MATCH REPORT- Hungerford Town 1-0 Gloucester city

Gloucester City lost successive games in the Southern Premier Division for the first time this season after losing away to in-form Hungerford Town at Bulpit Lane.

The Crusaders had the better of the proceedings for the entire 90 minutes and will feel disappointed that they only won by one goal on the balance of play.

The Tigers did have one of the first big chances of the day as a quarter of an hour in a ball was dinked over to Kieran Phillips who fired a powerful strike after the ball bounced which was well tipped over by Redman Evans.

City had on loan Coventry City keeper Luke Bell to thanks for ensuring the scores were level at the half way stage after Brad Hooper fed through Kyle Tooze who rounded Bell but he closed the gap enough and put enough pressure on the Town attacker that when he eventually got a strike away Harry Emmett was there to clear the ball off the line.

On the half hour mark it was Hooper who had a chance for Hungerford but Bell was there to stop him by clawing the ball away and ensuring the scores remained level.

The away side were having more of the ball but were struggling to create much with it with no real big chances from inside the Hungerford 18-yard-box with a Harry Pinchard curler from 25-yards being tipped away by Evans near the half time whistle being the best that City offered.

Back for the second half it was Hungerford who came out after the whistle back on term and an incredible save by Bell again kept the scores level after he parried out a goal-bound Jordan Rose header after he was awared too much spsace in the box.

It was only a matter of time before Hungerford did take the lead and just 10 minutes after the second half started they got their noses in front.

Ben Richards-Everton rose highest for a header on the edge of the half way line before it bouncing off a player and straight into the path of Hooper who had a clear run and venemously struck a shot into the bottom left corner whcih no keeper would have been able to keep it out.

It was the hosts just rewards with the impressive Hooper deserving of scoring what would eventually be the games only goal.

Changes were made to turn the scores around with Jadyn Crosbie, Dayle Grubb and the returning Harry Burns from injury on to make a difference in addition to Richards-Everton being moved up front as City pushed for a goal that could form the catalyst of a comeback.

City barely created anything of note in the second half with the closest effort being a Crosbie header that went high and wide of the crossbar with Hungerford pushing to grab their second to secure their 10th victory in 13 matches.

Rafa Ramos a new arrival from Poole Town stretched the game for the hosts with two speculative shots going well wide after good play by the hosts while the Tigers had to remain resolute to stop on-loan Forest Green Rovers attacking midfielder Jose Marquez from doubling the hosts advantage.

City offered very little in the game bar two shots on target in the first half with none that tested Evans in the second half in a day which results did go for them.

Third placed Walton & Hersham four consecutive wins suffered a slight dent after drawing 3-3 away to Hanwell Town who City have next in the league at the TigerTurf Stadium, while Wimborne Town shocked AFC Totton 3-1 and other play-off rivals Dorchester Town also suffering their second consecutive defeat in a row after losing to Gosport Borough at home.