“We haven’t been good enough” – Driscoll’s honest verdict on relegated Cinderford Town’s tough Southern League return
Cinderford Town Manager Matt Driscoll has called on his players to stick together for the final two games of the season after the Foresters were beaten by Malvern Town on Easter Monday.
After a goalless first 45 minutes, Malvern simply blew Cinderford away in the second half, running out 4-0 after what was a really encouraging and positive first hour or so from Driscoll’s side.
But as soon as Harry Clark tapped home the opener, Cinderford capitulated – conceding a second within 90 seconds as former Bishops Cleeve man Jack Watts slotted home.
Further goals from Joe Bullock and a second from Clark rubbed salt in the wounds for the Foresters, who didn’t cover themselves in defensive glory for the goals.
Following the game, Driscoll was visibly emotional after Cinderford’s relegation was confirmed over the weekend and was disappointed with the second half display.
“The second half was very very poor,” said Driscoll. “The first goal, the boys say is offside, but I couldn’t see from here. he was on the line but it’s small margins.
We’ve clipped the post in the first half, then the next phase of play after the goal we are 3 on 2 and misplace the pass. they go up and our defender is one on one [with the attacker], he should have turned but he’s tried to take him on and they go on to score.
But that’s where we are, mistakes have been criminal and the mistakes have killed us today,” Driscoll added.
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As mentioned, Cinderford had chances in the first half, with Alex Bonthron hitting the foot of the post and Marley Thomas looking lively throughout the half.
After the break, Christopher Bell flicked a header wide from a corner and even at 2-0 down, the Foresters thought they should have had a penalty after a handball – a free kick was given instead, which was ultimately saved and whilst Driscoll wasn’t happy with the events, he said they can’t use it as an excuse and Cinderford need to accept that they were always going to struggle in their return to the Southern League.
“We’ve had a penalty claim, the linesman is buzzing for the referee to go and speak to him and the referee has refused to and I’ve him asked why he hasn’t gone to speak to him and the ref has said he had made his decision.
But that’s not an excuse [for the defeat], they deserved the win. Malvern are a good team and unfortunately we just fell apart after the first goal
We aren’t good enough for this league and we have to take that. we knew we would be the strugglers and it has shown with where we are in the league.
The league table doesn’t lie and the budgets don’t lie in any level of football, you look at the Man City’s of this world compared to the Southampton’s and yeah, that is where we are.
This season just needs to be over now, for me and for the players. its been tough and all the good from last year and we have come into this league and we haven’t been good enough,” Driscoll said.
Driscoll confirmed that there is a meeting between himself and the club in the next couple of weeks, once the dust has settled and said he wasn’t sure on what will happen for next season.
But Cinderford still have two games left, with a home game against Falmouth Town on Wednesday night and a trip to Bemerton Heath Harlequins on Saturday and after Monday’s defeat, Driscoll admits it will be tough for his side to get up for the final two matches – but called on the squad to stick together.
“I don’t even know what we can do [to get everyone up for the final two games], we’ve picked up another couple of injuries today and if you asked based on the first 45, it was good, it was positive, so if we can replicate the performance of the first 45 then we can end with a bit of pride,” Driscoll said.
“There was some screaming and shouting in the changing room because everyone is rightly frustrated, there was a lot of emotion, but we have to stick together for the final two games of the season – as they could be the last two games we play together,” Driscoll added.
Cinderford Town’s final home game of the season takes place on Wednesday 23 April, against Falmouth Town, kick off at the Causeway 19:45
READ MORE: Check out the list of Saturday’s fixtures in and around Gloucestershire right here
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