this season in what sounded like a pretty mediocre display at Dorchester although it might as well have been at any of the northern hellholes that we fared similarly at last time around.
The twitter feed from the home team suggested absolutely nothing shot wise from Mike Cook's men in the first half and they were punished with a breakaway goal from a corner finished by Luke Pardoe. Even in the second half when they were reduced to ten City still couldn't score.
This despite for I believe the first time in their history using five substitutes, one of which was Marc McGregor's son Riley, a new signing ahead of the game.
Sounded pretty shit to be fair and glad that I missed it. No supporters coach, persona non gratis on the team coach where it's now players only except when it isn't and despite always making room for others in my car back in the day no one seems to have room for me in theirs now. Love you all!
Dorchester Town - Benfield, Dickson, Spetch (67), Haste, Buse, Moore, Ngalo, Pardoe (Hutchinson 75), Fogden, Koszela (Robinson 79), Gwengwe (Bragg 68). Subs not used - Holmes, Roberts.
Saturday August 17th 2024
Brandon Smalley scored winner
Dan Ball not offside
Three points, a clean sheet and a crowd just short of a thousand so we should all be happy right? Well, not really, that felt quite lacklustre. I'm still of the mind that we should be tonking everyone who comes to Meadow Park but we made hard work of that one.
Aside from a couple of half chances early doors we rarely tested the Wimborne keeper and the only time we didn't, we scored. He remained rooted to his spot when Brandon Smalley cut in and fired home from the left hand side a few minutes before the break.
Dan Ball had had the ball in the net when he got on the end of a Kev Dawson free kick but it was ruled out by the linesman's flag. Although video suggests that it was a poor decision and the goal should've stood.
I think the only shot of the second half came when Harry Pinchard almost caught the keeper off of his line but at the other end City's number one earned all of the plaudits following a save to keep out a Wimborne free kick deep into injury time.
That will have done Jared's confidence a world of good after he'd conceded two very poor goals in the first two games.
Discipline wise Spencer Hamilton can probably count himself lucky not to see a second yellow for a handball considering the referee seemed to be handing out cards for fun. Have to say the Wimborne players did their best to surround the official and try to force his hand.
We're now third behind Basingstoke and Totton.
City : Thompson, Leadbitter, Hamilton, Ball, Williams, Pinchard, Smalley (Duffus 90+4), Hanks (Grubb 81), Richards-Everton, Bessasa-Grant (Phillips 86), Dawson. Subs not used - Burns, Chovanec.
Wimborne Town - Flitney, Jackson, Walker, Wright, Bedford, Fletcher, Neale, Burrows (Cocklin 84), Roberts, Munn (Scorey 68), Carmichael (Ryan 78). Subs not used - Arnold, Mdlalose.
Goalkeeper Jared Thompson pulls off a great save to cement City's win
Tuesday August 13th 2024
Joe Hanks four goals now
Mekhai Bessasa-G first city goal
Having already said how I expect to win games comfortably this season, enduring what turned out to be an uncomfortable victory tonight left an unsatisfactory taste in the mouth.
Two goals from Joe Hanks, who has now scored as many goals in the first two games of the season as he did in the whole of the last one and a third from new boy Mekhai Bessasa-Grant turned out to be just enough to send the team from Devon back down the M5 pointless. Although they almost did to us what we did to Taunton on Saturday when they pushed us back in an excrutiating final ten minutes when we just couldn't get the ball out of our own half.
Parkway fielded ex-Plymouth Argyle keeper Luke McCormack between the sticks. You probably know his history but everyone knows about Gloucester's most famous married couple and none of it really needs repeating does it?
Mike Cook made changes from the team that started on Saturday with Spencer Hamilton and Ty Duffus replacing Dan's Ball & Leadbitter. Attack wise it was the same.
Brandon Smalley had a great chance to open the scoring but nodded wide from MBGs cross when it looked easier to score. Then Hanks scored his two goals; a smart finish from a corner and a piledriver from twenty yards. Parkway didn't really look like they'd threatened Jared Thompson's goal at all.
