Bouncing back Cinderford up to Southern League in style
CINDERFORD Town are back in the Southern League after one season away after Tuesday night’s 4-0 Hellenic League Premier Division play-off final win over Royal Wootton Bassett Town.
Matt Driscoll’s side finished fifth in the table, but saw off second-placed Corsham 1-0 in the semi-final before booking their return with an emphatic win in Wiltshire.
They took the lead after 27 minutes when Ryan Hillier capitalised on a poor kick from goalkeeper James Foster to score.
Two minutes later, Blaine Waugh lobbed Foster from 40 yards for the Foresters’ second goal.
Just after the hour Hillier added his second and Cinderford’s third, and they added the gloss when Craig Norman had a shot saved, then Hillier’s rebound effort hit the post, but cannoned in off a defender.
Town are likely ro rejoin Division One South, alongside Bishop’s Cleeve and Evesham United next season, after both sides missed the play-offs.
Cleeve’s final league game was a crazy affair, as they lost 7-3 at Mousehole.
Hayden Turner set the Cornish club on their way and then Mark Goldsworthy doubled the lead right on half-time but Jay Malshanskyj pulled one back at the start of an entertaining second period.
Turner hit his second just before the hour-mark with Cleeve having Archie Haskayne sent off.
But Malshanskyj responded straight away to make it 3-2 and then Ethan Dunbar level the scores.
That sprung the home side back to life as Tim Nixon and Turner, for his hat-trick, scored in quick succession. Turner then added his fourth a couple of minutes later before Nixon rounded things off.
The defeat saw Cleeve finish ninth in the table, two places below Evesham United, who drew 1-1 at relegated Paulton Rovers.
Levi Steele gave Evesham a first half lead before Ed Butcher carved out an equaliser midway through the second half.
Cirencester agonisingly finished sixth in Division One Central, two points off the play-offs, after a 3-0 win over Welwyn Garden City.
Felix Miles converted a cross-field pass after 15 minutes to open the scoring.
Cirencester were in determined mood and stifled any threat and as a result the game became quite scrappy before Nick Peare added a second five minutes from the interval as he headed home from close range.
After the break the visitors looked more dangerous, with Henry Jones often involved, but Cirencester were threatening as they countered quickly.
On the stroke of full time Ben Whitehead broke free and fired a fierce crossshot towards the far-right post for Luca Robinson to dart forward to finish from a couple of yards, but a couple of minutes later Whitehead left the pitch on a stretcher as he was injured whilst shooting at goal.
A brave comeback from Cheltenham Saracens was all in vain as Mangotsfield United lifted the GFA Trophy with a 3-2 win.
The Mangos led on 12 minutes when Will Ashton was felled in the box and Jaydn Crosbie converted from the spot, and Jack Nunn made it two three minutes later.
Crosbie netted his second after 20 minutes, but Paul Holmes pulled one back eight minutes before half-time.
Holmes scored again after 54 minutes but they could not find another goal, ending with 10 men when Ben Tunnicliffe was sent off.
Malmesbury Victoria will play in the Hellenic Premier Division next season after beating Sporting Club Inkberrow 2-1 in the Division One play-off final.
Newent Town finished their Division One season with a 3-1 win over FC Stratford, Mateusz Klich, Toby Moran and Kyle Taylor scoring.