Shortwood United 1
Cinderford Town 2
Shortwood made the worst possible start to this game when they conceded two sloppy goals in the first 15 minutes against Cinderford at Meadowbank.
After that they were always chasing the game and although James Baldwin put Shortwood back into the game after 26 minutes Cinderford hung on for their win.
Cinderford had already put Tom King under pressure in the Shortwood goal with a swirling cross that he did well to push over when they took the lead after nine minutes.
Lewis Sommers flicked the ball on to Sam O'Sullivan who ran on to blast the ball past King.
Worse was to come as just five minutes later Sommers was again the provider and again O'Sullivan was the recipient – shooting across King and in.
Shortwood thought they had found a lifeline when Mark Pritchett headed home Jake Parrott's corner but the referee harshly ruled the goal out for a foul on the keeper.
After 21 minutes Sommers faded a shot just past the angle before Shortwood did pull a goal back after 27 minutes.
Joe Tustain's low cross was perfect for Baldwin and he had enough time and space to control the ball before picking his spot in the corner.
Shortwood still looked fragile whenever Cinderford attacked but keeper Alex Harris came to their rescue with a magnificent point blank save from a Pritchett header and Tustain shot wide just before the break.
Ross Langworthy's introduction after 54 minutes gave Shortwood a more attacking look and Tustain flashed a shot across the goal.
Cinderford came close to killing the game off after 70 minutes when King parried a free kick away that was just going inside the post.
Shortwood pushed more and more forward. Cant fired another shot across goal, Tustain's fierce drive just needed a touch and Langworthy just failed to hook in a Pritchett downward header.
Cinderford were always likely to catch Shortwood on the break and O' Sullivan hit a terrific volley that King did well to keep out at full stretch.
In the last five minutes Shortwood forced a succession of corners and swung in a stream of crosses but Cinderford kept them at bay.
Afterwards, Wood boss John Evans said: "We weren't at the races in the first half hour and got what we deserved today.
"We were better in the second half and might have snatched a draw."
Shortwood: King, Brown (Cant 81), Axton, Pritchett, Coates, Haddock, Tustain, Parrott, Slack (Bevan 86), Baldwin, Bennett (Langworthy 54)
Att: 110
