Jordan Annear struck in stoppage time as Cinderford Town came from behind twice to defeat Cheltenham Saracens 3-2 and book their place in the second round of the FA Vase. The Foresters had to recover from two deficits after a difficult opening 45 minutes, but goals from Harry Leeson and Jack Watts brought them level before Annear delivered the decisive moment in stoppage time.
Saracens take control in first half
Saracens made the perfect start when Tommy Bond converted a penalty inside the opening minutes to put the hosts ahead.
Cinderford manager, Stephen Cleal, admitted afterwards that his side had struggled to cope with their opponents’ intensity, conceding that Saracens had been the better team before the interval.
“They outworked us, they outfought us, they outbattled us in the first half, so I knew it wasn’t the real us,” he said.
The visitors did find a response halfway through the first-half in a moment of individual quality. Harry Leeson produced a spectacular volley to bring Cinderford level, showcasing the technical ability that his manager later praised.
“Harry has got it in his locker. He’s very good technically… he’s got great skill, great technique,” the Cleal explained.
However, Cinderford were unable to carry that momentum into the break. Joe Richards restored Saracens’ lead on the stroke of half-time, finishing after a free-kick from Josh Aldridge to leave the Foresters with work to do.
Watts sparks the comeback
Cinderford needed an immediate response after the interval and delivered just four minutes into the second half.
Jack Watts brought the visitors level in the 49th minute, firing into the bottom corner to make it 2–2 and shift the momentum back towards the Foresters.
The goal followed a stern half-time message from the Cinderford manager, who was unhappy with his side’s first-half performance.
“I spoke to the lads at half time and told them it’s not good enough,” he revealed.
The visitors looked a different side after the restart, showing greater determination and intensity as they searched for a winner.
Having twice fallen behind, Cinderford continued to push forward, with Cleal convinced that his team had taken control of the contest.
“I think [in the] second half there’s only one team that’s going to win it,” he said.
Annear delivers the decisive blow
With the tie seemingly heading towards a penalty shootout, Cinderford found their breakthrough in the first minute of stoppage time.
Substitute Layten Harris headed the ball forward into the path of Annear, who finished to send the Foresters into the next round in dramatic fashion.
The late winner completed a remarkable turnaround for Cinderford, who had shown resilience to recover from two separate deficits and capitalise on their second-half superiority.
For Cheltenham Saracens, it was a painful conclusion after twice taking the lead, while the visitors could celebrate a hard-fought cup victory.
Promotion remains the priority
Despite the excitement of progressing in the FA Vase, The Foresters’ manager made clear that the club’s principal objective remains securing promotion.
“We want to go up. I want to be managing at Step Four, which is where I’ve spent most of my time managing,” he said.
The manager highlighted the club’s history in the Southern League and its ambition to return to that level after spending recent seasons outside it.
“Obviously, the main goal is promotion. But The Vase is a nice trophy to be involved in, and hopefully we can go far in it.”
For now, Cinderford can enjoy a memorable cup victory after demonstrating the character required to recover from a difficult first half. With Annear’s stoppage-time strike securing their progression, the Foresters will look to carry that momentum into their league campaign as they pursue promotion.
