Gloucester City manager Daf Williams expressed mixed feelings following his team’s 1-1 draw against play-off contenders Sholing on Saturday afternoon.
The Tigers dominated the first half, creating several promising chances but ultimately failing to break the deadlock before halftime. As the second half began, Sholing came out with renewed energy, and in the 72nd minute, James Roberts capitalised on a precise assist from Jake McCarthy to put the hosts ahead, beating goalkeeper Jared Thompson with a close-range finish.
Facing the prospect of a sixth away defeat this season, Gloucester City kept fighting and found salvation in the 92nd minute when Kieran Phillips struck a composed finish to level the score and secure a valuable point.
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Williams praised his team’s first-half performance, particularly their defensive organisation and attacking efforts. “We had a good first half with solid defensive organisation and created some decent chances, including a shot that hit the post,” he said. “The second half started poorly for us, which shifted the momentum in Sholing’s favour until we made some adjustments. Credit to Kieran Phillips for a great finish to earn the equaliser.”
Acknowledging his team’s struggles on the road this season, Williams commented, “Our away form hasn’t been good, in fact, it’s been really poor. So, considering how the game swung in the second half, it might not be a bad point to take from this match.”
Despite only securing a draw, Gloucester City inched closer to second-place Poole Town, narrowing the gap to just one point, with a game in hand. Yet, Williams insists his focus remains solely on his team. “I don’t concern myself with other teams. The only thing we can control is how we train during the week and how we perform on match days. We have a good bunch of lads in the changing room who are committed. Now, we just need a bit of luck in our away fixtures to improve results.”
In team news, Williams confirmed that Harry Emmett will be sidelined for the rest of the season due to injury, while the severity of Ed Williams’ injury remains uncertain.
Match details:
Sholing: Norman, Rabbetts, Taylor, McCarthy, Mason (Tume 83), Hesketh (Riley-Snow 71), Targett, Roberts (Jones 83), Magri, Wylie, Folivi (Wishart 90).
Gloucester City: Thompson, Lewis, O’Regan, Wildig (Siddall 68), Phillips, Watts, Richards-Everton (Thomas 87), Day (Spence 68), Pinchard, Baidoo (Hanks 64), Mohammed.
Attendance: 594
Referee: Joe Wright