Town win at Oxford equals best ever run in the FA Cup (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Town win at Oxford equals best ever run in the FA Cup

CIRENCESTER Town's comprehensive 3-0 defeat of Oxford City in Saturday's third qualifying round has set them up with a home tie against Crawley Town from the Dr Martens Premier Division on Saturday, October 25.

It was a victory that also saw Cirencester equalling their best ever run in the FA Cup competition.

Oxford began strongly and a shot by Andrew Ballard was well saved at full stretch by keeper Paul Thompson.

In their next build-up, the Town custodian did well to deny Shaun Wimble after a free kick just outside the box.

The visitors began to settle and a Ben Fitch run finished with a cross to Gareth Hopkins whose first-time volley was wide of the target.

In Town's next foray, a Mike Davis cross was scrambled away after shots from Hopkins and Scott Griffin.

The hosts countered and a quick break by Ballard found Justin Lee whose zipping shot from 30 yards was tipped over.

On 33 minutes, Town opened the scoring. When a Davis cross from a free kick went uncleared, Darren Robison was well placed to force the ball over the line.

As the half progressed, the visitors were looking the stronger and it took a vital challenge to block a Hopkins' shot.

Shortly after, Alan Bird threaded a ball through to Griffin whose attempted lob was just wide.

A fine run down the right involving Davis and Ben Fitch put Griffin in a great position, but his final cross was too long for Hopkins.

In their next build up, Hopkins forced keeper Steven Benbow to scramble the ball away for a corner. With 15 minutes to go, Cirencester brought on Jody Bevan for Griffin.

His first touch was to force Benbow to give away a throw deep in his own half and, from a free kick, Davis found Bevan on the right and his powerful angled shot was only just over the bar.

Nine minutes from the end, Town double their tally when Fitch found Bevan in the area and his low shot hit the back of the net via the far post.

Two minutes later, the visitors put the game beyond doubt. A 40- yard run took Fitch past three defenders and Benbow had to come off his line to block.

When the loose ball fell to Hopkins, he had no hesitation in drilling home from 30 yards.

With virtually with the last kick of the game, Bevan was unlucky when his powerful shot cannoned back off a post.

Town turned in a superb display at the Corinium Stadium on Tuesday evening, beating league rivals Cinderford 5-0.

With manager Brian Hughes' Town side in commanding form, Ben Fitch scored first with the game barely ten minutes old.

Gareth Hopkins grabbed a brace, with both strikes coming from unstoppable volleys, and Scott Griffin took his chance to score after a Hopkins header had bounced back off the bar.

And Jodie Bevan, who crossed in a telling ball to one side of the box before ghosting through to pick it up on the other side, rounded off a great night's work with the fifth and final goal.