Cinderford Town 4

Slimbridge 2

For the first time in the clubs history, Slimbridge played in the third round of the City Security Services League Challenge Cup, however they were denied a place in the fourth round by a fast organised Cinderford side that led 3-0 at one point, with the Swans pulling two goals back midway through the second half before conceding a late fourth, writes Rob Peck.

With the game played in heavy rain throughout the Swans had an early chance when Jamie Martin fired wide while in and offside position after Liam Smith drilled the ball back in from a corner. Moments later Eric Edge in the visitor’s goal made a point blank save from less than 5 yards to keep Cinderford out.

The home side took the lead on seven minutes Will Peck heading home a cross from the right past the helpless Edge. From the kick-off Edji Mbunga put Yashaya Lomotey through on goal but he was judged to be offside by the referee’s assistant. The visitors found themselves two goals down a minute later Richard Greaves playing in Craig Norman who made no mistake in finding the net.

With less than quarter of the game gone Slimbridge were lucky not to find themselves four goals down Greaves firing wide when in a good position and Edge making a save from a close range shot. An injury to Swans defender Steven Jackson on 16 minutes saw a reshuffle with Myron Turner joining the game from the bench taking up a midfield role and team reverting to a flat back four.

Edge was on form blocking a shot through a crowded Slimbridge box before getting his legs in the way of Norman’s shot denying him an almost certain second goal. On 23 minutes Lee Driver Dickerson made a tactical change taking off Smith and bringing on Dean Turner to add some bite to the midfield. Turner made an instant impact winning the ball in the middle before playing in Myron Turner whose shot was just over the home crossbar.

This stabilised the Swans although Edge was on hand again to make a couple of saves from long range around the half hour mark. At the other end the Swans had a couple of chances through the returning Sam Mendes and Dean Turner.

The second half was much more even until on 57 minutes Cinderford scored their third, former Slimbridge defender Sam Turl crossing from the right to the unmarked Greaves who headed home at the far post.

With nothing to lose Slimbridge pressed forward, Myron Turner winning a corner which came to nothing before a free kick on the left fired in to Josh Beadle who headed over. On 62 minutes the Swans pulled a goal back Lomotey latching onto a long through ball tucking it past Jordan Dibble to give the visitors a glimmer of hope.

Cirderford had other idea’s peppering the Slimbridge goal with shots from around the box and one cross flashing across the goal line fortunately nobody was there to put it away. A moment of controversy on 76 minutes Myron Turner raced into the box chasing a through ball which at first appeared to be caught by Dibble but the ball popped out as Turner challenged to leave the Slimbridge man to tuck the ball into an empty net to give the visiting support something to cheer about. An unhappy Dibble received a yellow card for his protest towards the referee for allowing the goal to stand and not awarding a free kick for the challenge.

With 10 minutes to go Ewen Dunbar shot wide from a narrow angle when through with just the keeper to beat. 3 minutes later the visiting supporters thought there team had equalised, a free kick on the left was floated into the box and a miss-clearance from the home defence gave Slimbridge a corner. The corner caused panic in the home goal and in a crowded box Dibble somehow swept the ball off the line and away to safety.

With less than 5 minutes to go Cinderford piled on the pressure Edge racing out of his box saving the ball with his legs as Robbie Atkinson attempted to round the keeper. Edge then made a double save by the left post to keep the home side out, however the hosts did manage a fourth on full time Matt McDonald picking up a loose ball on the left from a free kick on the right to fire past Edge and put the tie out of reach of the visitors.

The Swans return to league action travelling to AFC Totton on Saturday.

Slimbridge line-up: Edge, Martin, King, Pring, Jackson (M Turner 16), C Turner, Mendes, Smith (D Turner 23), Mbunga, Lomotey, Beadle (Dunbar 66)

Supporters' man-of-the-match: Dan King