Edwards' late strike lifts the Gloucester City FA Cup curse
GLOUCESTER City left it until injury time to finally earn their place in the FA Cup First Round.
Darren Edwards 91st minute goal broke 23 years of hurt and ensured that Tom Webb's 500th game for City ended with terrific celebrations.
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500 club: Gloucester City midfielder Tom Webb celebrated his 500th City appearance with a FA Cup win over Chippenham Town
Visitors Chippenham started brightly and forced a save from goalkeeper Mike Green in just the third minute before having claims for a penalty waved away.
As expected, the pace and energy was frantic from both sides and a minute after Chippenham's chance Lewis Hogg played in Mitch Harding only for the Bristol Rovers loanee to see his shot blocked.
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Former City trialist Brandon Barnes shot over the bar on six minutes as the action flew from end to end.
Scott Rogers was the first to be booked for a crunching foul on Jordan Goddard.
Chippenham wasted another chance ten minutes in with a shot from Alan Griffth going just wide.
After that Gloucester began to impose themselves, winning a succession of corners.
Jack Harris was imperious on the left, winning every header and setting up play.
But none of the corners produced any threat for former City keeper Conor Thompson.
Harding's powerful shot hit the underside of the cross bar on 35 minutes as City pushed hard but, despite chances for both sides in the four minutes of added time the first half ended goalless.
Green was forced into an early save from a long range effort early into the second half as the pace of the first 45 continued.
With so many former teammates facing each other tempers began to flare, Dean Griffiths and Matt Coupe each earning a booking on 50 minutes.
Gloucester continued to press with Tom Hamblin scuffing a chance on 57 minutes, before Jordan Tillson wasted a shooting chance on 62 minutes.
With time ebbing away it looked like City's poor FA Cup record was set to continue as chance after chance failed to stick.
Griffiths saw red on 73 minutes for a second rash challenge on Coupe before City's subs Steve Davies and Adam Mann gave fresh legs and fresh hope.
With time ticking away, Will Morford set Lewis Hogg free in the box and his cross picked out Edwards who slid the ball home.
The celebrations were manic, as they were moments later at the final whistle as City's 23 FA Cup hoodoo finally came to an end.
Gloucester City: M Green; T Hamblin, M Coupe, C Holland; J Tillson (S Davies 76) , T Webb, L Hogg, J Goddard, J Harris (A Mann 80); D Edwards, M Harding (W Morford 46)
Subs not used: S Rawlings, M Liddiard, J Parker, N Mustoe
Chippenham Town: C Thompson, A Kite, B Barnes (J Guthrie 83), S Casey, N Rudge, J Egan (L Ballinger 84), S Rogers (A Harris 90) A Griffin, D Griffiths, I Harvey.
Subs not used: B Wickens, R Fey
Referee: Andy Hendley (Halesowen)
Attendance: 675
Star man: Tom Webb
Comments
by Citytiger
Monday, October 22 2012, 3:11PM
“Well done Gloucester City,you deserve your day in the spotlight and a big thanks Boris and team for giving the City faithful an early Christmas present.I hope the stay away fans and football fans in general make an effort to come to Whaddon to cheer on the Tigers in this long awaited for 1st round cup tie.The publicity and financial rewards for the ' City Exciles' is more than welcome,but better than that would be the Planning officers giving us the green light to move back to the city.' Up for the Cup'”