The Town’s management decision to reduce admission prices to a £1, paid off handsomely as 1428 fans saw a superlative display against Gloucester City.
Town had to rejig their starting line up when Leigh Franks was injured in the warm up.
Steve Mallory was drafted into the defence and Anton Brown took his place on the bench.
Both sides had early chances and Mallory was soon in action, clearing from Scott Wilson after he had been set up by Zac Kotwica’s powerful run.
Town countered with Michael Woods’ cushioned header finding Liam Hardy who could only shoot weakly at Mike Green.
The Tigers forwards were proving a handful and Craig MacGillivray had to move smartly off his lline to save from Scott Wilson.
But Town,with Adam Bolder bossing the midfield began to turn the screw.
Woods shot directly at Green and Shane Killock headed a Cleveland Taylor corner wide.
Good interplay between Woods and Brad Abbott released Ashley Worsfold down the right,but his centre across goal found no takers.
An incisive through ball by Gloucester’s loan signing from Cheltenham,Zac Kotwica,played in Will Morford,but his goalbound shot was turned round the post by MacGillivray.
Two goals either side of half time put Town in the driving seat.
On 43 minutes,Taylor’s deep centre was headed back across goal by Craig Nelthorpe and Woods netted from close range.
Within seconds of the restart,Nelthorpe dispatched sub Chris Hall down the left and his cut back was rifled home by Woods.
On the hour,Hall found Bolder on the right wing and Woods sidefooted his low cross past Green to complete his hat trick.
The game took on the air of a pre season match as Town assumed complete control and on 70 minutes they went further ahead when Nelthorpe’s corner sailed over Mike Green into the net.
To their credit,the Tigers staged a late fight back.
On 76 minutes, Town failed to clear a Matt Groves corner and Matt Liddiard poked in from close range.
Four minutes later they struck again when MacGillivray was unable to keep out Wilson’s low drive.
It was too little, too late, for Gloucester and Town had late chances to stretch their lead further.
Hall and Taylor went close with shots across the goal and Green produced a fine save to deny sub,Conor Sellars.
Town 1 MacGillivray, 2 Bloomer, 3 Nelthorpe, 4 Bolder, 5 Mallory,6 Killock (c), 7 Hardy (Sellars 77 mins), 8 Abbott, 9 Worsfold ( Hall 43), 10 Woods (Nowakowski 83), 11 Taylor.
Unused subs,14 Brown, 16 Merris
Scorers, Woods 43,46,60. Nelthorpe 70. Bookings Hardy,Hall.
Att 1428
By John Harrison.
