Gloucester City were held to a goalless draw by Frome Town FC as they still look to push for top of the league.
The Tigers Manager Mike Cook spoke on his side’s third draw away from home in a row saying: “we did enough first half to get two or three goals but poor finishing as we weren’t able to quite finish them off.”
Frome sit in 21st just one place above the bottom but have been on a good run of form as Cook said: “you can see why they’re top of the form guide since December, they just look very organised, they’ve recruited well with a couple of good signings.”
City came close to the first goal of the game in the second half as Ed Williams swung in a cross which was met by the head of club captain Joe Hanks as Frome’s goalkeeper Kyle Phillips made a wonder save down to his left-hand side.
The conditions were quite the opposite for the Tigers as they played on a pitch which was bobbly, muddy and had a massive slope, compared to their 4G pitch at The TigerTurf Stadium.
On the conditions Cook said: “we just couldn’t play football, we actually thought they’d done the pitch purposely muddy.”
The Tigers’ managers were quick to praise the work of the backline: “I thought the defence did really well; we didn’t look like conceding but there was a couple of chances they had.”
City usually play a fluid style of football, and this was made to change due to the way Frome played with a compacted backline who also had the help of the conditions of the pitch.
“We’ve never had Jared (Thompson) kick the ball out of his hands, it was like watching a game of football from the 1970’s with the pitch and the conditions”, Cook said.
🏟️The setting in Somerset
— Gloucester City AFC (@GCAFCofficial) January 25, 2025
📍Badgers Hill Stadium pic.twitter.com/MhrBOjNv1p
This was the sixth unbeaten game in a row for the away side but with only 2 wins in this time, this will need to be improved if they want to compete with Merthyr Town and AFC Totton for the title.
On the sides current form Cook said: “we just need to keep going on, a couple more wins, pick them up over the next few weeks, then who knows.”
The Tigers have been pounded with injuries this season as star midfielder Harry Pinchard was out with a broken leg for the start of the season, as on field captain Kevin Dawson picked up ankle injury over the Christmas period.
The Tigers are carrying injuries with players as well with striker Kieron Phillips suffering with a hamstring injury which Cook is monitoring closely.
“We are just protecting him with his hamstring, he’s done is hamstring twice now if he does it again, he will be out for the rest of the season,” he said.
City signed a famous TikToker, Elis Watts, two weeks ago but but suffered an injury scare but Cook doesn’t seem to concerned saying: “he’s the same, before he came to us, he pulled his hamstring, he felt that a little bit on Tuesday in training and little bit on Thursday.”
🐯ELIS IS A TIGER…
— Gloucester City AFC (@GCAFCofficial) January 14, 2025
🗣️Hear from our new attacking player Elis Watts for the first time as a City player. #TigerCity #GCAFC pic.twitter.com/toVePvYfPO
The Tigers take on Bracknell Town away from home on Tuesday night and, with them being the only team to beat City at home this season, it will be a tough game for the title chasers at Bottom Meadow.
🐯CITY UPCOMING…
— Gloucester City AFC (@GCAFCofficial) January 27, 2025
🛣️Tomorrow night brings a trip to Berkshire to face-off with @BracknellTownFC, in what is our last game of January.
🏡We also look forward to welcoming @AFCTotton to the TigerTurf on Saturday, in what is a top of the table clash!
🎟️Get your tickets for… pic.twitter.com/TyGGuGDGRc
