Moors conceded four goals in a league game for the fourth time this season as they were beaten by struggling Gloucester City at The TigerTurf Stadium.

The Tigers came into the game sitting bottom of the table and 11 points adrift of safety, but they gave their fans fresh optimism in their battle for survival with a thoroughly deserved win over Moors.

There wasn’t much to choose between the two teams in the early stages; Brandon Smalley tested Moors keeper Michael Roxburgh from distance, while Owen Gallacher saw a shot blocked at the other end.

It took Moors 24 minutes to get their first real sight of goal when Mark Anderson clipped a wonderful ball over the top for Will Harris who took a perfect first touch to give himself a shooting opportunity, but he prodded a tame shot straight at City keeper Zach Jeacock.

Just four minutes later, the hosts were in front. Liam Cross found space on the right and whipped a wicked cross into the box which flashed over Roxburgh and came back off the far post before being bundled over the line by Smalley.

Roxburgh then made a smart save to deny Cross from a tight angle as the home side took control of the game for the remainder of the first half.

And they got further reward for that in stoppage time when Ben Hockenhull clipped Smalley as he drove into the area and skipper Joe Hanks rifled home the resultant penalty to make it 2-0.

Moors came out looking determined at the start of the second half and Danny Greenfield saw a shot saved by Jeacock, while Gallacher saw another shot blocked after skilful play saw him engineer a chance for himself.

Gloucester responded in kind and Harry Pinchard drew a good save from Roxburgh when he curled a long-range effort on goal which the Moors keeper had to parry round the post.

However, a minute later it was 3-0. Harry Leeson swung a hanging cross into the far post from the right and Tyrone Duffus attacked it aggressively, powering a header past the helpless Roxburgh.

Moors gave themselves a glimmer of hope in spectacular fashion on 70 minutes when Anderson stepped inside from the left and whipped a wonderful shot over Jeacock and into the top corner.

And the comeback looked on when a good delivery into the box was knocked down into the path of Hockenhull who gleefully rammed home his first goal for the Club to make it 3-2 with ten minutes left.

Moors pressed forward in search of a leveller, but City substitute Elliott Durrell helped snuff out any hope when he won back possession, drove forward and set Cross through on goal and the midfielder clipped a clinical finish over Roxburgh to make it 4-2 and clinch the three points.

Full Time: Gloucester City 4 Moors 2

Gloucester City: Jeacock, Leeson (Beresford 90), Duffus, Ram, Reckford, Hanks (Durrell 58), Pinchard, Emmett, Smalley (Smile 67), Cross, Wright.
Subs not used: Parker, Santos.

Booked: Emmett (38), Leeson (42)

Moors: Roxburgh, Ferguson, Pollock, Hockenhull, Staunton, Anderson, Fielding (Ross 67) Greenfield, Gallacher (Glover 90), McKeown, Harris.
Subs not used: Montgomery, Mbeka, Ledger.

Booked: Staunton (45), Hockenhull (45)

Referee: Liam Corbett

Attendance: 601