Gloucester City manager Daf Williams praised his team’s resilience and growth following a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Yate Town on a rainy Friday evening at the KMM Energy Stadium. Despite being reduced to 10 men in the second half, the Tigers secured vital three points, showing grit and determination throughout the match.
An impressive crowd of 1,907, the club’s highest attendance this season, braved the wet weather to support the home side. The first half featured few chances, with City finally breaking the deadlock in the 44th minute. King Baidoo expertly rounded the goalkeeper to calmly slot the ball into the net, giving Gloucester City a crucial halftime lead.
After the break, Gloucester City controlled possession but created limited clear-cut chances. The dynamic of the game changed dramatically in the 62nd minute when Baidoo received a second yellow card for a late challenge, leaving his team a man down for the remaining 30 minutes.
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However, Gloucester’s defence stood strong, showing remarkable resilience and composure under pressure. Williams commended the players’ maturity, especially when compared to previous occasions where results slipped away under similar circumstances.
“This was a true test of character. The lads showed incredible resilience to maintain the lead and keep a clean sheet despite being down to ten players,” Williams reflected. “It’s a marathon, not a sprint — we keep learning and growing every game. Tonight, the team performed as a better version of themselves.”
Looking ahead, Gloucester City will prepare to face high-flying Worthing in the upcoming Isuzu FA Trophy match. Williams acknowledged the challenge but expressed confidence in his team’s preparation and game plan.
“Worthing are in fantastic form. They’re tough opponents, but we’ll have a plan to get a positive result. Tonight, the lads deserve to celebrate this win before focusing on the next challenge.”
Gloucester City lineup: J Thompson, Leadbitter (Jones 9), O’Regan, Spence (Roberts 89), Hanks (Wildig 85), Richards-Everton, Day, Pinchard, Emmett, Baidoo, Simpson.
Yate Town lineup: Sainsbury, Taylor (Karadogan 86), Ball (Taylor-Clarke 91), Larvin, James, Tomlinson (Sambu 73), Jackson, Ollis (Mannings 54), Jenkins, Monks, Evans.
Attendance: 1,907
Referee: Richard Walker