Post by dbbn on Nov 15, 2023 9:58:21 GMT
Saturday 18 November 2023
The Isuzu F. A. Trophy Second Round
Gloucester City v Braintree Town
Braintree travel to VNLN side Gloucester City on Saturday for the first F. A. Trophy fixture of the season.
Gloucester City are managed by former player Mike Cook who was born in nearby Stroud. Cook played for Coventry City Youth in the 1980’s and began his League career with Cambridge United in 1989. An injury blighted career meant he had to give up playing professionally at the age of 22. After playing in non-league football, he turned to management in 2004 with Cinderford Town. He then worked for Cheltenham Town as a Football in the Community Officer before taking his first spell as City manager in November 2019. In 2020 he switched to Chippenham Town before leaving with mutual consent in April 2022. He then took up the manager’s role of Swindon Town women before replacing Tim Flowers at City in September 2023.
City’s record this season is P 18 W 2 D 5 L 11 GF 13 GA 27 Points 11 which currently puts them bottom of the VNLN eleven points adrift of safety.
At home they have P 8 W 2 D 2 L 4 GF 7 GA 9 Points 8; their wins came against Rushall (2-0) and Alfreton (3-0). That Alfreton win is their only win amongst nine defeats. In the F. A. Cup they hosted Totton and lost three-nil.
Leading scorers for City are Brandon Smalley with four goals and Harry Williams and Malveas Tyres with two goals each.
The two sides last met in the 2017/2018 season in the VNLS and the Iron triumphed in both games. The first game played was on 7 October 2017 when the score line was Gloucester City 1 Braintree Town 3. City took the lead on eighteen minutes to lead at half time. Two second half goals from Phil Roberts and a Karl Oliyide strike clinched all three points for the Iron. In the home game on 28 April 2018 it was a three-nil home win with second half goals from Reece Grant (2) and Josh Hill. Highlights of the away game here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljdKY9Rgmq0 and the home goals: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCaix53GrlI www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMLwANViaEQ www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx0njlP44Yk
On Tuesday evening Braintree bounced back from Saturday’s disappointing performance to record another four goal salvo, this time against Welling United. Shaq Coulthirst netted his fourth in four games whilst Aaron Blair’s ninth goal of the season now puts him at the top of the goal scoring charts. However, it was the man of the match performance from Ipswich loanee Matt Ward that stood on the night out as he made his first start with two very well taken goals, the second, another goal of the season contender.
Can Braintree improve on their away record against a Tigers side that appears to have little in the tank?
The Isuzu F. A. Trophy Second Round
Gloucester City v Braintree Town
Braintree travel to VNLN side Gloucester City on Saturday for the first F. A. Trophy fixture of the season.
Gloucester City are managed by former player Mike Cook who was born in nearby Stroud. Cook played for Coventry City Youth in the 1980’s and began his League career with Cambridge United in 1989. An injury blighted career meant he had to give up playing professionally at the age of 22. After playing in non-league football, he turned to management in 2004 with Cinderford Town. He then worked for Cheltenham Town as a Football in the Community Officer before taking his first spell as City manager in November 2019. In 2020 he switched to Chippenham Town before leaving with mutual consent in April 2022. He then took up the manager’s role of Swindon Town women before replacing Tim Flowers at City in September 2023.
City’s record this season is P 18 W 2 D 5 L 11 GF 13 GA 27 Points 11 which currently puts them bottom of the VNLN eleven points adrift of safety.
At home they have P 8 W 2 D 2 L 4 GF 7 GA 9 Points 8; their wins came against Rushall (2-0) and Alfreton (3-0). That Alfreton win is their only win amongst nine defeats. In the F. A. Cup they hosted Totton and lost three-nil.
Leading scorers for City are Brandon Smalley with four goals and Harry Williams and Malveas Tyres with two goals each.
The two sides last met in the 2017/2018 season in the VNLS and the Iron triumphed in both games. The first game played was on 7 October 2017 when the score line was Gloucester City 1 Braintree Town 3. City took the lead on eighteen minutes to lead at half time. Two second half goals from Phil Roberts and a Karl Oliyide strike clinched all three points for the Iron. In the home game on 28 April 2018 it was a three-nil home win with second half goals from Reece Grant (2) and Josh Hill. Highlights of the away game here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljdKY9Rgmq0 and the home goals: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCaix53GrlI www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMLwANViaEQ www.youtube.com/watch?v=sx0njlP44Yk
On Tuesday evening Braintree bounced back from Saturday’s disappointing performance to record another four goal salvo, this time against Welling United. Shaq Coulthirst netted his fourth in four games whilst Aaron Blair’s ninth goal of the season now puts him at the top of the goal scoring charts. However, it was the man of the match performance from Ipswich loanee Matt Ward that stood on the night out as he made his first start with two very well taken goals, the second, another goal of the season contender.
Can Braintree improve on their away record against a Tigers side that appears to have little in the tank?
