Gloucester City manager Daf Williams has expressed his frustration over the club’s disappointing start to the Southern League Premier South season, urging his players to take responsibility for their performances.
The team suffered a 3-2 defeat at Bracknell Town on Tuesday night, following Saturday’s 1-0 home loss to Chertsey Town. After the latest result, Williams revealed some candid discussions took place in the dressing room.
“Not good enough,” Williams stated plainly. “On Saturday, I held back a little as I felt the second half showed some promise, but tonight’s goals are a disgrace. It simply isn’t good enough from a defensive standpoint.”
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He continued: “We will be addressing several issues in training; honest words have been exchanged, and now the players must take accountability. I always reflect on my own role, but it’s time the players step up, especially with Saturday’s away fixture at Wimborne Town looming.
“It’s been a horrendous start to the season; I see no positives to take from these two games.”
Bracknell, who had suffered a heavy 7-0 defeat to Plymouth Parkway in their opening match, struck first on 24 minutes through Ruben Bartlett-Antwi. Gloucester City responded in the dying moments of the first half when a combination of Ethan Dunbar and Ashley Hemmings forced an own goal from Jordan Stepney to level the score.
Williams criticised the defensive lapses that allowed Bracknell to gain the upper hand. “We lost possession too often in dangerous areas, which gave them opportunities,” he said. “We knew we had to tighten up at half-time, and while the players spoke positively, their actions in the opening 15 minutes of the second half contradicted that.”
Ruben Bartlett-Antwi scored again early after the break courtesy of a mistake by Ben Nugent, followed swiftly by a third from Harry Cooksley, adding to City’s troubles.
Though Ed Williams pulled a goal back with a fine strike in the 74th minute, it wasn’t enough to change the outcome. “The goals we concede are terrible,” Williams said. “While we worked hard for our goals, the opposition has found scoring against us too easy in the last two matches. It’s a problem both defensively and with ball retention. We’re giving the ball away cheaply and lacking quality in possession.”
Williams also praised the commitment of the travelling supporters, admitting he would be “absolutely fuming” if he were among them. “Our fans travel long distances and spend their hard-earned money to support us, and we owe them better performances,” he remarked.
The game also saw a second-half debut for new signing Josh Keyes, a 20-year-old midfielder recently acquired on a short-term deal. Keyes came through the ranks at Swindon Town and had a professional stint with Watford, including loan time at Potters Bar Town. He joins Gloucester City amid several squad absences, especially in midfield.
Williams highlighted the challenges the squad faces: “In the last five days, we have lost several midfielders - Jack Clarke, James Waite, and Joe Hanks - on top of others unavailable. Bringing Josh in was the logical choice, and we will see how he progresses in the coming weeks.”
Gloucester City’s lineup against Bracknell Town was: Thompson; Thomas, Nugent, O’Regan, Emmett (Keyes 65), E Williams, Leadbitter (Cross 77), Evans (Phillips 85), Owen-Evans, Dunbar, Hemmings. Subs not used: Lewis, Bearne.