Gloucester City manager Daf Williams expressed deep frustration following his team’s 3-2 defeat to Uxbridge on Saturday afternoon, a match where Gloucester squandered a 2-0 lead.
The game began promisingly for Gloucester, with Kane Simpson pressing high and winning the ball early, allowing him to round the Uxbridge goalkeeper and slot home the first goal just seven minutes in.
The hosts doubled their advantage in the 35th minute through Rylie Siddall. After nutmegging his defender, Siddall’s initial shot was saved but he pounced on the rebound to ensure his side went into halftime 2-0 up.
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However, Uxbridge quickly responded before the break, as Jeremiah Okine-Peters met a well-placed cross to reduce the deficit, giving the visitors hope heading into the second half.
The second half was tense and fraught with pressure from Uxbridge. Their persistence paid off when, in the 70th minute, they were awarded a penalty, calmly converted by Troy Perez-Duah to level the match at 2-2.
As the game wore on, it was Uxbridge who looked more threatening. Their persistence culminated in a late winner from Frank Keita, who met a cross and fired home to complete a stunning comeback, silencing the home crowd at the KMM Energy Stadium.
Williams was candid about his disappointment: “Disappointed is probably an understatement. I’m bitterly disappointed. There were a lot of positives during the first half, but conceding that poor goal to make it 2-1 changed the game.”
He added, “At halftime, we urged the players to keep up the good work from the first half, but they did the opposite. The five to ten minutes before our triple substitution were probably the worst I’ve seen here, and unfortunately, things didn’t improve even after the changes. Collectively, it was a really poor day.”
With only eight games left in the season, Williams is determined to keep his players motivated during the busy schedule ahead. “We’ve got to bounce back on Tuesday. There were harsh words in the dressing room, but it’s important we prepare for every game with the same focus—if not more. The push to the end is crucial.”
He appealed to the supporters, urging them to continue backing the team, saying, “If I put my emotions aside, we’re still in a strong position. But I can’t overlook what happened today.”
Gloucester City lineup: Thompson, O’Regan, Wildig, Watts (Baidoo), Thomas, Hanks (Cross 67), Mitchell (Williams 67), Stretton, Mohammed, Simpson, Siddall (Spence 80).
Uxbridge lineup: Underwood, Brown, Martin, Fearn, Jones, Nnadozie (Moore 68), Lawal (Boorn 68), Perez-Duah (Keita 68), Okine-Peters (Bocarro 90), Lee (Prior-Tack 90), Rush.
Referee: Richard Walker
Attendance: 955