CINDERFORD Town officials have hit out at the FA for creating an ‘uneven playing field’ with the promotion system from Step Four of the non-league system.

Town secured a play-off place with a fifth-place finish in the Southern League Division One South but, due to there being too many teams in contention for promotion to the seventh tier of English football and not even league places, those with a lower points per game ratio were ruled out.

In the Foresters’ case, that meant being ruled out before even kicking a ball in anger against play-off opponents Cirencester Town last week.

The Causeway club went on to defeat Cirencester 2-1 at the Corinium Stadium before falling to a 3-1 defeat in Monday’s play-off final at Yate Town, but Cinderford manager Paul Michael shared some strong words on social media.

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