Hughes' Town enjoy a great start to new campaign (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Hughes' Town enjoy a great start to new campaign

MANAGER Brian Hughes could not have asked for a better start from his players after his Cirencester Town side picked up a first-ever victory at Atherstone.

Turning in a fine performance, the visitors commanded Saturday's Dr Martens League, Western Division game from start to finish.

With last season's squad bolstered by new signings - with the experienced Gary Wotton in the centre defence and keeper Paul Thompson - Town kept a very tight hold on Atherstone's lively front runners.

In the opening exchanges, Cirencester created so many chances and one run from Scott Griffin finished with a shot which flashed the wrong side of a post.

In their next attack, Griffin saw his powerful volley tipped over the bar by keeper Dale Belford.

The home side, not to be outdone, countered with a move down the right which finished with a fierce shot from Craig Whitmore just going wide of the target.

And, shortly after, Bruce Lwando's attempted lob was only just over the bar.

Town continued to dominate but when Jody Bevan's break into the box ended with him being hauled down by Danny Haynes, appeals for a penalty were turned down.

Nonetheless with Mike Davis supplying ample crosses into the danger area, it seemed only a matter of time before Town would opened their account.

With 15 minutes to the break, the Centurions were forced to reorganise when Darren Robison suffered a knee injury.

He was replaced by Ben Fitch whose pace in a couple of fine runs soon had the home defence at full stretch.

While Atherstone got the second half underway, it was their opponents who were immediately on the attack.

Keith O'Halloran spread the ball out wide to Andy McCabe and his perfect cross was met by Griffin but well saved by Belford.

In Town's next build-up, Davis laid the perfect ball behind the defence for Bevan who found Griffin, but his shot from ten yards sailed just over the bar.

Soon after, Bevan came close with a powerful volley while O'Halloran's first-time effort was only just wide.

After a great run, Fitch tested Belford with a powerful angled shot and, 25 minutes from the end, Cirencester brought on Gareth Hopkins for Griffin.

This move took only three minutes to make an impact on the game when an Andy Minturn through ball put Bevan clear behind the defence.

Although Belford did well to close him down, Bevan neatly layed off the ball to Hopkins who made no mistake from ten yards.

Cirencester: Thompson, Robison (Fitch 30) Minturn, Lee, Beaverstock, Wotton, Davis, O'Halloran, Griffin (Hopkins 65) McCabe (Kear 83) Bevan. Subs: Hughes, Purcell. Referee W Ramsay (Coventry), attendance 166.

That old Mangotsfield curse reared its ugly head once again on Tuesday evening when Town failed yet again to gain their first league win over their visitors from Bristol.

It wasn't for want of trying, though, as the Corinium Stadium team had more than their fair share of chances to finally dispell the United voodoo.

But with Danny Greaves, the young and talented Mangotsfield keeper, in such tremendous form, things proved difficult.

In fact, Greaves competently dealt with two tremendous strikes from Scott Griffin that, on almost any other night, would have guaranteed a brace of goals.

In the end, all Town had to show for their efforts was a 1-2 loss with a consolation goal by Bevan five minutes from time.