Gloucester City fall to FA Cup replay defeat to Barrow after second half red card

Gloucester City defended heroically once again but fell to a 2-0 defeat in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round replay with Barrow, after a red card for Keiran Thomas swung the pendulum the way of the visitors.

After a goalless draw in the original tie on Saturday, City continued their trend of defending well – with Thomas and Harry Emmett sticking very narrow to the centre halves to give Barrow a test to break them down.

After 150 minutes into the overall tie without a goal, Thomas flew into a challenge when the ball was going nowhere and the force was enough to see him receive a red card – giving the hosts the unenviable task of defending with 10 men for the final half an hour.

Derby County loanee Sam Kane produced a number of crucial saves for the hosts, but goals from Thierry Latty-Fairweather and Arian Allen saw Barrow through to the First Round and a trip to Gillingham.

At full time, City Manager Daf Williams told BBC Radio Gloucestershire that the “overriding emotion is pride” after another impressive defensive performance. Listen to the full interview with Ian Randall below

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The hosts started in disciplined fashion, with Harry Emmett and Ben Nugent taking it in turns to head away as Barrow put in a couple of dangerous early crosses.

Emmett got forward moments later, but his driven cross was claimed by Ben Winterbottom.

Keaton Ward had the first chance of note on 15 minutes, as his volley was well saved by Sam Kane.

Ashley Hemmings had two great chances for City in the first half, but his first shot flew just over the bar – with his second effort saved by Winterbottom.

Prior to the second chance for Hemmings, Danny Amos dinked a free kick for Ward, but his effort lacked purchase and was easy for Kane to gather.

Barrow’s best chance of the half came through Marcel Oakley, who got the better of Emmett for the first time in the half, but drilled his effort across goal and wide.

Credit to Barrow, they came out for the second half with much more intensity and looked like a side who had potentially received a “rocket” during the interval.

Seb Thompson struck the foot of the post three minutes into the second half, before Thompson saw an effort saved by Kane and no goal given, despite appeals from the visitors that the ball had crossed the line.

The turning point of the game saw City reduced to ten after Keiran Thomas flew into a tackle as the ball appeared to be running out for a home throw in deep in the corner.

Thomas appeared to have claimed the ball, but it was a wild lunge that in reality was completely needless and totally avoidable.

City sacrificed Ethan Dunbar for Daniel Leadbitter as the hosts tried to continue to contain the opposition, but soon after the change, Barrow struck the killer blow.

After Kane had denied Xavier Benjamin’s effort, the resulting corner fell for Thierry Latty-Fairweather who drilled through bodies to find the back of the net.

Gloucester created a huge chance for a leveller soon after when Ashley Hemmings got onto a through ball, but after his effort was blocked by Latty-Fairweather, Emmett hooked inside for Tom Owen-Evans who toe poked just wide.

City introduced Joe Hanks and he went about his business in typically efficient style, winning a number of free kicks in the Barrow half and nearly getting on the end of a set piece into the box from Hemmings.

Hanks then sent a dipping effort just over, before Kane produced a triple save to all but keep his side in the FA Cup.

But in injury time, Kane was beaten by Arian Allen as he broke into the box to seal the deal for the visitors.

At full time, the Gloucester City supporters showed their appreciation to their side after two incredibly resilient defensive displays against a side playing two levels above them.

Next up for the Tigers is a trip to Redditch United in the FA Trophy, before the full focus will be on climbing up the Southern League Premier South table after an indifferent start to the league campaign.

One thing that is for sure though, is that City will take a heap of positives from their FA Cup run to take into the rest of the season.

Gloucester City: Kane, Lewis, Clarke, Nugent, O’Regan, E Williams, Hemmings, Owen-Evans, Thomas, Dunbar, Emmett

Subs: Thompson, Leadbitter, Hill, Waite, Hanks, H Williams

Barrow: Winterbottom, Oakley, Digie, Ward, Thompson, Cameron, Amos, Kalambayi, Marriott, Benjamin, Latty-Fairweather

Subs: Alimi-Adetoro, Edwards, Reid, Walker, Allen, Mooney, Harper

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Sam Kane (Gloucester City)