IT has not been Coleford's best season. With only one point to their credit before Saturday's game, a draw against Mitcheldean was considered a remarkable achievement.

With a leaky defence, Coleford's run of defeats stretched back to last October when they snatched a draw against Broadwell. But Saturday's result was well deserved.

"I would like to think we can improve still further and pick up a couple of wins before the end of the season. It's probably too late to save us but at least we can look forward to next season," reflects club official Terry Smith.

Coleford's problems began even before a ball was kicked.

Smith explained: "We lost a lot of good players. But those who stayed have been loyal and committed. We decided to try and stick together and avoid the club going out of business. It happened once before when the club was forced to drop down to Division Four. That will not happen this time and with a bit of luck we can bounce back immediately."

Smith says the Forest's notorious football rumour mill has it that a number of former players are set to rejoin the club.

Meanwhile, he is full of praise for the way the team has stuck together, admitting that being goalkeeper has not always been the best position this season.

"We started off with Dave Lunn but now he is playing out and we have Grant Baldwin back and he is doing very well," said Smith.

Baldwin had to make some brave saves on Saturday as Mitcheldean threw everything at them in the second-half. Ten minutes from time the visitors snatched the equaliser.

"I think they probably under-estimated us at the start and we actually scored first when Nicholas Howells ran from half-way to beat the keeper. It was a great goal," said Smith.

After that it was down to some solid defence.

"Considering the season we have had we played very well and there is certainly some hope for the future," he said.