Southern League

Taunton Town 0

Cinderford Town 1

TAUNTON Town reacted to this defeat by putting in seven days notice to sign Cinderford's best player Nick McCootie.

McCootie previously played for Taunton but has flourished at The Causeway.

Cinderford officials were shocked by Taunton's bid to sign McCootie, but say they would be even more surprised if he took up the offer.

Cinderford were also rocked this week by injury news concerning Craig Tait and Andy Lewis.

Tait's season may be over because he has torn a cruciate ligament and faces another operation. It's bad luck for the talented midfielder who missed the whole of last season with a different knee injury.

Andy Lewis could be out for up to six weeks with lateral cruciate damage.

Cinderford are also keen to extend Josh Egan's loan deal. Egan played his final game for Cinderford against Taunton, but the Foresters want to keep him – and Egan wants to stay. The final decision will rest with his contracted club Bath City.

It's probably just as well that Cinderford don't play again until Boxing Day, when they make the short trip to Bishop's Cleeve.

Cinderford's final game before Christmas resulted in an eighth away win out of nine at Taunton.

Under Steve Peters, the Foresters have kept six clean sheets on their travels and only conceded three goals away from The Causeway all season – one at North Leigh, one at Sholing and one at Stourport.

Cinderford were without Matt Barnes and the suspended Lewis Sommers for this match, as well as the injured Danny Haines.

Coach Brad Andrews insists it was still a comfortable victory.

He said: "The surface was good for Taunton and we did what we've done all year, hit them on the break. We had four or five good chances and our keeper (Ben John) only had one real save to make."

Andrews is a busy boy right now, combining his work at Cinderford with a new coaching role at Southampton's Academy.

Cinderford created a couple of smart early chances against Taunton with home keeper Astley saving a low shot from Josh Egan, then tipping over a Dan Harrison effort.

The only goal of the game came in the 36th minute.

Former Taunton striker Nick McCootie hit the post with a shot and Egan reacted first to knock in the rebound.

Ben John made a good tip-over save to keep out a Raith Plant effort, but Cinderford always looked the likelier side to score a second goal, with man of the match McCootie twice going close.

Cinderford Town Ben John, Warren Archer, Matt Smith, Dan Harrison, Greg Lewis, Nick Hancock, Ashley Malcolm, Dale Evans (capt), Nick McCootie, Josh Egan (Mike Whittington 77), Dean Lee. Unused subs: Brad Andrews, Connor Kingdon, Richard Williams, Alex Harris.