FA TROPHY 1ST QUALIFYING ROUND SATURDAY 20TH OCTOBER 2007 3PM KICK OFF

Cinderford Town 2 Cirencester Town 1

This was going to be an interesting match. Cinderford had signed former Centurions Scott Griffin and Ollie Holder, as well as fielding another Corinium favourite in Steve Cowe, so were determined to avenge their FA Cup loss last month.

Cirencester still had Harry Etheridge and Michael Jackson out injured, and Luke Hopper not freed by Chippenham. But, Weston Super Mare had released Andrew Chapman so there was a pleasing balance in the team, with Nick Stanley making a welcome return after breaking his finger against Merthyr 4 weeks previously

Foresters ’keeper Matt Bath made sure of this deserved win with two stupendous saves. In the first minute he tipped an Andy Chapman free kick, arrowed for the top left corner, around the post at full stretch.

In the last minute, with Cirencester pressing for an equaliser, somehow he leapt to and reached a Nick Stanley volley going in the top right corner and flipped it over the bar.

Between that first and last minute Cindeford had just four shots on target. Two of them counted but in the 16th minute Matt Bulman pulled off a superb save of his own.

Scott Griffin, guesting for Cinderford before he sets off on a trip around the world after Christmas, feigned disinterest after a free kick had been mysteriously awarded to the Foresters and then made a break up the left to catch the Ciren defence napping to receive the free kick from the alert Steve Cowe.

His cut back left Daryl Addis with a clean shot from the edge of the box and his arrow was going in the top right corner before Bully was up and over to tip it away.

Ollie Holder, now with the Foresters having been released by the Centurions, was up for this one.

While he was steady enough on balls sent on to his head, he was quite often caught ball watching as Steve Robertson ran for the gaps behind him.

But, with the Ciren final pass not accurate enough, the Cindy defence was not really being tested

On 30 minutes Ciren skipper Chris Collins had a clash for a high ball with Craig Tait that left him needing stitches to his eyebrow. While he was off, Cinderford took full advantage of the momentary disorganisation at the back.

Jamie Addis overlapped superbly up the left when Scott Griffin fed him in behind Dan Wallington, driving on into the area then squaring to his brother on the edge of the 6 yard box.

His shot was scuffed under pressure from the admirably recovering Dan Wallington but rebounded off the defender back onto Daryl Addis and the ball bobbled just inside the post and over the line before Bully scooped it out.

Daryl Addis had another chance on 41 minutes, put through by Steve Cowe, another former Centurion having a good game.

Under pressure from Lee Molyneux his shot was from just inside the box and superbly reached and knocked around the post by Matt Bulman.

Right on half time, Dan Hilder, on as sub and playing left back, lost the ball just inside his half. Ben Gasgoyne nipped on to the loose ball, advanced without challenge for 20 yards, drifted inside and unleashed a shot from the D that deflected off Lee Molyneux and looped over Bulman to nestle in the bottom corner of the net.

Cirencester, who had looked promising but had threatened little, should have equalised before that crucial strike when Rhys Carpenter volleyed just wide off a searching Hilder cross.

Going in to the break two down, Cirencester pulled one back on 54 minutes when Jamie Addis pulled Jon Else down just as he was about to connect with Carpenter’s far post cross. Alex Stanley confidently buried the penalty kick.

Bath saved well with his feet from Rhys Carpenter after Jon Else found the elusive Ciren forward free at the far post on 75 minutes. But was left left helpless when Steve Robertson beat Marvin Thompson to a Chapman free kick on the hour only to send his bullet header flashing inches over the bar.

Cirencester again missed the target, in a game of very few chances, when Lee Molyneux got himself into the mix and met a Chapman corner on 86 minutes.

His downward header not only bounced over Matt Bath but also cleared the bar.

And then came that match clinching last minute Matt Bath save to clinch a merited win for The Foresters

The Foresters: Matt Bath, Ben Gasgoyne, Jamie Addis, Ollie Holder, Greg Lewis, Marvin Thompson (c), Steve Cowe Y61, Craig Tait [Jamie Hammond 80], Daryl Addis, Scott Griffin, Dave Wilkinson [Tim Haddock 63]

Centurions: Matt Bulman, Chris Collins (c) [Dan Hilder 31 Y73], Nathan Haisley, Lee Molyneux, Alex Stanley, Jon Else, Nick Stanley, Steve Robertson, Rhys Carpenter, Andrew Chapman
subs: Oggy Hunt, Adi Viveash

Ref: Mr M Granow, Shrewsbury Did fine - his linos were not so cute, not seeming able to suss that Snaky's reactions are so quick that he collects the ball in the clear but starts off well onside when the pass is made. Pity that - Snaky deserved better officiating.

Att: 112 Disappointing display for the nigh on 40 Ciren fans who had made the trip

Ciren MoM: No decision (!!) MoM: Ben Gascoyne [Cinderford]