Gloucester City U18s extend winning run with victory over Fairford Town
Gloucester City U18s made it six league wins in a row and nine in all competitions, with a 2-0 win over Fairford Town on Friday night.
Sam Sullivan’s first half effort was added to by substitute Monty Hawkins in the second half as the hosts claimed a fairly comfortable win in the end.
Fairford had the better of the first half, but after failing to turn their pressure into goals, they tired and were held at an arms length by City.
The win sees Gloucester firmly in the Premier Division title race, ahead of a crucial run of games that could define their season.
Next Friday night, they host Slimbridge in the Semi Final of the Severn Sport Cup, before they host Bishops Cleeve in the league.
On Tuesday 24 March they head to the Corinium Stadium for a Giantkillers Cup Semi Final against Cirencester Town, all before the return league fixture with Fairford.
Fairford remain in 7th place in the league table and have trips to Longlevens and Ledbury Town before the rematch with City.
The game saw Fairford start well, with Joe Ford scoring inside three minutes, only to see his effort chalked off for offside.
Ford was a handy outlet in the first half for the visitors, but his side struggled to test Phil Chovanec for the most part.
Chovanec’s opposite number, Roan Young, did well to claw a corner out from under his crossbar, before Archie Myatt fired over from 20 yards.
City broke the deadlock on 14 minutes and in tame fashion. After a corner was cleared out to Zac Pinchard and he helped the ball into the box for Sam Sullivan.
Sullivan had the freedom of Meadow Park to take the ball down and fire past Young with no one around him.
The game settled City down and they controlled the next 20 minutes or so – but two good chances for Fairford should have levelled the game.
First, Moses Preece-Smith skipped past his man down the right and pulled back for Liam Wood, but he fired over.
Then Preece-Smith was slipped in on the right side of the box, but smashed straight at Chovanec.
Myatt stung the palms of Young after the break, before Pinchard flicked the ball over at the near post.
Young saved well from substitute Henry Driver-Dickerson, before the keeper was then cautioned for bringing the striker down on the right hand side.
City introduced U16s duo Jude Hove and Monty Hawkins, with both impressing in their 30 minute cameos.
The latter sealed the deal for his side with six minutes left on the clock, holding off a defender, battling into the box and dispatching past Young.
City’s winning run continues, whilst Fairford know they had their chances in the first half to stake a claim for a share of the points.
Gloucester City U18s: Chovanec, Townsend, Baines, Sullivan, Warren, Thomas-Phillips, Numbard, Vye, Myatt, Tye, Pinchard
Subs: Bradburn, Driver-Dickerson, Hawkins, Woodward, Hove
Fairford Town U18s: Young, Taylor, Bates, Ponte, Morley, Owolabi, Davis, Keogh, Wood, Ford, Preece-Smith
Subs: Bevan, Graham, Hendry, Byfield
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Zac Pinchard (Gloucester City U18s)
READ MORE: Check out the list of Saturday’s fixtures in and around Gloucestershire right here
READ MORE: Check out the list of Sunday’s Women’s fixtures in and around Gloucestershire right here
