The Citizen took great delight in reminding us that this was the first league match between these two teams since 1935, I'm not sure that cheered us up hugely - but still a derby is a derby, even against the six-toed folk of the forest. Too lift spirits even further the secretary had quit and there are very real fears we may have seen the last of a couple of our more experienced players following the latest hiccup in paying the squad. Plus it was cold. At least it was a match though, so it wasn't all gloom and doom.

City started promisingly with Jimmy Cox harrying the Cinderford defence down the left flank and forcing a couple of corners. Bayliss then had a good opportunity to put us in front after Marshall sent him through. City's best early chance fell to Griffiths down the right, but he delayed too long and City then had to make do with a shot from distance from Grantley Dicks. 

Cinderford were however hinting they could cause problems to our delicate defence. Gannas smacked one clearance straight into the back of a Cinderford player and was lucky to see it fly to safety, and then minutes later City were rescued when the Forest forward headed a goal bound shot past our post. This should have warned us, but more relaxed defending allowed a cross shot to find its way to the far post for an easy tap in by Lang on 24 minutes. 

At least City were able to summon up a swift response and immediately piled some pressure on the Cinderford defence who conceded a couple of corners. They managed to clear one only as far as the by-line where Cox was able to hook the ball back in and beyond the keeper. Bayliss saw his first header bounce back off a defender but his second attempt secured the equaliser. Within a few minutes City got ahead when Bayliss was sent through by Marshall and his deep cross from the left was met at the far post by Griffiths, his confident header making amends for some earlier loose passing in midfield.

As the half wore on the game was developing an edge, with Tucker getting involved in a kicking dual and Cally getting visibly wound-up by some clumsy tackling on the heavy pitch. Bayliss drew a fine full-length stop from the Cinderford keeper who turned the ball past his post. City survived a brief goal line scramble, but should have added to their lead when Steadman had a headed goal from a corner unconvincingly disallowed for a phantom push. 

The second half saw Cinderford re-awaken and put together a burst of attacking play which briefly suggested them capable of more than their bottom placed league position. Gannas made a fine stop from a header as the impressive Darryl Addis was making poor Grantley Dicks chase all over the pitch in a fairly futile pursuit.  

The match wasn't teaching you much about football, although it was entertaining enough in an end to end scrap sort of way. City were capable of cutting through Cinderford at will, but Marshall, Cox and Bayliss were all guilty of spurning good shooting chances. The muddy pitch was making for tired legs, and Marshall jinked his way through from the left only to again be let down by poor finishing. Baylo was dropping deeper and deeper to help our midfield, and managed to send Cox clear with a deep pass only to see his lame shot barely reach the keeper.

Bayliss did better a few minutes later when the roles were reversed. Cox ran through only to see his shot left over a defender and drift towards the far post where Baylo volleyed in from a tight angle. Just when we were all hoping to slope off back into the warm Cinderford gave the locals some hope by clawing one back through the ever-entertaining and ever-small Adie Harris. His goal came after Gannas again failed to meet a cross and the rebound fell to the pocket-sub a few yards out.

Both sides should have had more goals, but City managed to hang on and pick-up some much needed three points. Parnell had another solid game, but despite that City will still be alarmed at how easily a poor side like Cinderford were able to create chances. If City do indeed lose a couple more key players from the side it is hard to see an opportunity for any great improvement.