CINDERFORD TOWN 2 PAULTON ROVERS 0

Cinderford dominated the first half with only a 13th minute penalty to show.

Paulton had to make a number of changes due to injury and unavailability. Sixteen-year-old, Josh Owers made his debut, and with both full-backs aged seventeen and two eighteen-year-olds in the line-up, it was one of the youngest sides ever to represent the club.

Marley Thomas set up James Harding to blast the ball over before Joe Hillard’s foul on Craig Norman saw the Captain, Andy Lewis, convert the penalty, despite Rovers’ young keeper, Aaron Sainsbury, getting a hand to the ball.

Thomas twice brought saves from Sainsbury, then his cross was headed wide by Norman.

Paulton’s best efforts saw Ben Bament bring saves from former Rovers’ keeper, Andy Hannah, in the home goal.

Rovers looked brighter in the second half as Josh Owers fed Bament the ball, to see his cross headed wide by Hillard.

The Forresters were reduced to ten men after Kieran Alder was red-carded for a poor tackle on Hillard.

Marcus Day had a great chance on sixty four minutes, firing over when he looked set to hit the target.

Seven minutes later, it was 2–0 as Norman’s through ball found Thomas who looked offside, but raced on to chip past Sainsbury.

Hannah then saved the ball from Withey and then from right-back, Mason Harrison, but Cinderford should have added to the tally as substitute, Aaron Basford, completely missed the target.

Tony Walsh