Cheltenham Civil Service concede six away to Stoke Gifford United who move up to sixth in the table
Service began the day looking to make it three in the league without defeat.
After seemingly putting their slow start struggles behind them, head coach Steve Holend focused on a strong start in his pre-game team talk.
However, not even a minute into the game, Stoke Gifford were in front through Devanti McIerney’s goal.
Receiving the ball on the edge of the box, he was afforded too much time, allowing for a powerful shot to the keepers right.
Cheltenham nearly levelled the game just a minute later when Joe Mahon’s cross fell to Kieran Taylor.
Bringing the ball down onto his left foot for a shot, he forced keeper Lewis Jefferies into a smart stop to maintain his sides’ advantage.
During what was a positive few minutes for Service, Kieran once again threatened in the box.
Following a free kick down the right wing, Jamie Lewis curled in a cross towards the back post.
Kieran, in almost an identical position, fired another shot towards goal, this time failing to get it on target.
Despite a positive spell for Service after conceding early, it was the hosts who struck next.
Working the ball down the left, winger Mike Barry slid a simple ball into target man Kray Foster who found some space and rolled home his sides’ second of the day just six minutes into the game.
Six minutes later and Stoke Gifford were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty after Harry Gilbert brought down tricky winger Barry inside the box.
The hosts kept coming, this time with a swift counter attack.
McIerney found himself one on one with the keeper and lasered a pinpoint shot accurately into the left corner of the net, taking himself onto a brace.
Sitting 3-0 up with 16 minutes played, the hosts’ clinical nature of front of goal was proving too much for Service.
Things did not improve for the visitors.
After failing to get the ball out at the back, Michael Oliver’s attempted clearance was rapidly closed down by Brad Probert whose sliding interception rebounded the ball into the net to make it 4-0.
Service gave themselves a lifeline just four minutes before the break, when Lewis Driscoll crossed a dangerous ball into the box following a corner.
Midfielder Kieran met it unmarked and headed home to give his side some hope going into the second half.
HT: 4-1
Cheltenham began the second half poorly, as the hosts advanced forward and won themselves a corner straight from kick off.
In amongst a frantic scramble in the box, the hosts managed to poke the ball home, only to be denied by an offside call.
Service generally improved across the pitch as the game approached the hour mark.
Winger Chisom Obi worked relentlessly in attack for Service as they looked to create a route back into the game. Lewis Driscoll found Obi down the left who beat the first man and then earned his side a corner.
Jamie curled in a tempting delivery, but Service failed to get a head to the ball.
On the 67-minute mark, hosts Stoke Gifford struck once more, this time through Barry.
Utilising a big throw from Joshua Stawrowski, Service couldn’t clear, allowing Barry to nod in on the line to make it 5-1 to the hosts.
McIerney completed his hatrick with ten minutes remaining, following a free kick to Stoke Gifford. The winger pulled away from his marker and swept a shot past the keeper to make it six.
Overall Assesment
The scoreline arguably flatters the hosts who despite scoring six, created fewer chances than the final score suggests. Civil Service struggled to deal with the coordination of the Stoke Gifford press that relied on tireless central midfielders to push their team forward with pace. If the visitors were able to put away a few of their early chances, the scoreline who could looked drastically different. A common theme in recent weeks, Service have to start taking their chances if they’re to pick up consistent points this season.
A look ahead to next weekend
Considering illness and various injuries across the squad, Service will be looking to return with a vengeance next weekend when they host 13th placed Hardwicke. With three wins from their opening ten league fixtures, they sit three points behind the hosts. Service emerged 1-0 victors against Hardwicke on the opening weekend of the season, so they’ll be hoping to once again claim all three points.
What Steve Holend thought
“Once again we are made to suffer from a very poor and slow start. Yes, we had chances to make the game closer and Stoke Gifford were ruthless with the chances offered – but we can’t keep giving teams head starts and not giving ourselves a chance in games.”
