Gloucester suffer injury time heartbreak as Tigers bow out of FA Cup

An injury time header from former Tiger Tom Owen-Evans saw Gloucester City bow out of the FA Cup, losing 2-1 at New Meadow Park.

City went into the Second Qualifying Round full of confidence and after Elis Watts’ 7th minute strike, they found themselves ahead early on.

But a second half leveller from substitute Ezio Touray looked set to send the tie into a replay, until Owen-Evans flicked a header across goal and into the bottom corner in the final seconds.

It is the third season in a row City have been knocked out of the cup at the Second Qualifying Round stage.

Next up for Daf Williams’ side is a trip to Weymouth in the Southern League Premier South next weekend, before heading to Farnham Town on Tuesday 23 September.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/mortgageadvicegloucestershire for your financial planning needs

The game started with City on top, with the hosts keeping the ball well and looking to make an early breakthrough.

They got it when a long throw in came into the Chippenham box, with Watts eventually turning it home at the back post.

Jared Thompson produced a great one on one stop to keep out Tom Mehew on 18 minutes, as Chippenham settled into the contest.

As the half wore on, both sides settled into their strides – although City just about shaded it.

Joe Hanks had an effort well saved by Will Henry, whilst Thompson beat away a long range effort from Quevin Castro.

Watts looked the most likely after the restart, having an effort saved by Henry after the ball was teed up to him by Kieran Phillips, before Watts then curled wide after working his way into the box.

For Chippenham, Henry Sady fired straight at Thompson after the ball deflect up for him in the box, with Mehew then having an effort deflected out for a corner.

Chippenham levelled with 20 minutes left, as a cross from the right was planted home by Touray’s header. Game on.

The hosts had plenty of chances in the final 15 minutes to win the game themselves, with Watts winning a corner that was headed wide by Harry Emmett.

Emmett saw an effort blocked moments later, before defender Ben Morgan sent a diving header flying just over.

And the sting in the tail came in the dying embers of the game as Owen-Evans got across his man to guide a header across goal and into the far corner, to spark scenes of celebration for Chippenham’s bench and supporters.

The visitors go into Monday’s Third Qualifying Round draw, whilst City will look to focus of the league.

Gloucester City: J Thompson, Morgan, Jones, O’Regan, Thomas, Emmett, Hanks, Pinchard, Spence, Watts, Phillips

Subs: C Thompson, Sullivan, Bell, Wildig, Baidoo, Obieri

Chippenham Town: Henry, Mehew, Haines, Castro, Owen-Evans, Vaughan, Bradury, Fleet, King, Sady, Harrison

Subs: Evans, Touray, Sawyer, Poffley, Vozza, Fleming, Wanjau-Smith

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Elis Watts (Gloucester City)