Gloucester City U18s huff and puff but knocked out of FA Youth Cup in wind affected tie

Gloucester City U18s were unlucky losers in their FA Youth Cup tie, bowing out 1-0 to Street in a wind affected match on Monday night.

City were kicking into the wind in the first half and really struggled to get to grips with conditions – with Street also struggling to get any real rhythm into their play for the most part.

The best chance of the half came with 10 minutes left of it as a long ball forward was latched onto by Hall, who fired past City keeper Phil Chovanec.

Gloucester didn’t manage to create anything of substance in the first 45 minutes, with a number of Lewis Vye crosses too heavy for Henry Driver-Dickerson and Jakson Thomas-Phillips.

But with the second half, came fresh hope, with City knowing that kicking with the wind they just had to find a leveller and defend as well as Street did.

Within 30 seconds of the restart, Street nearly went 2-0 up though – as Rocco Pardon drove from the edge of the box but Chovanec saved well.

Vye, Driver-Dickerson and Zac Pinchard linked up well down the right, leading to Vye being tripped on the edge of the box – with Shaun Warren headed the ball in back across goal before Street scrambled clear.

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Pinchard and Lewis Chance were replaced by Archie Myatt and Ryan Baines just before the hour mark and from there, City looked much more dangerous with Myatt’s pace a particular concern for the visitors.

Myatt skipped down the right hand side before pulling back into the danger zone. The ball was cleared to Baines on the edge of the box and as the whole of New Meadow Park anticipated a shot on goal, Baines tried to lay the ball square and the chance was squandered.

City won another free kick on the left wing and this time it produced their closest chance of game, as Warren rose highest at the back post to head against the upright – with the ball bouncing agonisingly away from the red and yellow shirts.

With just over 10 minutes remaining, Warren’s long ball forward was chased down by Baines, who crossed into Myatt’s path, with the City winger flicking the ball up against a Street man and the cries for handball were dismissed.

As the clocked ticked onto 90 minutes, THE chance came for the equaliser as substitute Christian Oliver crossed from the right and Driver-Dickerson completely scuffed his effort in the centre of the box straight at the keeper.

Then in the final seconds of the match, City won a corner and with everyone – including Chovanec, in the box, a header was sent wide of the post and Street had held on.

It was too little too late for Josh Taylor’s side who didn’t test Street keeper, Jay Nakamichi, in the 90 minutes – which will be the most disappointing thing about the night.

But Taylor’s men will learn from a tough night and will look to get back to winning ways in the CYFL, although they do not return to league action until 2 October.

Gloucester City U18s: Chovanec, Chance, Tye, Sullivan, Warren, Bradburn, Kposowa, Thomas-Phillips, Vye, Pinchard, Driver-Dickerson

Subs: Oliver, Baines, Jenkins, Kembhard, Middleton, Myatt

Street U18s: Nakamichi, Seddon, Cotton, Pardon, Tisdale, Wong, Hagelberg, Culpta, Edwards, Hall, Tetlow

Subs: Chalfan, Wright, Clark, Hughes, Ellery, Brestow, Higgins

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Shaun Warren (Gloucester City U18s)