Ben helps Gloucester City Hunt down win
ONCE again Gloucester City showed how ugly football can beat the beautiful game with an important victory over Farsley.
Farsley, having lost their Polish goalkeeper Piotr Skiba earlier in the week, were forced to field a reserve keeper, Josh Bell, because they are still under a transfer embargo.
Mike Green's penalty save after six minutes gave City the confidence they needed, but it was another tense 80 minutes for the travelling fans to endure.
An early goal from Ben Hunt on 11 minutes once again showed why the Bristol Rovers loanee is a touch of class.
City started with pace and energy, with Jack Pitcher and Lee Smith, who both looked lacklustre in previous games, playing with renewed energy on the wing.
Marc Richards conceded a soft penalty after five minutes, his second in three games, but Green matched Dominic Krief's low effort and kept the ball out.
Pitcher, by no means a natural left winger, looked assured and calm.
His cross on nine minutes landed accurately at the feet of Hunt, who showed composure to slide the ball past Bell.
Mike Symons should have made it two minutes later but somehow failed to connect with a Tom Webb cross, Webb doing well to stay on his feet.
All Symons had to do was knock the ball past Bell, but somehow he tripped over his feet and scuffed the header.
Smith should have won a penalty when he was pulled back by two Farsley defenders in the box, but the referee did not give it.
The second half saw frantic football from both sides with Farsley failing to capitalise on several efforts.
Jack Harris and Smith threatened at the other end.
Symons had another shout for a penalty when his marker appeared to try and remove the shirt from his back.
Substitute Patrece Liburd looked dangerous for Farsley with his size and strength on the left wing, but Tigers veteran Neil Mustoe was a tough opponent and competed well.
Green was called upon to make a stretching save as Gloucester dug in for the three points.
Farsley Celtic: J Bell, D Pickering, R Serrant (G Grant 68), D Syers, M Jackson, J Radcliffe (P Liburd 68), L Shepherd, M Young, L Ellington, D Krief, R Stamer (S Bambrook 88). Subs: T Hirst, S Driscoll.
Gloucester City: M Green, N Mustoe (J Reid 72) J Harris, M Richards L Molyneaux, M Rose, L Smith, T Webb, J Pitcher, M Symons, B Hunt (W Morford 75) Subs: R Aldrich, J Palmer, T Hamblin.
Star man: Mike Green
Referee: S M Stockbridge
Attendance: 275
pressure: City's Tom Webb pushes forward. Below, Ben Hunt celebrates his goal.
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