Cinderford 2 Slimbridge 1
A late rally from Cinderford saw them take the points from Slimbridge at the Causeway, writes Tim Blake.
After Ethan Dunbar had put the Swans ahead, goals in the last few minutes from Tris Haswell and Mike Symons saw the home side take the points.
Slimbridge had the first decent effort on goal with eight minutes on the clock when a well-worked corner from Joe Shutt, involving Will Hawes and Ben McLean, resulted in a good stop from ex-Swans’ keeper Ellis Parker.
Two minutes later, Mitch McCann’s effort for the hosts was saved by Swans’ Lewis Adams.
With 21 minutes on the clock, as the game settled into its rhythm, Hawes was unlucky again as Myron Turner and McLean set him up, but the ball just wouldn’t fall for the Slimbridge striker and the chance was lost.
The visitors were beginning to boss the game now though, and Ethan Dunbar went close after Parker misjudged a through ball, but recovered well to concede a Slimbridge corner. From the kick, Jak Mitchell was off target with his header.
As Slimbridge continued to press, a Hawes free-kick from the edge of the Cinderford box was saved by Parker, before the visitors went ahead.
A quick break on 37 minutes saw Hawes play a lovely through ball to Dunbar, one on one with Parker, and the Swans youngster finished in style to put the visitors ahead.
Five minutes later, Dunbar had a great opportunity to double the lead, when again one on one with Parker, but hurried his effort, and it was too high.
Cinderford came out with a renewed purpose in the second period, and Ben Brooks had a great effort well blocked by Myron Turner four minutes into the half, as the home side began to gain momentum.
Brooks was again wide from a free kick on 60 minutes, and five minutes later, Brooks again went close from a free-kick after Harry Emmett’s blocked shot resulted in a free kick for the home side.
Manager Tom Speers shuffled his pack with 15 minutes left in an effort to retain the lead, with Dunbar and Marley Thomas being replaced by Dylan Lewis and Edji Mbunga.
After Hawes went wide with an effort on 78 minutes, he was replaced by Nathan Dennis, but two minutes from time, a free kick saw Haswell given a free header in the Slimbridge box, and he converted his chance with a well-taken strike.
In the third minute of stoppage time, a scramble in the Slimbridge box saw Mike Symons convert past Lewis Adams to win the game.
Slimbridge now turn their attention to Saturday, and their FA Cup Preliminary Round Tie at Flackwell Heath, where they will be looking to bounce back from their disappointing result.
Shortwood: Adams, Mitchell, Prictor, Turner, Geddes, Ford, Shutt, McLean, Hawes (Dennis 84), Dunbar (Lewis 74), Thomas (Mbunga 74)
Goals: Dunbar 37
Supporters Man Of The Match: Lewis Adams
