Town in a dogfight

Zamaretto Southern League

South & West Division

Taunton Town 1

Cinderford Town 0

JOHN Harris scored Taunton's 58th minute winner to help his side leapfrog above Cinderford in the league table.

With second from bottom Hayes also winning on Tuesday night, Cinderford are right back in the relegation mix.

However, eight of their remaining 12 fixtures are at The Causeway, giving the Foresters grounds for optimism.

Town boss Paul Weeks was less than impressed with Taunton's tactics. He said: "It was a disgraceful game of football on a terrible pitch. We like to get the ball down and play, but the ball must only have been in play for about six minutes on Tuesday.

"I've no problem with sides playing route one but this was something else. It was like watching rugby, Taunton kicked it as far as they could, usually out of play. They didn't have anyone who was technically good, they just kicked it a long way.

"Our supporters were tremendous, they didn't stop singing all night, but it must have been like watching a pack of dogs fighting over a football."

Neither side created much, with Craig Tait having Cinderford's best chance of the match. Skipper Sam O'Sullivan and Greg Lewis were named on the bench because they were less than 100 per cent fit, so Kevin Davies and Lewis Sommers came into the side. Kyle Bassett also replaced Lee O'Connor.

Weeks said: "There wasn't a proper shot all night and the two goalkeepers didn't have to do anything.

"Their goal was a cross that took a deflection off Kane Ingram and looped into the net.

"I can't even criticise my players. We kept the ball OK, the work rate was good and there were no individual errors. I told the players the worst goal in the world would win it and it did."

Taunton had a player sent off two minutes from time following a second caution.

Weeks said: "You can't analyse a game like that. I'm gutted because Taunton are poor and we've lost to them."

Cinderford Town: Ben John, Jordan Branch, Kevin Davies, Dan Harrison, Matt Smith, Kyle Bassett, Craig Tait, Simon Heal, Kane Ingram, Lewis Sommers, Peter Macklin. Subs: Sam O'Sullivan, Lee O'Connor, Greg Lewis, Sam Travado, Steve Peters.

CINDERFORD'S REMAINING FIXTURES

MARCH

13 – Thatcham Town, home

16 – Bishop's Cleeve, home

20 – Yate Town, home

23 – Gosport Borough, home

27 – Paulton Rovers, away

30 – Frome Town, home

APRIL

3 – Mangotsfield United, home

5 – Bishop's Cleeve, away

10 – Bracknell, away