Sports

PREVIEW: Eastbourne Borough v Gloucester City

Gloucester City travel to Eastbourne Borough on Saturday for their first ever visit to Priory Lane, looking to extend the gap between themselves and their opponents.

Gloucester currently sit 14th in the Vanarama National League South, with Saturday’s opponents just two places below them in 16th, with the opportunity to leapfrog Gloucester if they win by more than two goals.

 

Form

The Tigers have picked up form recently, helping them climb away from the drop-zone. Just one loss in their last six outings sees them steer twelve points clear of relegation.

Tigers manager Marc Richards was buoyant after his side’s win against Chippenham on Monday:

“The game could have gone either way,” said Richards. “They were better than us in certain spells and we rode our luck. James (Hamon) pulled off a really good save at 0-0 and it was great to see the boys find a way to get over the line.

“It is so pleasing the boys are buying into everything we are doing. We are doing well at the moment and I think it has been down to confidence. Before Christmas we had been performing well without getting the results.

“We are looking forward to the Eastbourne trip. It is on a 3G pitch and that tends to suit the boys, we have some good technical players in the squad,” added Richards.

It is a more precarious position for Eastbourne Borough, however, who are nine points clear of the drop, but both Hungerford and Concord Rangers below them have at least two games in hand.

Eastbourne have won twice and drawn once in their last five games.

However, insecurity is not on Borough manager Jamie Howell’s mind at present, telling the club website:

“We could do with half a dozen more points to feel absolutely safe, but there are plenty of winnable games and a number of clubs who have a lot more to fear than we have. We are playing well, with a good shape and rhythm, and the players are really enjoying it at present.”

 

Team News

Gloucester City have been boosted by the signing of central defender Matt Williams until the end of the season. He is set to make his first start for the Tigers after signing last week.

Williams made the transition to National League South, following a move from Evesham United to Hungerford Town in December.

The 24-year old had a spell with the Tigers in 2014, following a spell at Cheltenham Town in which he captained their U18s side.

 

Last Time The Two Sides Met

Gloucester City 1-2 Eastbourne Borough

The last time the two sides met, Gloucester were beaten by their National League South counterparts.

Two early goals from Eastbourne were enough to see off The Tigers, despite the Gloucester outfit throwing all they could to besiege their opponents.

Ian Simpemba opened the scoring for Eastbourne Borough. The towering centre half came forward for a corner and headed in emphatically from the delivery.

Shortly after Eastbourne doubled the lead. An inspired Jamie Taylor made astonishing ground with the ball to beat City ‘keeper Tom Hadler to the ball and to poke the ball in from a tight angle.

Gloucester responded well to the goal, and offered much more going forward for the remainder of the first half. Despite this, they were made to wait until the second period to reduce the deficit.

Robbie Cundy latched onto a freekick and his effort was parried out by the Eastbourne goalkeeper. However it only went as far as Joe Parker who fired into the net from ten yards.

Gloucester applied the pressure but resolute defending from the visitors bettered what Gloucester had to offer in attack.

 

Predictions

Here’s how some of the ParkLife Sport media team predict the game will finish

Joe Shepherd: Eastbourne Borough 1-2 Gloucester City

Ryan Robinson: Eastbourne Borough 2-0 Gloucester City

Callum Kershaw: Eastbourne Borough 0-2 Gloucester City

 

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