CINDERFORD fell three runs short of victory away at Woodmancote to lose a game that seemed theirs for the taking.
Richard Henry's 4-47 from 13 overs restricted Woodmancote to 189-8 from 45 overs. It could have been much worse, however, as Olly Cove (55) and Paul Taylor (42) led the fight back after the hosts were reduced to 54-5 by Henry and Mark House (2-41).
Cinderford made a decent start to their innings with Nigel Cartwright and Henry putting on 63 before Henry was caught off the bowling of Sudshan John for 15. Thus began a collapse that saw Matt Whitney go for one, Chris Jackson for a first ball duck and Simon Thurston for four.
Opener Nigel Cartwright became John's fourth victim when he was trapped lbw for a valiant 55 off 68 balls, leaving Cinderford stuttering on 84-5.
Mark House and Richard Bywater put on 38 for the next wicket, but Eliott Acton came on to dismiss Bywater (17), Steve Roberts and Keith Smith in quick succession. Mark Roberts was run out, then House was last man out for 61 – caught by Massey off Acton from the final ball of the 44th over.