It seemed as though it was going to be a rout when Kai drove home the rebound after McCormack had parried Smalley's shot but the Plymouth side got a quick reply when Carlo Garside smashed home from close range. Hanks almost completed his hat-trick when he rattled the bar but other than a wayward shot from Smalley the ball spent most of the rest of the game in our half.
Dylan Jones cut in on the left wing and beat Thompson with just a few minutes plus stoppage time to go and set up a nervy finish when City really should've been home and dry. The second phase of a free kick flashed across the City goal deep into injury time and Cook's men pretty much got away with a lacklustre late show where we'd been punished so often last season.
City : Thompson, Reckord, Duffus, Hamilton, Williams, Pinchard, Smalley (Ball 90+4), Hanks (Burns 67), Richards-Everton, Bessasa-Grant (Phillips 79), Dawson. Subs not used - Leadbitter, Creed.
Plymouth Parkway - McCormick, Dean, Brett, Scarff, White, Williams, Hall (Rose 63), C.Garside, Jones, Beardmore, Wright (R.Garside 80). Subs not used - Joce, Cairo, Watts-Barciela
Mekhai Bessasa-Grant scores what turned out to be the winning goal against Plymouth Parkway
Sunday August 11th 2024
Alisha Kantorowicz bundled home
City Women claimed third place in the Severn Sport trophy with this resounding victory over a Longlevens Ladies side that normally cause them more trouble than they did today.
A goal at the end of what turned out to be the first third from new signing Laina Warren gave City the lead. She cut in from the left hand side and sent a shot into the top corner. After a change of ends Alisha Kantorowicz made it two bundling home an effort, this after she'd managed to miss an open goal from two yards out a few minutes earlier.
Nicole Lewis added a third striding in from the wing before poking her shot in off of the far post. The Longlevens keeper did well to deny Kate Ambrey a fourth and as we expected to play a third third the referee blew for full time with the away team forfeiting. Pointless playing on in the burning sun.
Laina Warren runs away in celebration after putting City Women ahead against Longlevens Ladies
Saturday August 10th 2024
Dan Ball nightmare start
Joe Hanks the old...
Harry Burns sumptuous lob
Well, it's never boring being a Gloucester City fan is it?
I have it in my head that we're going to piss this tinpot league and that we'll win every game 3-0 or 4-0 and all we really have to do is turn up. The reality was hit home after just forty-three seconds when a poor backpass from Dan Ball was easily seized upon by Archie Ferris who lobbed Jared Thompson in the City goal.
And then it was two. Thompson looked to be at fault, a defender tumbled onto his backside leaving a sight of goal for Evander Grubb (no relation apparently) who sent in a weak shot that seemed to go through the City keepers legs.
Joe Hanks had a shot that flew just over the bar before Taunton's Grubb danced his way past Ball before slotting home inside the far post for a very well taken goal. Former City man Owen Brain seemed to take delight in rubbing it in to the travelling fans. You might remember him, he played a few games last season, although to be fair, you probably don't.
This prompted a double change from Mike Cook with King Baidoo replacing Makhai Bessasa-Grant and Spencer Hamilton coming on for Dan Ball. This led to a reshuffle at the back with Hamilton at right back.
As if that wasn't annoying enough Dan Leadbitter became the first player to have his name taken after a late tackle on the edge of the box. This after the home team had done two of their own which left their City victim on the floor whilst the referee just approached them with a "calm down" gesture.
Still, game of two halves and all that nonsense. Taunton threatened to score a fourth when a cross was headed wide of the post but City were given a lifeline thanks to a sympathy penalty for handball that never was. The ref was behind the players back. Never mind, Hanksy slotted it home.
Two minutes later Harry Burns, on for the injured King scored a dream debut goal lobbing the Taunton keeper before Hanks did exactly the same to make it three-all. Great stuff!
We should've won it too when Hanks could only hit the keeper when a low centre was put on a plate for him and then Kev Dawson's shot was headed for the top corner but was pawed away by the Taunton no1. Brandon Smalley found Hanks with a cross from the rebound but he headed over.
We had a full range of emotions during that game. And then the supporters coach looked like it might catch fire before the journey home!
