After two lengthy away trips in the last week, one with a game, albeit a very soggy one, at the other end, and one without, it’s back to home comforts for The Magpies – and what a game we have in store as two of the division’s top form teams go head-to-head on an autumnal Saturday afternoon at The Wyatt Homes Stadium.

After finishing fourth last season, The Tigers lost at Totton in the play-off final by the only goal of the game. With promotion back to Step 2 clearly a target, Gloucester changed manager in May and brought back 32-year old Dafydd Williams, Assistant Manager at Newport. He had previously been Assistant Manager at Gloucester. And what a start the new boss and his team have made to this campaign. They currently sit second with a W12 D3 L3 GF 42 GA 24 record. That goals for figure is the joint-best in the division with Walton & Hersham. And sixty-six goals in eighteen matches is exciting fare for spectators. On their travels their record is W4 D2 L2: the victories have been at Hungerford (2-1), Weymouth (3-0), Bracknell (2-0), and Basingstoke (2-0); the draws at Evesham (1-1), and Farnham (3-3); and the two losses at Plymouth Parkway (1-2) way back in August, and Uxbridge (3-4) four weeks ago. Their most recent result was a 2-1 home loss to Farnham on Tuesday.

In the FA Cup, The Tigers knocked out Portchester in a replay, before going out to National South Chippenham at home. They are still in the FA Trophy having overcome Hartpury on penalties, Havant & Waterlooville, and, in Round Two, an excellent win on penalties at National South Slough after a 1-1 draw. Williams recently recruited Kane Simpson from Taunton after he moved from Merthyr in the summer, and he has rewarded his new manager by scoring in three of The Tigers’ last four league games. Joe Hanks is their leading league scorer with eight, while Harry Pinchard has five. And keep an eye on Marcus Day in midfield, he often plays well against us.

Gloucester may be the division’s joint-top scoring team, but Wimborne have the joint-meanest defence, with Walton & Hersham, of course, and are undefeated in the league at the Wyatt Homes Stadium – six wins and two draws. The most recent was an excellent three points against high-flying Gosport thanks to Sam Roberts’ strike from a corner. The Magpies are six league games unbeaten, and are third behind league leaders Walton and Farnham in the current form table, three places ahead of Saturday’s opponents. However, in the table that matters, we’re four places below The Tigers with a W8 D5 L3 GF 28 GA 14 record. But after Tuesday’s postponement, we have a game or two in hand on most of the teams around us.

Max Bustamante was in fine form at Hanwell on Saturday, and with Will Fletcher, Joe Smith, and Lewis Williams in the team we’re never far away from a goal or three. Kai Crampton will again be in goal, but Sam Roberts is likely to be missing.

Last season was the first time that The Magpies and The Tigers had played each other, and it happened three times. In the league we lost 1-0 at Sudmeadow Road in August. In October we visited Gloucester again, this time we drew 2-2 in the FA Trophy with goals by Will Fletcher and Cam Munn, but lost 8-7 on penalties. And then, just after Christmas, skipper Sam Jackson’s late, late header earned us a point in the 1-1 draw.

There’s been at least two goals in all of Gloucester’s league games this season, so the scene is set for a cracker. Wrap up warm, come on down, and get behind Tim’s team. After all, it’s what Saturday afternoons were made for.

Match Info:

• As there’s limited parking at the ground in Ainsley Road BH21 2FU, if you can travel by bus, bike, or on foot it would be really helpful. However, if you do decide to travel by car and park on the nearby streets, please do so respectfully to our neighbours.
• The Morebus no.13 runs along Leigh Road from and to The Square in the town centre with stops at the bottom of Parmiter Road, a five-minute stroll from the ground.
• There is a bike park near the players’ entrance.
• A packed printed programme will be on sale.
• Admission: Adults £14, concessions £8, U18s £5, U13s £2.
• Weather Forecast: Sunny intervals; 10oC; 30% chance of rain.