“Not been good enough from the first game of the season” – fans react after Gloucester City’s relegation is confirmed
Gloucester City’s relegation out of the National League North has been confirmed, following a dismal display in a 6-1 defeat at home to Chester.
After an goalless first quarter, Chester broke the deadlock when right back Harrison Burke was allowed not one, but two free headers in the box.
His first was from a corner into the area and after it was blocked and headed back up, Burke headed past Jacob Dennis.
Dennis was unfortunate as he looked set to catch the header, but with Elliot Durrell attempting to head the ball and missing, it squirmed through in embarrassing fashion.
City let in their second before half time. After giving the ball away in their own half, Gloucester were exposed down their right and the ball in was diverted into the bottom corner by Tom Peers, via Ty Duffus.
Owen Brain, the only bright spark on a dark day for Gloucester City, reduced arrears just before the hour mark, when he cut in from the left and rifled into the top corner from outside the box.
But it wasn’t too long until Chester restored their two-goal lead, with Durrell losing the ball on halfway and Iwan Murray cutting back for George Glendon to fire home.
Durrell’s horrible afternoon was capped off when he tripped Murray in the box, with substitute Adam Thomas firing home from 12 yards.
Harrison Burke was able to get another free header from a corner and guided the ball into the bottom corner for 5-1, with Ben Tollitt adding a sixth in injury time.
Gloucester have three games left to play before their 15 season stay in the National League will be over and fans have taken to social media to make their feelings known.
One Twitter user said: “Not been good enough from the first game of the season. Need a massive rebuild next season otherwise I can’t see us doing anything“
Another directed their upset towards the off-field mess the club finds itself in: “When I think of the time and effort, the likes of Mike D, Tim Harris, Boris, and countless others put in during the exile years to keep us at this level, it is truly disgusting how far the club has fallen in the last 12 months. Those involved should hang their heads in shame.“
Whilst the future may be an uncertain one for Gloucester City, what is clear is their will be an inquest, probably already on-going, into how the club reacts to what has been a terrible season from beginning to end.
Gloucester have trips to Alfreton Town and Curzon Ashton to play, before ending their troubled campaign at home to Scunthorpe United on Saturday 20 April.
Following that, the Tigers host Bishops Cleeve in the final of the Gloucestershire FA Challenge Cup, on Tuesday 23 April, which could at least provide a positive for the club and their supporters.
Gloucester City: Dennis, Durrell, Mbayo, Duffus, Reckord, Pinchard, Smile, Hanks, Brain, Rowe, Robinson
Subs: Thompson, Wright, Smalley, Barlow, Liggett
Chester: Stanway, Weeks, Burke, Williams, Peers, Glendon, Norton, Murray, Heyward, Roberts, Burton
Subs: Woodthorpe, Taylor, Thomas, Tollitt, Daly
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Owen Brain (Gloucester City)
READ MORE: Check out the full list of results in and around Gloucestershire from Saturday right here