City : Thompson, Leadbitter, Reckord, Ball (Hamilton 30), Richards-Everton, Pinchard (Phillips 90), Dawson, Smalley, Williams, Bessasa-Grant (Baidoo 30) (Burns 59), Hanks. Subs not used - Duffus
Dan Leadbitter gets airborne to send in a right wing cross
Saturday August 3rd 2024
Brandon Smalley unstoppable force
Spencer Hamilton his second city goal
City completed their pre-season campaign against Truro City by virtue of scoring more goals than their higher league opponents.
There was a sense that the National League South team had the better of the game and the Tigers did well to craft any or many chances. I think the two goals that we scored were probably the only two efforts on target.
Fielding what might be next weeks starting eleven, with Spencer Hamilton a late replacement for Jamie Reckord, even though the latter was sat in the dug out fully clothed so the change couldn't have been that late. Truro had Ryan Law and Tom Harrison in their side, two players who'd previously been at our club.
Brandon Smalley put Mike Cook's men ahead with his fifth pre-season goal. He nodded home from a narrow angle after Harry Pinchard's cross found him at the far post. Brandon was indifferent at times last season when they struggled to find his best position. He is a striker and will score twenty plus goals this season if he stays fit.
A slight concern was seeing Dayle Grubb go off with an injury. Keith's mate reckons he has a dodgy hip. Let's hope he's wrong because Dayle is going to be a pivotal member of the team.
Truro equalised at the start of the second half. A left wing cross flicked in nicely by Tyler Harvey but Spencer Hamilton put City back in front a few minutes later firing a loose ball through the Truro keepers legs for what was only his second ever City goal.
Brandon Smalley arrives at the far post to head home City's opener
Saturday July 27th 2024
Brandon Smalley two goals again
Ed Williams rifled home
A step up in standard of opposition as City faced Welsh Premier side Haverfordwest County at Meadow Park in this pre-season friendly.
A strong City side took to the field but all eyes would've been on the trialist who stood out at Cirencester in midweek and he didn't disappoint. He looks as though he can play anywhere across the final third and as well as liking to shoot from distance he will run at defenders and even if he loses the ball will go and get it back again.
Sign him on Mike.
The final score was 4-1 to City. Brandon Smalley scoring from close range after a teasing right wing cross just before the stroke of half time. Smalley will make a fantastic centre-forward this season.
Ed Williams rifled home a loose ball after what was actually for once a "defensive error" then Smalley scored again but I had my back to the action so I've no idea how! Harry Pinchard completed the scoring with a left footed shot that went in off of the post.
I'd have though that the Welsh team would've given us a sterner test but they rarely threated. Their goal was decent mind, a shot from the left edge of the box that beat Jared Thompson all ends up.
Beat Truro next week and it'll be HMS Piss this Tinpot league!
There was a time that Cirencester were better than us, one of those footballing things that I take great umbrage at. Mangotsfield are another, but that's for another day.
I'm not sure why but Ciren opted to take relegation at the end of last season and are now an Hellenic League side. We opted to take relegation because we were shite. So with two leagues between the two sides, despite being spirited it was a very one sided affair.
City had the ball in the Ciren net after just fifteen seconds. A quick start after the very impressive trialist #15 on the left wing robbed a defender and squared for Brandon Smalley to rifle home. A few minutes later it was two, Smalley again getting on the end of a BRE sidefooted pass back into the mixer from a corner. There were appeals of offside but Smalley was easily on.
And then it was three after nine minutes when Joe Hanks finished a well worked corner routine which I'm sure we'll see again when the season kicks off in anger. I think the closest the home side came to scoring was when Jared Thompson appeared to misjudge the direction of a shot which came back off of the post when he thought it was going wide.
Second half and City continued to get the better of their hosts and scored again when midfielder trialist #22 who sounded as though he was called "Hanks" scored a perfect header from a Dayle Grubb corner. Turns out it was Burns, not Hanks, the son of City legend Chris! Then "Kai" wearing #15 capped a fine display with a 20 yard piledriver having hit the bar prior to it.
As the gloom descended City fielder more and more trialists. To be fair none of them look out of place and it was good to see the King back up front after his weekend in Lincoln.
Ben Richards-Everton sets up Brandon Smalley's second goal
Friday July 19th 2024
Kieran Phillips injured?
