HOME DEFEAT IN THE HEAT

THE WHITE Tigers slipped to a 2-1 home reverse at the hands of Gloucester City on a warm and sunny Easter Saturday.
We started as brightly as the weather and saw a lot of the early ball with Copp going close which was well kept out before Thompson put in an inviting ball that evaded everyone.
After Diau headed over, Harvey saw his header saved by King as we searched for an opening goal.
We were restricting our opponents to very few clear-cut chances as we worked hard. Dan Rooney did well to carve out a shooting chance for Harvey but his shot was blocked before Allen fired the rebound wide of the target.
With ten minutes to go until the break, Thompson made good progress out wide before setting up Rooney who fired over from a good position.
It was the visitors who took the lead with 38 minutes on the clock when Robert turned sharply and arrowed the ball beyond the reach of Alexis Jr.
Having looked the most likely side, it was a bitter pill to swallow but we searched for a leveller as Harvey caused concern before firing over.
We came out of the blocks with purpose at the start of the second half and a free-kick from Grimes produced a good save out of King as Harvey headed the resulting corner over.
Another opportunity followed but Diau failed to take advantage from close range and as the visitors started to get back into their stride we Grimes had to be alert to thwart a raid.
We were handed a great chance to level matters on the hour-mark when we won a penalty but King saved well from Harvey.
With Lewington joining the action soon afterwards, he was quickly involved when his strike was well saved by the in-form King.
It was proving to be frustrating as we just couldn’t find the all-important equaliser and worse was to follow when Jackson found the net to double our opponents’ lead following a counter-attack.
With just 20 minutes to go it gave us a real mountain to climb. Rooney put an attempt wide before Robert rattled the woodwork at the other end.
The goal that we had been threatening finally arrived in the last minute from Harvey but it proved to be too little, too late as there was no time left to find an equaliser as we slipped to a disappointing home defeat at the hands of a side in and around us in the table.

WHITE TIGERS: Alexis Jr, Thompson (Palfrey 87), Riley-Lowe, Grimes, J. Richards, Booth, D. Rooney, Allen, Copp (Warwick 75), Harvey, Diau (Lewington 63). Subs not used: Regis, Rowthorn.
GOAL(S): Harvey
ATTENDANCE: 684.

PHOTO: Josh Miller.