Match Preview

It's a rare Monday night fixture for City in the final week of the league season as they prepare to face Cinderford Town at The Causeway.

Due to the weird and wonderful nature of the Hellenic League Premier this season, Chris Cornes' side head to Cinderford with our opposition's status in the Playoff final already confirmed, due to them having played their Semi Final with Corsham last week before the final game of their league campaign. That was a 1-0 for Cinderford who played the majority of the second half with ten men, after Dale Evans' excellent free kick had put them ahead and confirmed their final place. They face Royal Wootton Bassett Town next week to decide who will play at Step 4 next season.

City have come out on top in their two previous meetings with Cinderford so far this season, the first a 4-2 home win back in August which was the first win of the league season, and the second a 4-3 thriller at Claines Lane in late November in the Marsh Challenge Cup, the competition that City are now in the final of after Saturday's 1-0 win over Division Two Letcombe.

Since the disappointment of the FA Vase Semi Final loss on penalties to Great Wakering Rovers, City have won their three subsequent fixtures, scoring ten goals and conceding two, as they look to end the campaign on as a high a note after an incredible campaign.

With four games remaining, both Kyle Belmonte (39) and Liam Lockett (36) are in with a shout of becoming the first City players to score 40 goals in a season since Mark Whitehouse in 1987/88, who scored 42 in total (thank you to Club Historian Julian Pugh for that statistic!). It will be some feat for City to have two players surpass the 40-mark.

Last week's wins against Worcester Raiders and Mangotsfield also further extended the club's record winning run in league football which now stands at fifteen games, since the New Year's Day win over Highworth Town.

Kirk Layton partnered Chris Knight in the City defence on Saturday meaning there was no second goal of the season for Elliott Keightley after netting his first of the campaign on Thursday versus Mangotsfield. It was easy to see from the reaction of his teammates and the delight of The Faithful how popular Keightley is in the squad and he'll have no doubt been chuffed to get off the mark for the season.

Monday night's game will take place at The Causeway, Edge Hills Road, Cinderford, GL14 2QH.