Gloucester City manager Daf Williams expressed his disappointment following his team’s 2-0 home loss to Taunton Town on Saturday. The defeat ended City’s impressive run and allowed Taunton to claim back-to-back victories against top-tier opponents.
The match began with fast-paced, end-to-end action. Both sides created excellent chances but failed to break the deadlock in the first half. However, just one minute into the second half, a pivotal moment emerged. Former Gloucester player Dylan Jones was fouled inside the box, resulting in a penalty for Taunton. Jack Rice calmly converted, giving the Peacocks the lead.
As Gloucester pushed forward to equalise, they left gaps in defence. Taunton capitalised in the 79th minute when Dan Koita seized on a misjudged long ball by City’s Jared Thompson to extend the lead to 2-0.
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Taunton’s defence held strong in the closing stages, securing a valuable win that boosts their confidence in the battle to avoid relegation.
Williams acknowledged the fans’ disappointment, stating, “I want to apologise to the fans. I can’t be demanding more from the supporters and then you lose 2-0. The game was decided by a few key moments and that’s frustrating.”
He praised the fans for their continued support and urged them to stay behind the team for the remaining three games of the season. “We have three matches left and the goal is to cement a finish in second or third place. I’ll do everything I can to produce a better performance.”
Looking ahead, Williams knows Gloucester face tough challenges, starting with an away fixture against survival-threatened Dorchester Town. “League position isn’t everything; some teams fight with everything they have to stay up. We need to show that kind of determination, regardless of where we stand.”
Fans witnessed the following lineups:
Gloucester City: J Thompson, Leadbitter (Phillips 58), Lewis, O’Regan, Williams, Spence (Simpson 82), Watts, Thomas, Hanks, Waite, Siddall (Baidoo 58).
Taunton Town: Irish, N Thompson, Jones, Grimes, Richards, Rice, Koita (Barber 90), Shield, Farr, Robinson, Moulden.
Attendance was 1,674, with Neal Templey officiating the match.