Town's men continue a fine run in the Hockey Association Vase (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Town's men continue a fine run in the Hockey Association Vase

TWO comprehensive victories last weekend have given Cirencester men's 1st XI hockey team a lift in the league and progress in a national competition.

After defeating lowly league rivals Firebrands 9-1 at home on Saturday, Cirencester continue a fine run in the Hockey Association Vase competition on Sunday, beating a young and vibrant Yateley side 6-2.

Experience and unrelenting team commitment, coupled with good pre-match preparation, ensured that Town were not going to give their visitors an easy ride.

Cirencester started confidently with fast, free-flowing play and the midfield combination of Holbrook and Panstee added a pace to the game that took their rivals by surprise.

With linking play from the two top scorers, Dicker and Paine, the hosts were rewarded for their efforts with a short corner.

After a fierce strike, the saved Paine shot was neatly worked into the back of the net by Dicker.

Continued pressure and some individual skills by Duffy and Harvey insured a second goal from a well-drilled short corner, resulting in a 2-0 lead and Paine's 56th goal of the season.

Yateley dug deep and had their fair share of testing the solid defence of their opponents.

But the combined efforts of rock-steady Badger, Collins, Partridge and Latter - who marked like a demon - made these attacks look almost trivial.

When the visitors were finally awarded a short corner that should have been a certain goal, it was prevent by the lighting- quick reactions of Ade, the Town keeper.

Yateley finally got a goal in the 25th minute from a quick counter-attack before a lapse in concentration allowed them to score a second five minutes later.

But Cirencester dug deep and an inspired bit of individual skill saw Duffy beating two players before flicking his effort past the Yateley keeper for a 3-2 lead going into half-time.

After the break, Town built on the momentum of the first half. With clever substitutions, more depth was brought to the game through Tasker and McGasop.

It wasn't long before a great bit of individual skill from Latter provided the fresh-legged Poole with his first touch of the ball which he duly slotted into the back of the net.

It was then that Cirencester's true class and professionalism started shining through as Dicker did not have to wait long to be provided with the same service as Poole had enjoyed nine minutes earlier.

For after receiving an inch- perfect pass from Latter through Paine, Dicker secured his second and Town's fifth goal.

Yateley refused to give up, but unfortunately for them, a well drilled and trained Cirencester squad proved too strong in the final stages of the game.

Dicker showed great composure at the top of the D when Latter - that demon of a right-back and provider of so many accurate passes - provided him with in a perfectly weighted ball.

And Dicker was on it in a flash to nip through Yateley's defensive line before expertly lobbing the keeper.

Total Employment man of the match was awarded to Dave Harvey for his outstanding work rate, ball skill and match preparation discipline.

In all, it was a convincing win for Cirencester in a game played in the best of spirits.

The draw has already been made for the fourth round and Cirencester, who offer thanks for much support last Sunday, have already progressed further than in any other national competition to reach the last 16.

Town will be playing host to Old Bordenians from Kent, on Sunday, February 29, for a place in the quarter-finals.

As Old Bordenians were last year's losing finalists, it should prove an interesting match.