Player/manager Frank Sinclair thought he had won the game
when he forced the ball over the line from close range on 83 minutes, but they
conceded just two minutes later to leave Sinclair “unbelievably disappointed”
they couldn’t secure what would have been an important victory.
“The boys have given everything tonight,” he said. “They’ve
done everything I asked of them. Some of the football we played at times was
unbelievable, and in the first 15 minutes they couldn’t deal with us at all and
we could have been two or three goals up.
“On another day we would have won this game comfortably. We’ve
had a lot of shots at goal but they’ve all gone to the ‘keeper. In the end we
have given them a point with a sloppy set piece.”
The night looked like it could be fruitful for the Seagulls
after they took an eighth-minute lead. Rob Hopley saw his shot blocked in the
area by Gloucester ‘keeper Mike Green, but Gaz Evans followed up to fire in the
rebound.
Much like the Welsh national side against Croatia a day
previously, it took something special from Gloucester to break the resistance.
It came via a 25-yard special from the boot of Tom Webb to make it 1-1 on 20
minutes.
Rather than let the setback affect their attacking intent, the
Seagulls again went forward and could have had a penalty when Jamie Ellison
collided with Green chasing a loose ball, but nothing was given.
In to the second half, another penalty shout came and went
for an alleged handball, and Hopley, Evans and Charlie Joyce all went close.
In to the final 10, Mike Lea’s free-kick was spilled by
Green and Sinclair followed up to prod home, but just two minutes later, Chris
Sanna was forced to expertly save a Matt Liddiard effort, and from the
resulting corner the same player rose highest to head home and leave the Bay
with just a point.
Liddiard could have won it for the home side in added time
from another corner, but his header sailed over the bar, much to the relief of
the travelling fans.
The result means the Bay remain four points behind closest
rivals Corby, but still hold two games in hand over them, Corby having drawn
1-1 at Vauxhall Motors a day earlier.
Next up is a tough encounter with table topping Chester
City, who have only lost once this season, before they travel to Stalybridge,
just three places and nine points ahead of them, on Easter Monday (April 1).
In the Evo-Stik League Southern – Division One South &
West, Merthyr Town’s promotion bid
took another hit as they went down 3-2 at home to mid-table Clevedon Town.
They remain in fourth place, five points behind Swindon Supermarine
above them, but having played a game more. They have won only one of their five
fixtures this month and will need to get back to winning ways to seal a
play-off spot.
Ian Traylor gave Merthyr the lead, running on to a through
ball to slot past Joe Perry in the Clevedon goal. But Reeko Best scored twice
to turn the game on its head.
Aaron Cornwall scored from all of 25 yards to make it 2-2,
but a late Clevedon free-kick was floated in and Steve Kingdon’s headed goal
condemned Merthyr to defeat.
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