Gloucester City manager Daf Williams voiced his disappointment after Tuesday night’s 2–0 defeat at Walton & Hersham, a result that has extended the points gap at the summit of the table to 13.
The Swans entered the match with a 10-point lead over the Tigers, making a victory essential for Gloucester City’s hopes of automatic promotion. Both teams approached the game cautiously, resulting in a tight and tense first half that ended goalless.
The deadlock was broken early in the second half when Walton & Hersham capitalized on a corner. A scramble in the box allowed Rogalski to latch onto the ball and slot home in the 49th minute, igniting the home crowd.
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Despite relentless efforts from Gloucester City to find an equalizer, the hosts maintained their grip on the game and sealed the win with a second goal in the 97th minute, putting them firmly on track to clinch the title.
“We were naïve in how we conceded that first goal,” Williams admitted. “Letting in a goal from a corner like that is unacceptable. It’s frustrating because I thought overall we were superb throughout the game.”
Williams also highlighted controversial moments that could have turned the tide. “We had a clear penalty shout for handball that wasn’t given. Sometimes, you need those decisions to go your way. We created chances but just couldn’t convert.”
Adding to Gloucester’s woes, midfielder Ed Williams was forced off with an injury in the 41st minute. “It doesn’t look good,” said the manager. “It impacted the game, but Marcus came on and did his job. We’ll reassess Ed’s condition and hope for the best.”
Williams praised the fans for their unwavering support throughout the game. “The fans were outstanding, and it’s gutting we couldn’t get the points they deserved. But we can’t dwell on this.”
Looking ahead, he remains optimistic about their promotion ambitions. “There’s still a long road ahead. If we perform the way we did apart from that one moment, we still have a strong chance of achieving our goals. We’ll regroup and come back fighting on Saturday.”
Walton & Hersham lineup: Barker, Jones, Defise, Obeng, Rogalski, Powell, Wood (Bolton 91), Parkes (Horan 80), Nuur (Amartey 25), Kuaho, Fernandez.
Gloucester City lineup: Thompson, Lewis, O’Regan, Williams (Day 41), Phillips, Spence (Baidoo 67), Watts, Hanks, Richards-Everton (Wildig 85), Pinchard, Mohammed.
Referee: Callum Parke.