OH DEAR! There is a real dream of Wembley and of play-off success but for that to happen Forest Green must emerge from their current nightmare.

With just one goal scored at home since February 20 and nine matches without a win it is hard to believe we are second in the league. The team are displaying relegation form.

The on field faults are too depressing to itemise but two words must be mentioned: application and attitude.

Before the game against Halifax, manager Ady Pennock made it clear he would make changes. All senior players would get 90 minutes before the play-offs and there were places to play for.

The team he selected looked good enough to beat Halifax with old favourites on show and a chance to see the new signings Jeffreys and Jefford.

A large crowd were waiting in anticipation but what we saw was the same dross as we had seen against Woking, making yet another home defeat inevitable.

This is not the time for an inquest but some general points need to be made. Many good people worked hard to get Forest Green into the Conference and keep them there but the financial position was never sustainable.

Dale Vince arrived as chairman and did so much as well as giving the club financial stability.

The match day experience is now outstanding and there is a strong playing squad, earning good money. Most importantly Dale gave us genuine hope.

So many of us will be angry if the chance of League football is lost because a group of able players are not measuring up.

There is much work to be done by both management and squad before the play-offs are upon us. I should be writing in hope but having seen the last two games despair is a more accurate word.

It is a word I may be using about county cricket. The instruction to produce good wickets and giving the visiting captains the opportunity of batting or bowling is having disastrous results.

Three of the last seven county games ended in total stalemate with no one having a chance of winning. At Bristol, 1,300 runs were scored and 22 wickets fell.

Fireworks from night watchman Liam Norwell made the third day worth watching but the rest of the game was moribund. Unless the team batting second declares, inviting a challenge, too many games will end like that.

The county AGM on Monday evening produced two pieces of excellent news. Firstly the club made a profit of £6,000. The financial situation now being brighter the squad budget is being increased by £116,000 and I anticipate by a larger amount next year. For those of us who love the Cheltenham Festival the second news item was heart-warming. The ECB are fully supportive of the Cheltenham Festival.

They realise not just its financial importance but its place in the culture of the domestic season. There are no guarantees but everyone is aiming for two championship games as an anchor and other exciting matches as well.

Proper tribute was paid last week to Cirencester Town chairman Steve Abbley. Only he knows the extent of his contribution to the club but I suggest it is considerable. The team always punches above its weight and the Abbley-Hughes partnership has produced bricks from straw.

Manager Brian Hughes has a very difficult job holding on to good players who can find richer financial pastures elsewhere but always turns out a competitive team.

There will be plenty of competition at The Whiteway on May 1. Cirencester RFC are staging their 39th youth 7-a-side competition. More than 400 youngsters are taking part.

Matches start at 9.30am and the presentations will be at 5pm. In addition, at lunchtime a senior match will be played against the Crediton club from Devon.

Dave Reeves, chair of “minis and juniors” at the rugby club, has led the preparations for the tournament which is receiving valuable support from sponsors Tanners Solicitors and Seager Welding.

This is yet another example of the help so many local sports receive from the local community. The day will be lively and thrilling and deserves fine weather.

I took Mrs Light to the pictures on Sunday evening (something I do every five years). We saw the controversial film “Death of a Gentleman” which shows world cricket being hijacked by the three richest countries India, Australia and England, at the expense of the poorer nations.

Giles Clarke, former chairman of the English Cricket Board, emerged as an ogre. This was not entirely fair.

In his first stint as chairman he did much for the game. The problems started when he moved into international circles.

With the play-offs looming, fellow Forest Green fans are doing more than biting their nails. Author Jilly Cooper has now joined our ranks, being present on Saturday. If we get to Wembley she should be the mascot.