Cirencester 1st XI hockey team marches into the record books (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester 1st XI hockey team marches into the record books

CIRENCESTER 1st XI have marched into the record books after winning through to the quarter-finals of the Hockey Association Vase for the very first time in their history.

For on Sunday, the Town side overwhelmed last year's runners-up, Old Bordenians, by seven goals to two in the tie played at Deer Park School.

Having reached this stage of the Vase for the first, the hosts were pretty sure they had a tough job on their hands when a young and fit looking opposition arrived from Kent.

But to the surprise of everyone in the home camp, Old Bordenians allowed their rivals time on the ball and, in fact, it was Cirencester who took an early lead.

With Dicker scoring a sublime first goal and Panstee striking a short corner, Town found themselves two goals to the good in no time at all.

Having taken an early advantage, Town invited Old Bordenians on to them and soaked up the pressure.

With the home side almost weathering the storm, a crucial mistake made by Harvey saw the travellers claw a goal back.

This score line was short- lived until, Dicker controlling the ball on the edge of the D, appeared to have hit a dead-end.

Surrounded by defenders, his deft touched managed to lift the ball, reverse stick, over a stranded keeper for a definite contender for 'goal of the season'.

The remainder of the half proved an even affair with both teams adding to their tallies.

With a goal from the consistently reliable Panstee, Cirencester felt very happy to go into half-time with a 4-2 lead.

The second half saw the home defence of Badger, Phez and Latter pushing up. With Collins acting as the anchorman, Harvey found space to bring Willett, Holbrook and Phez into the game.

With Town enjoying much of the play and countless short corners, it was no surprise when they increased their advantage with Dicker claiming his consecutive cup hat-trick and scoring another from a tap-in.

Poole arrived fresh from the bench and poached another from a pin-point Latter cross while Paine and Tasker both came close to it into a rout.

Total's man of the match was Dicker who scored a great hat-trick.

Cirencester's quarter-final clash takes them to Urmston, near Manchester, to battle for a semi-final spot on March 21.