By Elliot Yates
Gloucester City picked up preparations for the 2022/23 season with their first game at TigerTurf Stadium ending in a 1-0 win against Hungerford Town.
Tommy O’Sullivan kicked things off and got the home crowd up on their feet, trying a speculative effort from around 40 yards out. The midfield man looked to catch the goalkeeper off his line with a first time volley but the latter caught it with ease.
City were expressing themselves in the sunshine midway through the first half but the game then became a more physical contest going into the half time break with both City and Hungerford growing into the game and the first half ending goalless.
Two minutes after the restart Trialist B scored the opening goal of the game, pouncing on a mistake from the Hungerford goalkeeper and putting City’s early dominance of the second half to good use.
City had all the possession and were in total control after their illusive opener finally arrived.
Another trialist was then at the forefront of the action, firing his left footed attempt wide of the goalkeeper’s near post.
Matt McClure came close to doubling the lead on 70 minutes, after beating his man on the left flank before cutting the ball across to the far post but narrowly missing the target.
Youngster Jack Hill got more senior minutes under his belt and his dangerous cross on the right wing found McClure who got a foot onto the incoming cross but could only prod it over the bar.
City’s goalkeeper for the day (Trialist D) was called into action with ten minutes to go producing a fabulous save, getting down to his bottom right post and preventing Hungerford from finding a way back into the match.
Lee Mansell's side are next in action on Tuesday 19th July, facing Cinderford Town at The Causeway.