Slimbridge well beaten in dominant City display

Chris Cornes’ side ran out comfortable 4-0 winners on Saturday afternoon in what originally looked to be a tricky away day against fourth-placed Slimbridge, who had won their last five league fixtures in a row prior to kick off.

Pre-match, Cornes opted for more of the same from his usual starting eleven that had taken to the pitch so often this season. The only changes were Jordan Lymn replacing Calvin Dinsley, who had limped off in the midweek win over Pershore Town, and Elliott Hartley started out on the right wing, with Jamie Insall chosen to lead the line through the middle in the absence of Dylan Hart, another on the treatment table.

A new yet familiar face, Taylor Townsend, City’s latest signing from Midland Football League side Tividale, came straight into the matchday squad but began the fixture on the bench, hoping to make his second City debut at some point during the afternoon.

City began the brighter and were close to going ahead from an Adam Mace corner early on, Connor Gater unable to connect with a fantastic corner whipped into the box, but they made early pressure pay on 12 minutes. Elliott Hartley won the ball on the edge of the area and his attempted low ball back to the edge of the six yard box was only semi-cleared by the Slimbridge defence, and Jamie Insall was able to get his head to the ball and into the path of Belmonte. Belmonte struck low with his left foot and into the bottom corner, giving City the perfect start.

Slimbridge created a good chance to go level with George Neill played in on goal, but Elliott Keightley did well to push him onto his left foot and tighten the angle to goal, meaning his effort was sliced into the side netting, and didn’t trouble Whitcombe.

City’s second would come soon after. Good work in winning the ball back by Lymn led to Elliott Hartley receiving the ball on the edge of the box, and he was brought down by Prictor. From the free kick, Hartley stepped up, and curled a left footed effort past the wall and the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner, to double the away side’s advantage.

On the stroke of half time, Kyle Belmonte burst forward through midfield and into the Slimbridge half, setting the ball into Insall who shifted past number five Dennis, and was brought down outside the box on the opposite side to Hartley’s opener. The angle therefore called for a right footer, and up stepped Liam Lockett. Similar to Hartley, his effort was low and across the wall, beating the Slimbridge players and Parker in goal, with the ball kissing the inside of the post on its way in. From what seemed like a tough test pre-match, City found themselves 3-0 up at the break.

Into the second half and Insall created an opportunity for Lockett to double his afternoon’s goal tally with a deep cross to the back post, but Lockett on the stretch, and slightly wider than ideal, could only divert the ball against the outside of the post and wide. Neill had a good chance after being played in over the top for Slimbridge, but his low effort rattled the post and came back out. The home side kept up the pressure, having a good chance from 12 yards driven towards goal, but Whitcombe was equal to it and cradled into his chest.

If the points weren’t already safe, they certainly were on 70 minutes with City’s fourth. Good pressing work saw a turnover in possession deep in Slimbridge’s half, and after a one-two between Hartley and Belmonte, Hartley found Lockett on the edge of the area. His sideways pass to the opposite side of the area was met by Cam Monteith, a second half replacement for Connor Gater, and his low driven effort was accurate and zipped into the bottom corner of the Slimbridge goal, across Parker and into the back of the net. A fantastic moment for Monteith, grabbing his second goal of the season.

It could have been five following a driven effort by Mace that was heading off target, but controlled by Insall and flicked into the back of the net, but after a conversation between the referee and linesman, Insall was adjudged to have used his hand to control the ball and the effort was chalked off.

Jordan Lymn also went close as the clock ran down, but the score would stay at four and City chalk up their tenth away win in eleven league games this season, a phenomenal record.

Next up for Cornes’ side is a match-up with the same opposition, Slimbridge, on Tuesday evening in the Wiseman Lighting Floodlit Cup, another away tie at Thornhill Park.