Southern League

South & West Division

Poole Town4

Cinderford Town 0

FOR the second year running, Cinderford's part-time players found themselves having to leave work early for a 220-mile round trip to Poole on a Tuesday night.

Many of them would not have arrived back home until after 2am.

Cinderford turned up for the match late, forcing the kick-off to be delayed, and things never got any better for the Foresters after that.

The home side, second in the league table and beaten only twice in 21 games, are a big, strong side who don't drop many points at home.

They also had the extra advantage of not having played on Saturday.

Poole dominated throughout, though Cinderford's cause was not helped by the second half sending off of substitute Dan Harrison for a head butt on Spetch, just minutes after he had come on.

Cinderford were always chasing the game after falling behind in the 11th minute to a sloppy goal. Centre-back Greg Lewis headed the ball into his own net.

Town keeper Alex Harris did well to keep out a Preston shot, before making an even better save to block a Charles header.

The second goal came in the 22nd minute from Will Spetch, who got the slightest of touches to a Devlin free-kick.

Poole almost had a third when a corner found Charles at the back post. He blasted the ball towards goal but it was kept out by one of his team-mates.

Lewis Sommers, who scored twice against Cirencester on Saturday, came on for the second half and started to ask the Poole defence a few more questions.

However, Harrison's straight red card ended all hopes of a comeback.

Cinderford kept plugging away, but Carl Preston extended the home side's lead midway through the second half with a lob that went in off the underside of the bar.

Mike Charles rounded off another forgettable night for Cinderford with his 11th goal of the season four minutes from time.

Cinderford Town: Alex Harris, Warren Archer (capt), Matt Smith, Greg Lewis, Andy Lewis, Jack Camm, Matt Barnes, Dave Bird, Dale Evans, Sam O'Sullivan, Josh Emery. Subs: Dan Harrison, Lewis Sommers, Ashley Malcolm.

Southern League

South & West Division

Cirencester Town 2

Cinderford Town 2

THIS was a typical Southern League derby, with both teams scrapping for superiority. A draw was the fairest result.

Cinderford took the lead in the seventh minute when Lewis Sommers volleyed home as the Cirencester defence dithered.

There was no shortage of chances, although both sides struggled for fluency.

The Foresters survived a penalty scare after keeper Alex Harris collided with Packer, while Sommers had a chance to double the lead, but shot tamely at Garner.

Cirencester equalised before half-time through Sam Collier, who pounced on a loose ball after Harris kept out a long-range Packer effort.

In the second half Packer and Collier combined again to give their side the lead. It was Collier who shot past Harris in the 52nd minute.

Cinderford came under pressure with Greg Lewis back-tracking well to clear a Wells cross off the line.

However, they silenced the home faithful with a second goal from Sommers on 57 minutes. The big striker raced through a square defence to beat the onrushing Garner to the ball and find the net.

Both sides could have won the game in the final quarter.

Sommers had a diving header turned away, while Dale Evans went close on a couple of occasions – once with a spectacular overhead kick.

Sam O'Sullivan also forced a decent save from a shaky looking Garner.

At the other end, Alex Harris needed to be alert to keep out a couple of efforts from Collier, who also fluffed his shot when put clean through by Packer.

Cinderford Town: Alex Harris, Warren Archer (capt), Matt Smith, Greg Lewis, Andy Lewis, Josh Emery (Jack Camm 78), Matt Barnes, Dave Bird, Dale Evans, Lewis Sommers (Sam O'Sullivan 78), Lee Smith (Ashley Malcolm 84). Subs not used: Alex Evans, Dan Harrison.