Gloucester City fell to a 2-0 defeat at new National League North leaders Scunthorpe on Armistice afternoon.
Goals from Jacob Butterfield and Danny Whitehall secured the win for the Iron against a Gloucester side now bottom of the division, but the issues span further than that.
City are now left stranded eight points off safety, with only the 17 games played so far, but manager Mike Cook saw positives in his sides performance at Glanford Park:
“I was pleased with how we kept to the game plan and did what we could, but when you come teams the size of Scunthorpe, and the budget they’ve got against us, we don’t stand much of a chance really.”
“I thought we played well on the ball for most of the game, but we still need to be better, no matter who we are up against, but we gave 100% which is all i ask for.”
City had started the better team, but when Butterfield scored from 30 yards, the result never really looked in doubt.
Add a Danny Whitehall penalty just after half time, and the game was over with 40 minutes to spare, a disappointing but unsurprising scoreline for City fans.
Cook was disappointed at the penalty being given away, but praised his sides discipline and mentality after that:
“We said at half time, if we can hang on in there, and get at them in the final 15 we have a chance, but the penalty threw that out the window. It was definitely a penalty and i think overall the referee (Helen Conley) had a really good game.”
Injuries have been a consistency throughout the season for the club too, claiming another two casualties, in Scunthorpe, including stand in skipper Joe Hanks:
“It’s frustrating we keep picking up injuries at the moment, Durrell got a boot to the face, and Joe (Hanks) picked up a bad neck injury today, so we’re really struggling at the moment.”
Durrell has had consistent issues since joining in the summer, as has captain Spencer Hamilton, among many others.
The Gloucester manager also praised the 35 fans who made the 346-mile long journey to Lincolnshire, considering the current circumstances, and the stressed relationship with the board at the moment:
“The 35 that joined us today are what keep the club going and i can’t thank them enough, but we all need to stick together at the moment, results will come, as shown with the win over Alfreton a few weeks ago.”
Gloucester are back in action tomorrow night as they travel to mid table Brackley.
