Cirencester Town return to league action with a bang (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester Town return to league action with a bang

AFTER bowing out of two major cup competitions, Brian Hughes' Cirencester Town side returned to league action with a bang on Saturday.

For they gained maximum points in a 3-2 victory over mid-table Stourport Swifts and, had they put away their early chances, the win could have been more emphatic.

It took the Corinium Stadium side only minutes to open the scoring after Scott Griffin picked up a loose ball 25 yards out.

He unleashed a low shot which alluded keeper Lee Evans before finding the back of the net just inside the left-hand post.

From the restart, Stourport hit back and Willie Dunn was unlucky when his powerful shot was just wide of the target.

For much of the first half Cirencester were in control.

Ben Fitch latched on to an Andy McCabe cross but saw his header fly over the bar; Mark Richards was unlucky with a first-time shot and was only just wide of the target with a powerful header from Darren Robison's free kick.

Just before half-time, a great move involving Griffin and Gareth Hopkins finished with Hopkins picking out Fitch in space with keeper Evans having to save bravely at his feet.

But the second half started in an explosive manner when Town failed to clear a cross from the right from Kerry Giddings.

When the ball found its way back to Giddings, he provided the perfect cross for Richard Ball to head in at the far post.

The Centurions struck back immediately. Griffin won the ball out wide and, after getting behind the defence, laid the perfect cross for Hopkins to volley home.

From the restart, they should have made it three when Griffin and Fitch combined to create an opening for McCabe, but his first- time shot flew over the bar.

In their next build up, they did make it three when a Robison cross was only half-cleared. Adam Mayo latched on to the loose ball before drilling home a tremendous shot from 25 yards.

Cirencester were now in control as Hopkins saw his attempted lob from 30 yards go inches wide before Fitch's angled shot brought a fine save from keeper Evans.

Just when it looked Town were strolling to maximum points, the visitors struck back.

When Town failed to stop Jamie Wood breaking forward, his final cross was met perfectly by Robert Taylor to find the back of the net.

Nonetheless, aided by Alan Bird and Matthew McEntegart, who had been in superb form all afternoon, the home side stood firm to gain maximum points.

In the League Cup on Tuesday evening, Cirencester destroyed their Clevedon visitors with a Jody Bevan hat-trick.

His first goal came from the penalty spot on 14 minutes after Hopkins had been brought down.

And when Bevan was hauled down in the box by Clevedon keeper Danny Greaves, he got up to score his second from the spot.

His third, scored four minutes from time, was via a delightful, 25-yard chip. Bevan might have got a fourth, but his thunderous shot was well saved by Greaves.