REPORT | CITY TURN ON THE STYLE IN HOMECOMING SHOW

Gloucester City 4-0 York City

Vanarama National League North

New Meadow Park

Attendance: 2,034

Gloucester City turned up both on and off the pitch as they dismantled title favourites York 4-0 at New Meadow Park.

In front of over 2000 fans for their homecoming match City were barely troubled by York and controlled the match whilst giving a record crowd a performance to remember.

Local lad Danny King opened the scoring with his first senior goal, Fabien Robert made it two whilst Dawson and McClure both scored goal of the season contenders to cap off a remarkable victory.

Gloucester fans turned up in numbers, making the match the highest home attendance in Gloucester since City beat Cheltenham on Boxing Day 1996, and had the biggest attendance in the county on Saturday. Paul Groves named an unchanged line up from the draw at Southport whilst York were without experienced forward Clayton Donaldson.

Both sides tried to keep the ball on the deck and City appeared slightly nervous in what was an even first half, yet still dominated the possession stats through Robert and Dawson. King found the breakthrough a minute before half time after a lively start in which he seemed to be relishing the occasion in front of his home crowd. He got free of his marker and fired past Jameson for his first senior goal for the club, giving City the lead at the break.

Steve Watson’s York were without several key players and managed to test keeper Jake Cole with a header in the early minutes of the second half. But City seemed to sense blood and a rejuvenate Robert doubled their lead on 56 minutes with a deflected shot in front of a vocal T-End. York had one further chance to score, but instead it turned into a goalmouth scramble with Jake Cole coming out with the ball in control of his hands.

York seemed to have no reply and if anything it City increased control and confidence as the match drew on. Dawson’s goal on 76 minutes was one for for scrap book, as the experienced captain beat Jameson from all of thirty five yards, before McClure added insult to injury with an audacious chip two minutes before full time to make it four.

The result makes it 4 points from the opening 2 games of the season for Paul Groves' men, after beginning the campaign with a 2-2 draw away at Southport.

Star Man: Kevin Dawson - ran the show in midfield from start to finish and capped a fine performance with a wonder strike

Gloucester City: Cole, Leadbitter, Galvin (Sub Bremner), Thomas, Piggot, Harrison, Robert (Sub McGilp), Dawson, Young, McClure, King (Sub Evans)

Subs not used: Armstrong

York City: Jameson, Dyson, Fielding, Newton(Sub Hopper), Charles, Wright, McClaughlin, Woods, Heaney, Willoughby, Beck

Subs not used: Campbell, Cunningham, Degruchy, Jones