City limp out of FA Cup as injuries continue to pile up

Gloucester City limped out of the FA Cup on Tuesday night, with a really poor performance, not helped by a number of first team injuries.

Gosport Borough scored at both ends of the match to run out 2-0 winners and book their place in the Third Qualifying Round tie at Oxford City, but it was a night to forget for the Tigers and their spectators.

With as many as nine First Team players out injured and both Ed Williams and Joe Hanks named as substitutes, but nowhere near fit enough to take to the field – City were down to less than the bare bones.

And what did City need to settle any replay nerves, a good start….

Inside the first five minutes, they were behind and it they were the making of their own downfall. A poor pass back to goalkeeper Nathan Harvey, saw the keeper try to step into the ball to bring it out of harms way – but he inadvertently got the ball caught under his feet, allowing Alfie Stanley a simple task of tapping home.

The hosts nearly grabbed an equaliser five minutes later, but after a neat one two, Harry Emmett saw his effort saved at the near post.

Harry Burns saw a similar effort beaten away at the near post, whilst a Gosport corner caused mayhem in the City six yard box – before Harvey smothered the loose ball.

Cam Walters nearly gifted Stanley and Gosport their second, when his pass back was leapt on by the Borough scorer, only for Harvey to make a good recovery block.

Harvey was then called into action just before the break, saving from Tarbuck’s curling effort.

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The second half saw more Gosport danger, this time another set piece into the box was allowed to bounce through – before being blazed over from an initial clearance at the back post.

Stanley came inches from a second moments later, rattling the City crossbar as the Gosport fans grew in voice and the nervous City fans remained silent.

Gloucester didn’t really lay a glove on their visitors, with their best chances coming from an off-target Dayle Grubb free kick, a Brandon Smalley blocked effort and King Baidoo latching onto a through ball, but seeing his effort saved by Ryan Gosney.

The sorry state of City’s squad on the night was that the only change they made saw Baidoo seemingly going down with cramp and he was replaced a defender in Dan Ball.

Youngsters Theo Giles and Jaxson Hundt were named on the bench, alongside two goalkeepers and two injured players in Hanks and Williams.

There will be question marks as to why there weren’t anymore U18s or UDA players named on the bench, to at least provide Mike Cook with an option – but the frustrating night was topped off in the 84th minute when Tarbuck finished the tie.

Tarbuck went on a mazy run down the left hand side, found himself at a fairly tight angle and still managed to blast his effort into the roof of the net.

Next up for Mike Cook’s side is a trip to Hanwell Town on Saturday, with the Gloucester manager alluding to bringing in reinforcements sooner rather than later.

The overall feeling on the night was that whilst injuries didn’t help, the performance was really lacklustre, with only Harry Burns and Harry Emmett offering anything remotely positive.

Gloucester City: Harvey, Walters, Duffus, Reckord, Richards-Everton, Dawson, Burns, Emmett, Grubb, Smalley, Baidoo

Subs: Thompson, Chovenac, Hanks, Ball, Giles, Hundt, Williams

Gosport Borough: Gosney, Williams, Murray, Walsh-Smith, Morrison, Hollands, Tarbuck, Yearwood, Wooden, Lee, Stanley

Subs: Cavanagh, Searle, Evans, Agbeseyi, Jones, Towns, Faniyan

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Harry Emmett (Gloucester City)