Mike Cook’s Gloucester City win back to back games for the first time this season as his side defeat Spennymoor Town 4-2.
Cook made three changes to his side which defeated Braintree Town in the Isuzu FA Trophy as Zack Jeacock replaced Liam Armstrong in goal, in addition to Jamie Reckord and Harry Leeson coming in for Joe Parker and Ben Richards-Everton who missed today’s match through illness.
Goals from Brandon Smalley, Joe Hanks, Ty Duffus and a first for Liam Cross were more than enough to seal a much needed three points for City.
City started the game well and created a few half chances early on, Cross got himself on the end of a long ball over the Moors backline, and the winger floated a delightful cross to the back post which just missed Harry Emmett.
A big chance for Will Harris in the first 20 minutes as the Moors skipper Mark Anderson lofted a brilliant ball over the top to Harris, however the striker failed to test Jeacock in the City net.
However it was City who broke the deadlock on 28 minutes thanks to an excellent delivery from Cross on the left flank which hit the back post and rolled across the goal-line and Brandon Smalley was the fastest to react as Cook's men took a deserved lead.
Cross came desperately close to doubling City's lead just 5 minutes later as the winger played a delightful one two with Smalley, and fired a shot towards goal from a tight angle but couldn't find a way past Michael Roxburgh in the Moors goal.
City were awarded a penalty thanks to Smalley being brought down after being played through on goal by Harry Pinchard, skipper Hanks stepped up to take the spot kick and dispatched it with ease, doubling City’s advantage on the stroke of half time.
Jeacock was called into action early in the second half as Harris had a chance for Moors to pull one back, however the City keeper saved his tame effort with relative ease.
Cook’s men made it a three goal lead on 56 minutes, after Hanks gathered the ball from a corner and put in a brilliant delivery back into the box, as Duffus rose highest to add a third on the afternoon.
New signing Josh Smile came off the bench to make his City debut as he replaced Brandon Smalley midway through the second half.
Moors skipper Mark Anderson pulled one back with 20 minutes to go thanks to a brilliant curling effort from outside the box, which sailed over Jeacock into the top corner.
Smile came close to making it a debut to remember as substitute Elliott Durrell's corner found its way to him on the edge of the area, but his audacious effort from the edge of the box was blocked for another City corner.
Moors got a third back in the 80th minute after the ball was cut back by Keenan Ferguson and slotted home calmly by Ben Hockenhull, which made for a slightly nervy end to the game.
Cross stepped in however to squash any nerves City may have had, after brilliant individual play from Durrell as he skipped past three Moors players on the halfway line, and played the winger through on goal who calmly lifted the ball over Roxburgh to seal a 4-2 victory.
Cook’s Men will be back on the road next weekend as they travel up to the Deva Stadium to take on Chester hoping to make it three wins on the spin.
Comments