Southern League

South & West Division

Cinderford Town 1

Bridgwater Town 1

CONFIDENCE was high at The Causeway on Tuesday night, on the back of two league wins and an away draw at Sholing.

However, the home side was hugely disappointing for much of the match, only raising their game in the final 20 minutes following the introduction of Lewis Sommers and Nick McCootie from the bench.

Cinderford drafted in Dale Peckham and Danny Haines at the back, with the Lewis boys, Andy and Greg, dropping to the bench.

The first half was cagey, with few scoring opportunities at either end.

Cinderford's young, fit side were intent on getting the ball down and moving it around quickly, but all too often the final passes went astray.

Bridgwater's approach was less complicated and more direct, but they scrapped hard and won most of the physical battles.

Bridgwater took the lead in the 22nd minute after earning a free-kick on the edge of the box. Matt Townley expertly curled it around the wall into the net, giving Cinderford keeper Alex Harris no chance of stopping it.

Bridgwater went close when Robson rounded Harris, but the keeper did well to get back and throw himself in front of the shot, knocking the ball away for a corner.

Merceica also shot into the side-netting with Harris beaten.

Cinderford continued to struggle for fluency in the second half, until McCootie and Sommers joined the fray.

Their superior strength helped the home side to hold the ball up, bringing the midfield men more into the game.

McCootie had a great chance to score but couldn't control a high bouncing ball in the six-yard box.

The hosts upped the pressure and the equaliser finally came on 75 minutes when centre-half Dan Harrison nodded in a corner at the back post.

In the final 15 minutes Cinderford looked the team most likely to win the game, but they could not find a second goal.

Skipper Dale Evans forced a fine save from Bridgwater's Stuart Wood with a dipping half-volley from the edge of the box.

Cinderford Town: Alex Harris, Warren Archer, Danny Haines, Dale Peckham, Dan Harrison, Dale Evans (capt), Matt Barnes, Nick Hancock, Craig Tait, Mike Whittington, Dean Lee. Subs: Andy Lewis, Greg Lewis, Lewis Sommers, Ashley Malcolm, Robbie Maggs.