Gloucester CITY's long search for a home league win ended in emphatic style at the New Lawn last night.
The Tigers followed up their 4-1 win at Bromsgrove earlier in the season with another resounding triumph against the managerless club.
City boss Tim Harris made two changes to the team that drew 0-0 with Cirencester as Will Morford replaced Tom Webb and former youth team starlet Ben Ashford came in for Marc Richards.
Gloucester, who had not scored a home goal in four games, netted three times in 12 first-half minutes.
The opening goal arrived courtesy of some quick-thinking from Alex Sykes on 18 minutes.
His free-kick found Lee Smith on the right and the winger's dangerous cross was turned into his own net by Bromsgrove captain Gary Knight.
Three minutes later Jamie Reid fed Smith on the right, his cross struck the near-post with Lewis stranded and Reid followed up to score from close range.
Bromsgrove threatened for the first time after 28 minutes when Damien Markmen got the better of Ashford and crossed for Sam Alsop but Kevin Sawyer made a fine block from point-blank range.
City increased their lead on the half-hour when Michael Noakes threaded the ball through to Morford and he evaded a challenge from Knight before curling a shot into the top right corner from 20 yards.
Sykes had a chance to make it four with the last kick of the first half when he latched on to a long ball but Lewis denied the former Forest Green man.
Early in the second half, Kevin Banner forced Sawyer into a regulation save before City went close to adding a fourth in the 56th minute.
Jack Pitcher broke away down the left and cut inside before unleashing a shot that struck the near post.
Cheltenham Town scholar Darius Morgan was sent on for his debut in place of Morford after 69 minutes and Tom Webb came on for Sykes.
Harris' third substitution saw Jody Bevan replace Pitcher and he nearly scored with his first touch, heading over after Morgan's attempted bicycle-kick.
However, Bevan would score with his second touch as he made it 4-0 from the penalty spot following Banner's foul on Smith.
In the final minute Bevan set up Reid to score his second and Gloucester's fifth as the Tigers cruised to victory.
Gloucester City: K Sawyer, N Mustoe, A Thomas B Ashford; J Reid, M Rose, A Sykes (T Webb, 76), L Smith, M Noakes; J Pitcher (J Bevan, 80), W Morford (D Morgan, 69). Subs not used: A Harris, A Allard.
Bromsgrove Rovers: K Lewis, C Cottrill (E Wolf, 54), C McHale, G Knight, G Sanders; M Birley (M Parsons, 83); S Alsop, D Bridgwater, K Banner; R Ball, D Markmen (B Albutt, 31). Subs not used: L Spittle, C Mole.
attendance: 245
Referee: C Williams
star man: Lee Smith |