Cirencester Town denied points by an in-form City goalkeeper (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester Town denied points by an in-form City goalkeeper

BUT for a string of superb saves by City keeper Matt Bath, Cirencester would surely have got something from last weekend's local Dr Martens League derby at Gloucester.

However, after slipping to a third loss on the trot, Town manager Brian Hughes will be looking for a distinct change of fortunes when his team entertains Bromsgrove Rovers on Saturday (3pm ko).

Last Saturday, Gloucester were the first to create a clear opening.

After Adie Harris's clever run got him to the byline, he laid the ball back for Chris Thompson whose final effort was wide of the target.

Shortly after, Town keeper Paul Thompson came quickly off his line to hack clear after Jimmy Cox beat the offside trap.

The visitors gradually got into a rhythm and, from a Mike Davis cross, the ball fell to Michael Jackson whose powerful shot saw a brilliant save from Bath.

Shortly after, Jackson got on the end of a Andy McCabe cross, only to see his powerful shot well saved by the City custodian.

City countered to win a corner and, from Neil Mustoe's cross, Chris Burns header was saved on the line by a combination of Gary Wotton and Thompson.

With half-time approaching, it was Bath to the rescue again when somehow he clawed out Gareth Hopkins' shot bound for the top corner of the net.

In the Centurions' next build- up, a Davis cross was headed wide by Marc Richards.

The second half started in a similar vein. But Town should have taken the lead when Davis and Hopkins combined to make space for Ben Fitch whose final volley was wide of the target.

Ten minutes into the second half, Gloucester opened the scoring when Cox latched on to a long clearance and outpaced two defenders before slotting the ball past the advancing Thompson.

And virtually from the restart, the hosts could have increased their lead after Andy Hoskins and Cox beat the offside trap and were through on goal.

Although Cox's low shot beat Thompson, Matthew McEntegart, who had defended well all afternoon, was well positioned to clear off the line.

On 63 minutes, City put the result beyond doubt. From a free kick on the edge of the box, Neil Mustoe picked out Chris Thompson who headed home.

In the frantic closing stages, Town pushed everything forward, and it was Bath who was the City hero of the afternoon.

He tipped a deflected free kick from Scott Griffin over the bar, Fitch then volleyed wide from a McCabe through ball before Bath twice saved well from Hopkins in the closing stages.

This loss saw Town slipping from second to fifth in the table.