Gloucester City 'did enough to win' at Hanwell Town, says manager Mike Cook after Tigers are held to goalless draw

Gloucester City manager Mike Cook
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Manager Mike Cook felt Gloucester City could have taken all three Southern League Premier South points away from Hanwell Town, as they were held to a goalless draw.

City had the better chances in the game with Hanwell keeper Sam Beasant - son of ex Wimbledon and England number one Dave - making some good saves to deny the Tigers.

“They huffed and puffed quite a lot but if you look at the stats we have had something like 17 or 18 shots and second half I don’t think they had a shot,” said Cook.

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“We did enough to win the game and we had two clear cut chances where we should have scored and didn’t make them pay, one with King (Baidoo) and one with Ed (Williams).

“We should be going away 2-0 up but overall the performance was good and I was pleased with it, as we didn’t really look in trouble.

“Before today they are fifth in the league, we are third and I was expecting a tough game which it was and we handled it well.

“In the end, you don’t want them going up the other end and nicking it with their only serious shot of the game - but that didn’t really look like it would happen.”

Before the game, Hanwell had only conceded one goal at home and City had the best of the opening chances, with defender Jamie Reckord and midfielder Joe Hanks both hitting the target, but Beasant saved the opportunities easily.

On the stroke of half-time, Baidoo broke through the centre of the Hanwell defence on halfway, but full back Joe Wilson made a well-timed tackle in the Hanwell penalty area to deny the Gloucester player.

With 20 minutes to go, Williams struck a fine shot that forced Beasant to block the effort by his right hand post.

Cook gave a first start to Riley McGregor, while he was also able to name a stronger substitutes’ bench with players back from injury.

“Riley did quite well and Bally (Dan Ball) did well, the first time he has played centre half for a while so there are lots of positives from that,” he said.

“Harry Pinchard is a big miss. We have got Harry Burns and Riley coming into it and we’ll be having a look at those two in the next few weeks.

“Pinch’s fracture in his leg isn’t going to be healed for two or three months.

“We are going to have to decide soon whether we get a replacement or go with what we have got - but today we played quite well.

“Kevin Dawson has great leadership on the field and in the dressing room and he put on another great performance , Ty (Duffus) was outstanding, as were the whole back four and the goalkeeper as well and it was good to see King up front running the defence.

“It’s good that we have a few back now as it gives us a few options.”

City are away to Tiverton Town on Saturday.

They have been linked with a loan move for Cheltenham Town forward Tom King, who made Robins history last season when he went on from the bench during the 1-0 opening day League One defeat at Shrewsbury Town, becoming the club's youngest EFL player at 16 years and 319 days old.

He also appeared in the EFL Cup first round tie against Birmingham City and the EFL Trophy defeat by West Ham United Under-21s last term.

King signed a two-and-a-half year professional contract in January, having become the first ever Cheltenham player to receive an England call-up when he was named in the Under-18s squad in October, winning two caps.

He was born in Gloucester and grew up in Dursley. The 5ft 6in striker started out in football with Cam Everside, helping them dominate their age group and claim victory in an Under-11 cup final at Whaddon Road.

He then moved to Gloucester City in the Junior Premier League but he was offered trials at Cheltenham towards the end of his Under-15s year, appearing in two matches and joining the Robins' academy ahead of Under-16s.

King is also a talented rugby player, regularly turning out for Dursley RFC at youth level as a fly-half, but this has been forced to fall by the wayside as his football progress has continued.

City: Harvey, Ball, Duffus, Richards-Everton, Reckord, Dawson, McGregor (Williams 67), Emmett, Grubb, Hanks (Burns 60), Baidoo (Smalley 76). Subs: Thompson, Hamilton