Gloucester City secured a 2-1 victory against Mulbarton Wanderers at The Abode Arena on Saturday, advancing to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup. The win marks the Tigers' third consecutive unbeaten match and keeps their cup campaign alive.
Tom Owen-Evans put Gloucester ahead early on by capitalising on a goalkeeping error, firing the ball in from close range. Mulbarton responded in the second half when Charlie Barber equalised five minutes after the break. However, Joe Hanks restored Gloucester’s lead with a decisive volley in the 84th minute, ending Mulbarton Wanderers' deepest run in the FA Cup to date. The match was played in front of a record crowd of 1,002 for the club.
Tigers manager Daf Williams acknowledged the challenge that the fixture presented. “It was always going to be a difficult day with a lot at stake for both sides and an exceptional crowd supporting here,” he said. “The journey was long, and preparation was limited, with the majority of the team facing a 14-hour round trip. Credit to the players for their character, professionalism, and standards.”
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Looking ahead to the next round on October 17, Williams was encouraged by his team’s performance. “We scored twice away from home, with both players finishing well, which is a positive to take forward. While the end of the first half and the start of the second were frustrating, the players composed themselves and regained control of the game. We managed to deny them any momentum in the closing seconds. It has been a great day for the club.”
The line-ups were as follows:
Mulbarton Wanderers: Wright, Smith, Hunter, Ikem (George 87), Page, Field (E Lane 87), Cox (Stone 80), Lopez, Jarvis, O Lane, Barber (Everett 80). Substitute not used: Self.
Gloucester City: Kane, Lewis, Clarke (E Williams 59), Nugent, O’Regan, Hemmings, Owen-Evans (Hanks 62), Thomas, Dunbar (Emmett 87), Keyes, Hill (Grubb 75). Substitutes not used: Thompson, H Williams.
Attendance was 1,002, a club record for Mulbarton Wanderers.