Gloucester City Women (1) 2 Bath City Women 1st (0) 0 – Sunday 1 October 2023 – FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round – TigerTurf Stadium
Match Report by Mark Stillman.
Close range finishes from Kally Lloyd and Rakiya Morgan-King sealed Gloucester’s FA Cup progress against a toothless Bath City.
The Tigers proved too tough for the depleted Romans, who struggled to make inroads in this 2nd Qualifying Round tie at the TigerTurf Stadium.
Gloucester took just 10 minutes to open the scoring. Maggie Neal’s corner to the back post saw Lloyd’s header loop over a crowded six yard box, with the forward credited with the goal despite Megan Prout’s efforts to claim a touch.
Prout’s shot on the turn hit the inside of the post as the hosts penned City back, and they should have made the game safe early in the second half.
Chloe Golding’s strike flashed just wide before Sadie Farley deflected Lloyd’s efforts wide with her legs when the forward was left one-on-one.
Ansley Fuk’s close range header from Neal’s corner cannoned the bar in a five minute onslaught after the break.
While Bath knocked the ball around comfortably, they gave Gloucester’s defence few scares. It took until the 72nd minute for a shot on target when Libby Goater and Hari Sabic combined for Tara Taylor to try her luck from distance, but Ashli Whitbury gathered comfortably.
After substitute Kacie Anderson prodded Paige Todd’s centre wide from close range, another replacement made the game safe with five minutes remaining.
Lloyd was afforded space on the left to pick out Morgan-King, who swivelled into space and planted home from six yards.
It was no less than the accomplished home side deserved as City will be hoping for better luck in the league next week, facing tough opposition in league leaders Royal Wootton Bassett Town.
City’s Line-Up: Farley; Wells, Bellotti, Gray, Wright; Harvey, Harris; Key, Goater, Taylor; Sabic. Subs used: Black, Jefferies.
Scorers: City – none; Gloucester – Lloyd (10), Morgan-King (85)
Referee: Conor McQuillian