Cirencester Town looking to a promising season (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester Town looking to a promising season

HAVING completed one of the most successful ever pre-season build-ups, the Cirencester Town team and manager Brian Hughes will be looking to a successful start to their 2003-4 Dr Martens League Western League campaign with a trip to Atherstone United on Saturday.

For their first home game of the season, Town are set to entertain old rivals Mangotsfield Utd next Tuesday, 7.30pm ko.

But United, who have proved to be something of a bogey team over the past few seasons, will be facing a revamped Town side which Hughes has moved to strengthen with a number of astute signings.

And if he does what he did for his former club Cinderford Town, striker Scott Griffin should give the Centurions a boost in the goal-scoring department while ex-Cheltenham Town's Russell Milton will certainly be bolstering the midfield.

After last week's convincing mid-week 4-1 win over a full-strength Bath side with goals from Toby Clark, Richard Kear, Jody Bevan and Mike Davis, Cirencester emerged as clear 2-0 winners on Saturday over visiting Portishead from the Somerset Senior League.

On a sweltering day, both squads turned in an entertaining game, although it was the visitors who had the better of the early breaks.

On the two occasions that James Clark seriously threatened, Town keeper Paul Thompson was forced to pull off two good saves.

And from a free kick on the edge of the box, the same player saw his curling shot crash back off a post.

After these early scares, the hosts gradually began to take control and it came as no surprise when they took the lead ten minutes before the interval.

Gary Wotton's break from defence finished with a through ball to Kear who neatly laid it into the path of Bevan and the experienced scorer made no mistake from ten yards.

Just before the interval, Town should have made it 2-0 when a great run from Kear took him to the six-yard box, but his shot was somehow cleared off the line by Jamie Vincent.

With the heat getting to players, the second half seemed to be played at a much slower pace, although Town were always in command.

James Hughes shot wide when well positioned and Portishead custodian Kev Walker pulled off a string of fine saves, before Town put the game beyond doubt five minutes before the end.

Another fine cross from Davis found Kear at the far post and, although his volley was parried by Walker, Bevan was following up to force the ball over the line.

Cirencester Town: Thompson, Clark, Minturn, Lee, Beaverstock, Wotton, Davis, Kear, Hopkins, McCabe, Bevan, Hughes, McEntegart, Gilewicz.

Portishead: Walker, McArthy, Vincent, Willis, Hatfield, Lynch, Petit, Holder, Gregory, Clark, Mapstone, Jones, Pearce, Harvey, Legg. Referee: A Davis (Gloucester), attendance: 124.