Where do Gloucester City go from here? – City fall to defeat in Farnham
600 Gloucester City supporters made the trip across to Farnham Town on Bank Holiday Monday full of hope, excitement and expectation, but would leave full of disappointment, in some cases anger and questions, the main question being ‘where do we go from here?’
Gloucester City have suffered back-to-back play-off final defeats after falling to a 5-1 loss at the Memorial Ground, but whilst both finals had similarities, the margin of defeat is something that has left supporters feeling different.
Once again the Tigers failed to finish in the top two of the Southern League Premier South table and have had to settle for being away from the KMM Energy Stadium in the final and once again have been beaten by one of the outstanding sides in the division across the season.
And for 47 minutes, Gloucester were very much in the contest and had even had chances to break the deadlock themselves.
Joe Hanks was incredibly the recipient of a yellow card for simulation, despite the fact you could visibly see from the stands there was contact with the defender in the Farnham box.
Was it enough for a penalty? I don’t think so, but the one thing that for certain it wasn’t was a dive.
At half time, myself and Mark Halliwell were discussing on BBC Gloucestershire how good a game it was. Two sides trying to win, rather than trying to not lose.
Both sides had created chances and there was a suggestion that Daf Williams would have definitely been the happier of the two managers.
Twenty minutes later, the game and City’s promotion ambitions were all but gone for another season.
Aaron Wildig was judged to have handled in the box in a decision that in real time looked awful. I received text messages during the half to say that replays showed it looked like handball, so it is clearly all about angles.
Wildig after the game was adamant he didn’t handle the ball and was visibly upset during his post match interview for BBC Glos.
Darryl Sanders tucked home the penalty and from there it was nothing short of a capitulation.
City fell apart. They were caught between going for it but also not trying to be blown away and unfortunately it was the latter outcome.
Some fans on social media were bemoaning a lack of substitutes, but the cruelty of football came as three City changes were set to take place at 2-0, only for Farnham to score a third before the substitutions could actually take place – but by then it was pretty much done.
Kane Simpson pulled one back and rightly or wrongly, City committed men forward and were ultimately caught on the break twice in the final ten minutes.
Was it a 5-1 game? Not really, but the history books will show it that way and not show the story of the game and why it ended the way it did.
After the game Farnham fans swarmed the pitch to soak up the ecstasy that comes with three promotions back-to-back-to-back and their meteoric rise continues.
For Gloucester, fans departed and were left pondering what’s next, how do we go again after losing in the play-off final again?
It isn’t a simple answer, but the summer will be crucial for City’s Management, players and supporters to recharge and get ready for their third attempt of returning back to the National League.
Daf Williams confirmed to Mark in his post-match interview that he intends to stay at the football club “as long as the club will have me,” which is likely going to be something the players want to hear.
In reality, a number of the squad will depart. Loan players Morgan Lewis, Rylie Siddall, Jamal Mohammed and Mackenzie Stretton will go back to their parent clubs after coming in to fill gaps left by key departures through the season – like Ben Richards-Everton, Dylan Jones and Harry Pinchard in particular.
There is speculation and worry on social media around the future of the highly sought after assets at City, like Elis Watts, the prolific Kane Simpson and even the likes of Ed Williams.
There is speculation that 35 year old Daniel Leadbitter will re-retire after two heroic performances in the play-offs and speculation that Aaron Wildig could call time on his playing career after seeing appearances limited due to injuries throughout the campaign.
One thing that is for sure is that City will need to recruit again and try to replace Richards-Everton and Pinchard as a bare minimum to even consider mounting another promotion bid.
Throughout the season Williams has told Severn Sport at every interview that he wants to bring success and glory to Gloucester City and I have no doubts that once the dust has settled on the 2025/26 campaign and the manner of the play-off final defeat, Williams will bring a squad together to go again.
The summer will be crucial for Gloucester City and Daf Williams.
Cover photo taken and copyright Jamie Brain Photography. Visit his Instagram @jamiebrain_photography
