Fantastic FA Cup run comes to an end for Cirencester (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Fantastic FA Cup run comes to an end for Cirencester

CIRENCESTER Town's fantastic run in the FA Cup came to a disappointing end on Saturday when they were edged out of the first round proper by their well organised visitors from Crawley in a fourth qualifying round 2-4 defeat.

Nonetheless, with Crawley scoring in the very last minute of the game when the Corinium Stadium side were pushing everyone forward, a 4-2 defeat for the Centurions heroes was certainly not a true reflection of the overall picture.

Crawley started the stronger, with Kevin Hemsley coming close early on.

And they opened the scoring on 12 minutes when, from a Maurice Harkin cross, Justin Gregory powered home a terrific header that gave Cirencester goalkeeper Paul Thompson no chance.

From the restart, Cirencester were unlucky not to open their account when Scott Griffin picked up a long clearance and laid a perfect ball to Marc Richards whose powerful shot brought a great save from the Crawley custodian, Andy Little.

For long periods, though, it seemed to be only a matter of time before Cirencester would got back into the game.

Adam Mayo had a shot deflected for a corner and, from a free kick, Thompson's through ball was cleverly flicked on by Gareth Hopkins to find Griffin whose header was only just wide of the target.

With half-time approaching, the local team were piling on the pressure and, via a free kick from the edge of the box, Hopkins' fierce drive was only just over.

But the pressure finally told two minutes before the break when Cirencester equalised with the best move of the game so far.

After Mayo had spread the ball out wide, Ben Fitch dummied to leave Griffin free behind the defence and his perfect cross was headed in at the far post by Gareth Hopkins.

The second half started with both sides intent on attacking and Cirencester were unlucky when a great cross from Andy McCabe picked out Hopkins who saw his volley crash into the side netting.

The visitors made changes on the hour and, this was to prove a turning point in the game with Jay Richardson and Joff Vansittart replacing Peter Fear and Fabian Forde.

For with virtually his first touch of the ball, Vansittart got on to the end of a Nigel Brake cross to put the visitors in front.

Cirencester continued pushing forward with Hopkins unlucky with a first-time shot and Marc Pullan did well to break down another Hopkins' run after Griffin had set him free behind the defence.

On 75 minutes, Crawley got their third slightly against the run of play when Cirencester failed to clear a cross from the left and Vansittart was well positioned to stab the ball home.

But Cirencester would not lie down and, cheered on by a fantastic turn-out from their fans, they had their rivals under a great deal of pressure.

Hopkins was unlucky when he slipped after taking a perfect ball from Griffin and Jody Bevan, who had replaced Matthew McEntegart, was causing problems for the visitors' back four.

And it came as no real surprise when, eight minutes before the end, Cirencester got back into the game.

From a free kick, Thompson's through ball found Bevan who in turn found Fitch whose run finished with a low cross which Marc Richards blasted home from ten yards. In looking for the equaliser, Cirencester committed themselves by pushing everyone forward at this point.

And it was Little who was called upon to pull off two great saves in succession, the first via a shot by Griffin and other from Bevan.

But almost on 90 minutes and with the hosts still hopeful of taking the tie into extra time, they were caught on the hop.

For when a long clearance found an unmarked Nigel Brake, he fired home an unstoppable shot from 15 yards to ensure it was Crawley's name that went into the hat for the next round.

Cirencester Town put the upset of last Saturday's FC Cup defeat behind them with a superb 3-2 win over their Team Bath hosts in the first round of the Dr Martens League Cup on Monday evening

Despite resting several players, manager Brian Hughes' Town team were dominant throughout.

Bath scored first through a Blake's 22nd-minute header, only for Mike Davis to bring the visitors level with a powerful header on 35 minutes.

The hosts responded two minutes before the break when Dean Smith fired home.

James Constable was unlucky not to bring Town level when he strike a post twice in succession.

After the break and with Cirencester pressing, Bath's Saunders gave away an own goal to bring Town level.

And it was left to Andy Bevan to score the winner for Town from the penalty spot ten minutes from time.