Darren Mullings yate boss
That was quite a hard game to watch. On paper we have a very good attacking side but on the 3G pitch tonight was struggled to make many chances against a team from a league below.
Yate, managed by former City favourite Darren Mullings included two former Tigers; left back Lewis Hall and attacking midfielder Lucas Tomlinson. Striker Marlon Jackson was also present but didn't see any action.
City started with Kieran Phillips and Brandon Smalley up front and in a first half where everything seemed to come down the left through Jamie Reckord the keeper wasn't tested so much so that I simply deleted my video footage at half time.
It was concenring to see KP limp off with an injury, he didn't look happy by all accounts. He was replaced by Ed Williams who would go on to score the games only goal in the second half, this after Smalley had shot narrowly wide. The only two chances of note in the entire game.
As usual with friendlies there were a number of substitutions but spare a though for young Zack Pinchard who came on with more than 91 minutes on the clock only to get closer to the referee to hear him blow almost straight away!
As the game petered out to a conclusion the game seemed to be played in our half more often than not. Some may say that we controlled the game but it wasn't very thrilling to watch and might serve as a bit of a wake up call as to what we face over the next nine or ten months.
Always a joy to see these men in action, even if they are a year older every time that they come back to Meadow Park to play. But it's true what they say, you never lose it!
For the second season running this game was played in honour of the late Mike Dunstan in front of his family. And for the second season running the City Legends ran out comfortable winners, this time 9-1 with a late consolation goal scored by Marcus Lane, although finished and claimed by Mike Ward-Hedley, we won't mention that he was offside mind.
The Legends had scored seven times by half time with Tom Webb rounding the keeper to open then Lee Smith nodding home a cross from a Jamie Reid cross. Jody Bevan bundled home a Smith centre before he turned provider for Alex Sykes to score with a rare header.
Bevan then scored again, timing a header that powered in off of the crossbar and bounced down behind the line before coming back out. Syko scored two more before the break, I think one might've even been with his right foot!
There were just the two goals in the second half. This was probably because the Staff XI was more like sixteen. A fourth from Sykes that hammered in off the bar before Smith got his second with a breakaway before jinking past Stuart Lane in the City Staff's goal. Lane got his own back in the final minute by denying Lee's son Chance when one on one!
Matt Rose was presented with the trophy by Mike's son Jack.
The City Legends were managed by Kenny Blackburn with support from Adie Mings and Boris!
City Legends : Sam Tandy, Mike Green, Adie Harris, Gary Kemp, Marc Richards, Jamie Reid, Tom Webb, Matt Rose, Alex Sykes, Jody Bevan, Lee Smith. Subs - Lee Randall, Kenny Blackburn, Chance Smith
City Staff & Fans XI : Matt Phillips, Tom Landon, Tom Kear, Lee Wood, Marcus Lane, Jay Marriott, Niall Priday, Mark East, Mark McBride, Will Beard, Theo Giles, Josh Taylor, Brett Salvage, Stuart Lane, Jack Beard, Luke East. Subs - Mike Ward-Hedley
Watch in first person view as Lee Smith rounds the keeper to score City Legends' ninth goal of the game
Friday July 12th 2024
Ed Williams city goalscorer
Dayle Grubb hit post thrice
On reflection a 1-4 defeat to a team from a league below when you're aiming to build a Championship winning team is something to be concerned about but the number of goals scored versus number of chances created tells a story.
Cleeve probably made six or seven chances whilst City's was more like ten; the home keeper stopped everything and those that beat him hit the frame of the oddly shaped goal.
Ed Williams scored for City. It was the opening goal coming from a hanging cross that looked as though it was going out but Harry Emmett kept it in and put it on a plate for Williams to sidefoot home.
However what seemed like three shots later and Mike Cook's side were 1-3 down; a shot rattled the crossbar and the rebound was slammed home, then a lovely shot into the top corner from distance and then a killer third on the stroke of half time.
Cleeve's fourth and final goal at the start of the second half was probably the worst one to concede, a breakaway from a City corner down the left wing finished with aplomb by their pacy wideman.
It seemed like shot after shot for City after that as the summer sun faded over Bishops Cleeve, nr Cheltenham. But when are we ever lucky in that part of the world? Dayne Grubb summed it up expletively after he'd hit the post for the third time!
