CINDERFORD Town under-eights displayed great determination and team spirit to overcome Abbey­mead Lions to win the Gloucester Youth Leagues Rob Dawe Cup.

Having already knocked out local rivals Lydney Town and Puma Juniors, Cinderford came up against their toughest opponents yet in the semi's, which was an extremely tight encounter that went all the way to penalties, but the players held their nerve to progress to the final.

The final was a tight encounter with Abbeymead taking a 3-1 lead over the town, but Cinderford produced a spirited comeback in the second half to end the game 3-3. Penalties were to determine the winners of the league cup, with the Cinderford players again holding their nerve, scoring all their penalties.

Manager Steven Taylor said: "Many of the players have been with the club since they were aged four or five, so it's a great testament to how they've developed in their time at Cinderford Town. Three of the players were even at the very first training session the club did as four-year-olds just over three years ago."