Southern League

South & West Division

Yate Town 3

Cinderford Town 1

CINDERFORD must be sick of the sight of Yate Town. After luring away their club captain Geraint Bater, they convincingly beat them in this Tuesday night clash on a heavy pitch.

To make matters even worse, Yate have put in seven days notice for Cinderford's top scorer Scott Wilson.

Cinderford manager Steve Peters was not at the game, having just become a father to a baby girl in the early hours of Tuesday morning. However, he picked the team in conversations with coach Danny Haines, who was in charge on the night.

Jack Camm, one of Cinderford's best players since his return to the club, found himself on the bench as Andy Lewis moved from centre-half to central midfield. The intention was to make the midfield harder to break through, but it didn't work.

Sam O'Sullivan, who scored twice against Bristol City in the County Cup, kept his place, while Josh Emery was preferred to Lee Smith. Matt Smith, now fit again, did not even get a place on the bench.

Yate, unbeaten in five games, started the match strongly and did not let up. Cinderford keeper Alex Harris was kept busy and in the eighth minute he made a world class stop to keep things scoreless.

Seven minutes before half-time, the home side took a deserved lead through Mike Bryant, who squeezed his shot between post and keeper. Cinderford's best first half chance fell to Scott Wilson, but he was thwarted by Yate goalie Josh Dempsey.

Yate went 2-0 up just past the hour mark through Matt Groves who found the net from an acute angle. Cinderford pulled one back through Lee Smith, who showed his class with an exquisite lob following a free-kick. Any thoughts the visitors had of getting something from the game were dashed in the 84th minute when debutant Kayne McLaggon ran onto a through-ball as Dan Harrison slipped and slid it past Harris.

Despite much talk of play-offs, Cinderford find themselves 15th in the league and much closer to the bottom than the top.

They've only won six out of 17 and, most worrying, have only won one of their last seven. That last league victory came against Evesham United on November 6.

The busy Christmas period will be a big test for the club and its players.

Town go to Paulton Rovers this Saturday, then host Merthyr Town on Boxing Day (3pm).

Clevedon come to The Causeway on December 29, with Cinderford making the short trip to Bishop's Cleeve on New Year's Day.

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