Gloucester City’s scored two goals in the second half to seal a 2-1 win against Havant & Waterlooville sending them top of the Southern League Premier South.
Joe Hanks notched his tally up to 10 league goals for the season after scoring two in the second half, including a last minute-winner.
Gloucester’s Manager Mike Cook stated that it’s not all happening through Hanks ‘there’s a lot of unselfish runners making goals for Joe Hanks, so it’s not all down to Joe Hanks’.
Havant & Waterlooville took the lead in the 20th minute courtesy of an own goal from Ty Duffus after a cross was swung in by ex-Cheltenham Town midfielder, Nigel Atangana.
City’s manager Cook spoke jokingly about his sides first half own goal, ‘It was a great header into the top corner’.
Gloucester were a different team when it came to the second half where they looked to have more of an attacking threat with Cook saying ‘We switched a couple of personnel and that made most of the difference’.
48’| GOAL CITYYYYYY!!
— Gloucester City AFC (@GCAFCofficial) October 12, 2024
Hanksy again 🔥🔥🔥
🐯 1-1 🔵 | #GCAFC #TigerCity
City’s first goal came in the 48th minute, when Hanks unleashed a shot from just inside the box, which curled right into the far corner.
The Tigers winner came in stoppage time from a corner, where Hanks was once again was able to get the last touch to put the ball into the back of the net, sending the fans behind the goal into a roar.
‘I don’t think we played badly in the first half, we just didn’t have the impetus.’
This win sent Gloucester’s top of the table after 10 games however Cook was not interested in the teams current league position, despite all the excitement in and around the club at the minute.
‘I’m not really bothered about the league at this time of year.. it matters roundabout March time’.
Joe Hanks wins it for City with a goal in injury ttime to send Havant & Waterlooville home pointless pic.twitter.com/SPfA4CDFXd
— Neil (@tigerroarcouk) October 12, 2024
It was the seventh win of the season for the Tigers, taking them to 23 points even though Cook stated, ‘We just haven’t had our forwards click this season, so when it does click, it will be great for us’.
Havant & Waterlooville now fall into ninth place after their loss, having 14 points after getting high praise from Cook stating ‘They will be up around the playoffs, mark my words’.
Gloucester City have already a long list of injuries with Harry Pinchard and more on the physio bench, Cook announced another injury after the game ‘Riley McGregor is going to be out till March time with a knee injury.. fourth one now with a long injury’.
With Hanks up to 10 goals for the season the coaching staff and the fans will be hoping the goals can be shared around more with the Tigers manager stating ‘It shouldn’t always be down to the centre forwards, it should be shared around’.
One of Gloucester’s defenders, Ben Richards-Everton, picked up September Player of the Month for the Tigers, with the team only conceding three goals in September.
September POTM | Ben Richards-Everton 🫶🏼🐯
— Gloucester City AFC (@GCAFCofficial) October 13, 2024
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Sponsored by Taylored Mentoring Services 👏🏼
.#gcafc #tigercity pic.twitter.com/XMaAwTEuy9
Richards-Everton stated ‘It’s a nice award, but anyone in the eleven could’ve received that’.
The Tigers’ defender also praised their prolific goal scorer: ‘Hanksy has been brilliant and keeps popping up with goals, important goals for us, keeping us high up the table’.
Richards-Everton and Cook both still exclaim that there are still better performances to come, and will haven’t seen the best of the tigers yet.
Even with Gloucester top of the table, winning awards and grinding out results, the player-of-the-month doesn’t want to get ahead of himself.
‘Every game is going to be a tough game, there’s going to be different threats and we’ve got to combat that and try and get three points every game. ‘
Gloucester City have another home game on Tuesday, 14th October, where they take on Frome Town, hoping to keep their place at the top of the table.