The Cheltenham side featured the evergreen Steve Davies at right back as well as former City midfelder Mat Liddiard at centre back and one time loanee Isaac Pearce who came on as substitute. Shyiak Sutherland is a new signing at Kayte Lane and came through the U18s at City but never made a first team appearance.
Former Tigers Matt Rose, Jamie Edge and Matt Williams were all in the crowd.
Ed Williams gives City the lead in tonights pre-season friendly
Saturday July 6th 2024
Dayle Grubb cool finish
Jamie Reid gaffer!
Another home game against another Hellenic League side although this one ended a lot closer with Jamie Reid's men scoring twice late doors to end the game 4-3 to City.
The game was originally supposed to kick off at 3pm at Fairford but with England in action at tea time the game ended up being switched to Meadow Park starting ninety minutes earlier so everyone had a chance of watching the game against Switzerland.
With goalkeeper Jared Thompson still unavailable City fielded another ex-youth teamer in between the sticks, this time it was Alex Avenell. Alex had been on the bench for Chippenham last year when they knocked us out of the FA Trophy.
Talking of goalkeepers, Jared's older brother Conor Thompson was on the pitch doing some coaching. Also, in the crowd was their father Paul, another goalkeeper and one who faced City twenty years earlier, most notably for Mangotsfield when Andy Hoskins knackered him enabling Chris Burns' team to record a 4-1 win away at Cossham Street.
Despite having the better of the chances it was Fairford who took the lead but then they showed that they could score at both ends when following a cut back from Harry Emmett Joe Hanks saw his shot parried by the keeper only for it to hit a defender and roll over the line.
In the second half trialist Baidoo netted twice sandwiching a tidy left footed finish from Dayle Grubb. But Fairford made it look closer when former City youngster Tristan Haswell scored with a header and then they scored another through Leighton Blackler after a lax pass from BRE.
Have to say it was a bit of a concern that we conceded twice with three of our best defenders on!
A tough first training session for the Women tonight which was sparsely attended by a mixture from both of last seasons first team and development XI plus two or three new faces.
The session consisted of some initial running around the pitch and then some stretching exercises followed by some work with the ball and a short match. No surprises but Nicole Lewis scored the only two goals fo the game!
The session ended when theirs overlapped with the mens session so they all did a bleep test with trialist Josh Barlow being the last man standing.
It felt like a long ten weeks since the County Cup Final as City got back into action with a 5-1 win against Longlevens at Meadow Park.
Just three years ago City faced the Hellenic League side in the FA Cup and as many as a thousand "fans" came to support 'levens against the City club. A thousand Gloucester people going against Gloucester City. That's why we'll never have a successful football club in Gloucester.
There was plenty of guess whoing going on among the fans trying to put names to faces. Former youth teamer Elliott Jones played in goal whilst Jared Thompson was on his honeymoon whilst Charlie Holliday played the first half on the right wing. Most of the players on the bench came from the U16 squad.
Four of the five goals were scored by trialists, two of which were new faces and the fifth came from a long range effort from Josh Barlow who'd been around the club at the end of last season on a dual registration with tonight's opponents.
Kieran Phillips got the other one with a lovely header from a cross which was just as good. Give KP this kind of service and he'll score thirty goals this coming season.
These are practice matches and it's as much about how goals are created as much as they're scored and the second was an absolute gem of a pass from Harry Pinchard's younger brother Zack who featured for the U16s last season.
Curtis Hutson, previously of Merthyr Town put that one away and he also netted from the penalty spot after King Baidoo had been brought down by Ollie Long. King also scored the opener.
It's that time of the year that players either love or hate; the first pre-season training session after a couple of months off!
There were faces both new and old gracing the surface at Meadow Park, mostly doing running, running and then some more running all under the eye of new coach John Brough. The former Cirencester Manager has replaced the outgoing Andy Hoskins alongside Mike Cook and Marc McGregor in the City dugout.
Everyone was put through their paces by Spencer Hamilton apart from Harry Pinchard who is still nursing an injury from the end of last season, he did light training on the bike and with weights.
Joe Hanks partaking in some head tennis in training tonight
Page last updated : 19th October 2024
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