Match Report - Sean Beeby
Highlights - Loz Stanley
Gloucester City fell short to a last minute winner against Merthyr Town in Steven King’s first match as First-Team Manager.
City looked the better side in the opening ten minutes of the game. However, Merthyr striker Lewis Powell came very close to giving the visitors the lead, hitting the left post from close range, letting City off the hook.
Halfway through the first half Callum Ryan-Phillips gave City another scare, firing just wide of the post, before minutes later, Alex John fired a free kick straight at Brandon Hall, leaving the game still goalless.
Just before half time Ricardo Rees got the ball on the edge of the box from a failed clearance by City, but he couldn’t find the back of the net. The first half saw more possession for City, but more chances for Merthyr.
Five minutes into the second half, Tommy O’Sullivan fired an excellent shot at goal from the edge of the box, which battered the post, the best chance of the game at that point for City.
Halfway through the second half, Rees had the ball in the back of the net for the visitors, but it was ruled offside, before City quickly countered up the pitch and almost broke the deadlock at the other end, with Sion Spence’s shot leading to a corner, but with no avail.
City saw more chances come their way in the second half, with Tre Mitford firing straight at Will Fuller, with 15 minutes left on the clock.
It wasn’t until the 91st minute that Merthyr found the winner, with Powell poking the ball past Hall to send the visitors through to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup.
City’s next game takes place in seven days’ time as they face Southport on the 8th October at the TigerTurf Stadium. Tickets are available here.