The Peacocks completed their immense Evo-Stik League season with a 3-2 victory at Cinderford Town yesterday afternoon (28th April).
The win was Town’s 34th successive league game unbeaten and also meant they went the whole campaign without being defeated away from home. On a heavy pitch Town were on top in the early stages, Ryan Brett’s shot clipping the crossbar, with the opener eventually arriving on 21 minutes when Matt Wright bundled home a close range header from Brett’s corner. Despite the hosts having plenty of the ball they failed to trouble Lloyd Irish and it was the Peacocks who doubled their lead five minutes before the break after Joel Randall broke from his own half, slipping a pass to Wright who squared for Dan Sullivan to steer into the net.
The Foresters got themselves back in the game after 56 minutes when Irish caught Blaine Waugh as he burst into the box. An initial red card for the Town keeper was correctly downgraded to a yellow and Dan McDonald converted the penalty. The visitors restored their two goal advantage on 67 minutes when more good work from Randall saw him set up Wright to fire home into the corner. Sullivan then shot wide when clear on goal before Cinderford scored again on 74 minutes, Joe Hunt’s cross from the left being met by Richard Greaves’ header which looped over Irish. Pressure from the home side saw Shane White clear off the line while at the other end Craig Veal was denied by Cameron Clarke late on and also saw his header fly narrowly over. The Peacocks now just have the one game remaining when East Division title winners Beaconsfield Town come to the Viridor Stadium next Saturday for the Championship Match.
Reaction | Manager Leigh Robinson remarked: “A great end to a wonderful season. Quite astonishing when you think that by the laws we have gone the entire league season unbeaten and also the only team in the UK not to have lost away in all competitions. The players deserve a huge amount of credit for making all this happen. They really are such a special group and the team ethic is the best I have ever seen. Also a special mention to Cinderford on the day for being great hosts. The cases of beer left in our changing room for the boys was a magnificent touch. We move on to next Saturday and the chance of more silverware.”