Photography by Jamie Brain.
Gloucester City manager Dafydd Williams once again praised the City fans for their support this season after Saturday’s victory against Poole Town. He emphasised how important togetherness will be if they are to do well this season.
âLike I said on Monday, I think it’s difficult to ask more of them because they’re absolutely exceptional. In terms of their numbers and their voices, they’re huge.
“I said in my first interview, if we’re going to be successful, it has to be an all-in mentality, that’s the players, the staff, the supporters, the board, the volunteers, we all have to be together.
“The fans are a massive part of that, we can’t fault their commitment and their support so far, they’ve been brilliant, so if you can do it again on Tuesday, then absolutely fantastic, thank you very much.”
City hosts Berkhamsted FC at New Meadow Park on Tuesday evening, with the newly-promoted side currently sitting eighth in the Southern Premier League South.
“The homework will start tonight,” Williams stated on Saturday. “But we’ve had eyes on them already.”
The Tigers have lost just one of their 12 opening games this season, winning nine, with Saturday’s triumph their fourth consecutive league win.
It was a big display of City’s resilience as a sixth-minute penalty meant it was the first time they’d gone a goal down at home in the league. However, the hosts showed great mental strength to quickly turn the game around, as they went on to win 3-2.
“It didn’t knock us at all, but it’s not a penalty,” Williams added. “I praised the lads on Monday for the grit and resilience they showed, and I’ve been quite vocal about those characteristics that the lads have in abundance, but it’s about being consistent.
“I thought that was a big test, seeing how we bounce back against a good side who have gone one-nil up early, and I was really pleased today.”
Williams had to shuffle his squad on Saturday due to injuries, with captain Kieran Thomas, Daniel Leadbitter, and Sion Spence all unavailable.
And things only got worse during their Poole triumph, as former Newport County player Aaron Wildig was forced off with a hamstring problem.
The injury could not have come at a worse time for the 33-year-old, who made his first league start on Saturday, playing a huge part in the first goal, before scoring their second, to make it two-in-two.
“He felt a little something, and he’s called it before it got any worse, which is one big positive, but it’s too early to know the consequences of it yet.”
However, despite the absence of defenders Thomas and Leadbitter, the Welshman has now got one more option to turn to in the backline, as the loan signing of Mitch Roberts from Hereford FC was announced last Friday, ahead of his first City appearance against Poole.
The 25-year-old made his EFL Championship debut for Birmingham City back in November 2021, bringing League Two and National League experience to Gloucester.
“He’s a fantastic character, a really good professional, so he’ll fit in well in terms of our values, and he’s got great quality.
“Hopefully he’ll continue what he showed in the latter stages of today’s game.”
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