It's a Blank Holiday weekend for unlucky Town (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

It's a Blank Holiday weekend for unlucky Town

TWO matches in the Dr Martens Western Division and not a single point from either of them meant a Blank Holiday weekend for Cirencester Town.

In a dour encounter on a sweltering hot Saturday afternoon, visitors Sutton Coldfield finished as 2-0 winners.

Town started well enough and Andy McCabe got forward to fire over a deep cross to the far post, but Mike Davis was just wide of the target with a firm header.

In their next build-up, Jody Bevan had the visitors' defence at full stretch and laid the perfect ball through for Davis, only for his angled shot to flash the wrong side of a post.

Sutton Coldfield forced a couple of free kicks, but each time Matthew McEntegart was well positioned to head clear.

From a Cirencester free kick, Keith O'Halloran picked out Andy Minturn at the far post but his header was blocked on the line and then scrambled away.

On the half-hour, the visitors opened the scoring with a good move down the left.

After splitting the home defence, Mark Peters laid the ball in for Dean Perrow to fire home a terrific shot from 15 yards.

From the restart, Jody Bevan had a shot blocked and, from the rebound, O'Halloran's first-time shot was well saved by keeper Justin Bray.

The second half started with the home side on the attack. From a McCabe cross, Davis' powerful header was tipped over the bar by Bray at full stretch.

Cirencester had brought on Ben Fitch and Gareth Hopkins for extra fire power up front.

Although the ball was being played into the danger area, Lucan Spittle was in commanding form.

Six minutes from time, the visitors put the game beyond doubt when a quick break finished with a cross from Watkins and Carter found the back of the net with a glancing header.

On Monday, Centurions lost 0-1 to a well organised Supermarine managed by ex-Cirencester manager Ray Baverstock.

The Swindon side took the lead after only 18 minutes when a clumsy challenge by Matthew McEntegart on James Blastland gave them a penalty.

And Dave Toomey gave Town keeper Paul Thompson no chance with his kick from the spot.

Town countered from the restart and Michael Davis came close with a long-range effort.

At the other end, Toomey should have put the hosts further in front when clear on goal, but Thompson pulled off a fine save.

On the half-hour, the visitors had to reorganise after Kevin Lee was carried off with a serious ankle injury and replaced by James Hughes.

For all their endeavours, Town could not break down a resolute home back four with Steve Bennett and Darren McCluskey in commanding form.

Cirencester looked more positive in the second half but a couple of good runs from Ben Fitch - who had replaced McEntegart - didn't produce anything.

'Marine keeper King pulled off several fine saves, including a powerful header from Hopkins and also one from Minturn.

In the closing stages, a Keith O'Halloran free kick picked out Gary Wotton whose header back across the six-yard box found Jody Bevan, but his powerful volley flew over the bar.

In a frantic last few minutes, Cirencester pushed everything forward - but it was just not to be their day.