Relegated Freds cut down by Foresters

Cinderford Town 2-0 Wantage Town

After relegation was confirmed in midweek, Wantage Town finished their season with a 2-0 defeat away at Cinderford Town.

Ethan Hayes and Ryan Hillier scored for the Gloucestershire side, who need three points from their remaining two games to reach the Hellenic League Premier Division play-offs.

The result ends a miserable campaign for Wantage, as they drop down to step 6 just two years after being a Southern League side.

With a clear emphasis on youth under Daniel Barry, Wantage struggled from the off but a run of three wins in four games, culminating in last weekend’s 2-1 victory over Hereford Lads Club, had left them just two points from safety.

That gap though became five when Lydney Town beat Brimscombe & Thrupp on Tuesday and relegation was confirmed for the Freds as they lost 5-0 to Roman Glass St George on Wednesday.

They concluded the campaign with a second trip to Cinderford of the season, with this game originally being abandoned shortly after kick-off back in January.

The pitch at the Causeway Ground was looking heavy after a very wet season, but the hosts looked comfortable playing on it and began to dominate from the off.

They had an early effort disallowed after Tom Rees had saved the initial header from Hillier, but they were cut open at the back shortly after, with Kerry Morgan finding Hayes to score.

Further chances followed. Rees saved when Hillier deftly turned a Morgan effort towards goal. Morgan himself also struck wide. It was Hillier who got the second, being found in the centre of the box before placing in.

Wantage did well to keep the score down to two at the break, and they nearly got one straight back afterwards as Mason Muckelberg was denied on the line by Lewis Adams.

At the other end Hillier nearly added a third, chasing a loose ball into the box but firing it over. That would be the story of the second half for the home side, who will need to be more clinical if they are to reach and succeed in the play-offs.

The latter stages were a dull affair but Wantage nearly struck in stoppage time as Jack Fountain saw his shot turned wide by Adams.

As so often this season though Wantage fell short, and in a campaign when they’ve won just seven times in the league – only one of which against a side finishing outside the bottom five – they will have to go away and lick their wounds ahead of a Division One campaign next season.

Cinderford Town (4-3-3): Adams; Davies, Vine, Barnard, Heffernan; Jones, Watkins, Norman (Symons 79’); Hayes (Cadd 75’), Hillier, Morgan (Davies 61’).

Wantage Town (4-3-3): Rees; Downie, Muckelberg, Dopson (Ero 49’) Squires; Ballard, Robertson, Fountain; Reeve (Bailey 84’), Knight, Rennie (Dance 61’). Unused subs: Edwards, Smith.

Goals: Hayes 7’, Hillier 32’.

Booked: Dopson 48’, Downie 71’.