Gloucester City U18s get CYFL campaign off to winning start against Cirencester

Gloucester City U18s started their 2025/26 Cheltenham Youth Floodlit League campaign off with a 4-3 win over Cirencester Town in a thrilling encounter.

Ciren took the lead through Bobby Goddard, before a Henry Driver-Dickerson double had City ahead after 26 minutes.

But Alex Miles levelled for the visitors as the game became very end-to-end, however two goals in four minutes from Lewis Vye and Sam Sullivan saw City lead 4-2 at the break.

Dylan Thomas reduced arrears just before the hour mark, but despite plenty of chances for both sides, neither were able to add to the scoring in the final 30 minutes.

Both sides now look ahead to tough FA Youth Cup ties next week, with City hosting Street and Ciren heading to Salisbury – with both games on Monday night,

The game started in frantic fashion as City gave the ball away on the edge of their own box straight from kick off, but Sam Sullivan blocked the snapshot effort.

City would go down the other end instantly and win a corner as Vye initially got in down the left.

The hosts were pressed high in the first half and gave the ball away again on the edge of their own box, and once again were bailed out by a recovery block, this time from Sam Moseley.

Henry Driver-Dickerson had his first sight of goal on seven minutes, but saw his effort saved well by the feet of Samuel Hart.

Moments later, Ciren were ahead. After City keeper Phil Chovanec spread himself to make a good block, Bobby Goddard followed up to fire home.

The hosts were behind for nearly 15 minutes, but two goals in three minutes saw the game flip on it’s head.

First, Vye was tripped in the box and Driver-Dickerson stepped up to convert from 12 yards. Then, the Frampton Untied striker nipped in to win the ball wide on the left, before charging in and goal and firing past Hart for his second of the game.

The lead didn’t last long though, as a cross from the left saw Alex Miles get the better of the battle with Arron Jenkins at the back post, before flicking the ball past Chovanec.

For the second time in the game though, City would score twice in quick succession to give themselves a two goal cushion at the break.

First, Vye leapt onto a poor back pass, rounded Hart and slotted home – then from a corner, the ball pinballed around before being bundled home, with Sam Sullivan seemingly taking the plaudits.

Vye went close to adding a fifth for his side in injury time, with Hart making two decent saves to keep is side in the contest.

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After the break, Vye spurned another good chance, dragging wide after dribbling at the heart of the Ciren back line and into the box.

Just before the hour mark, Ciren pulled one back as Dylan Thomas closed down a block and managed to squeeze his effort past Chovanec to make it 4-3.

Vye was the main threat from City for the most part of the second half, with the forward skipping into the box but dragging across goal and wide.

Christian Oliver came on for the hosts and had a glorious chance in the final ten minutes, but somehow fired straight at the keeper after getting past two into the box.

In the end Josh Taylor’s side saw the game out to claim all three points and give themselves confidence going into the game against Street on Monday.

Gloucester City U18s: Chovanec, Baines, Jenkins, Warren, Sullivan, Bradburn, Thomas-Phillips, Mosley, Pinchard, Vye, Driver-Dickerson

Subs: Tye, Chance, Oliver, Nembhard, Townsend

Cirencester Town U18s: Hart, Dobbs, Kinder, Sefton, Di Francesantomo, Parmaku, Miles, Goddard, Draham, Thomas, Cross

Subs: Barrow, Carter, Jessop, Szlowiewiec

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Lewis Vye (Gloucester City U18s)