Hockey team clinches promotion by the skin of their teeth (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Hockey team clinches promotion by the skin of their teeth

WITH a little bit of magic from five-goal maestro Paine in a 9-3 thrashing of Warminster and aided by results elsewhere on Saturday, the hockey of Cirencester 1st XI have achieved promotion by the skin of their teeth.

Town travelled to Warminster to play what, on paper at least, looked likely to be an end-of-season match of little importance.

From the highs of big scoring and free-flowing games to the lows of losing at home to Bridgend at the death, promotion hopes had all but gone.

For the visitors went into Saturday's game knowing that promotion hopes were bleak and rested on a tenuous combination of second-in-the-table Bridgend drawing or losing while third-placed Cirencester had to win and go through on goal difference.

With the weekend's strong wind levelling the playing field, it was always going to be a game of contrasting halves.

Thanks to excellent team spirit and keeping possession, Cirencester pushed forward and it wasn't long before wide passing, lack lustre opposition and luck saw them go a couple of goals ahead.

With the introduction of rolling subs, fresh legs saw Town pull into a comfortable lead before complacency set in.

With a keen Town defence also looking to get on the score sheet, West Wilts' breaks become more frequent and they inevitably pulled a couple back.

After half-time and with the best form of defence being attack, Cirencester camped in their opponents' half and were again rewarded with several more goals to put the game seemingly beyond doubt.

However, an umpire decided to intervene and almost sent off Town's No 7, but common sense and intervention by the other umpire saw the decision retracted.

At the final whistle, Cirencester had proved convincing winners with Paine taking his final league tally for the season to 73 goals.

When the news of Bridgend's 3-3 draw filtered through, there was much jubilation in the Town camp as, with 108 goals to Cirencester's credit, they managed to achieve promotion over Bridgend on goal difference.

Now, Town's attention must turn to their marvellous run in Hockey Association Vase.

After beating Urmston in the quarter-finals, Cirencester have been drawn at home against local rivals Devizes in a semi-final tie that is to be played on Sunday, April 18.

All support will be welcome to see a West Country club go into the final.