Southern League Div One S and W

Cinderford Town 2 Taunton Town 0

TWO goals in 20 minutes after the break by young striker Ethan Moore condemned the battling Peacocks to the play-offs and handed Cinderford Town the divisional championship title at the Causeway Ground on Tuesday night, writes Kerry Miller.

It was cruel on Taunton who dominated much of the first half but when it was needed the finishing touch deserted them while Moore’s strikes took him to 30 for the season, sending Taunton to Banbury on Saturday chasing runners-up and a home play-off slot.

Roared on by an impressive away following in what was the home club’s biggest crowd in 20 years, Town went at them from the off with Ben Carter seemingly everywhere at once and Jamie Price finding room for two crosses which went unpunished.

Cinderford weathered the storm and occasionally looked dangerous on the break as they threw men forward but it was Taunton who should have gone ahead on the half hour.

They worked a move on the right but Ollie Chamberlain’s close range effort cannoned away off ‘keeper Alex Harris’s legs.

Five minutes later Craig Veal was in a similar position but again Harris was equal to it as the game flowed from end to end.

Cinderford could have taken the lead before the break as Moore did well on the goalline and squared the ball back but somehow the defence scrambled it away and when Taunton broke, Veal was again unlucky when Harris saved from ten yards.

The home side took control from the restart and five minutes in they took the lead when George Lloyd set up the prolific Moore and he side footed in past Lloyd Irish from 12 yards to start the party.

Town boss Leigh Robinson reacted immediately by taking off former Cinderford man Dale Evans and putting on Jordan Rogers who was instantly involved as he and Chamberlain set up Craig Short but his effort was blocked.

The home side were showing why they kept 23 clean sheets in 41 league matches while the attack were carving out chances and on the hour it was effectively all over.

Niall Rowe won the ball and fed Lee Smith whose inch perfect cross was nodded in by Moore.

Town never gave up and Veal and Rogers found space but the ball bobbled at the wrong time and ended up near the corner flag at which time in was clear it wasn’t going to be their night.

Lloyd should have made it three when he had all the time he needed to finish from 12 yards with Town having committed up field but blasted straight at Lloyd Irish.

Still Taunton went for goal and Price and Short combined for Veal to shoot but again the effort was blocked before the final seconds when Rogers hit the bar from 12 yards, by which time the party was well under way all round the ground.

Taunton had played their part in what was a superb match considering the spoils on offer and both sides respected the game and each other in what was a night which was a credit to the two clubs and the league.

So now the Town look to Banbury on Saturday for another crunch game.