Cirencester Town FC chalk up a record-breaking win at Cinderford (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester Town FC chalk up a record-breaking win at Cinderford

CIRENCESTER Town have answered any thoughts that they may have run out of steam in the promotion chase with two emphatic league wins in a four-day period, including a record-breaking 8-1 victory at Cinderford.

In Tuesday evening's away game, Cirencester completed their biggest ever win in the Dr Marten's League, beating local rivals Cinderford 8-1.

And their hero on the night was Gareth Hopkins who grabbed no fewer than five goals.

The scoring began as early as the fourth minute when a Scott Griffin shot was parried by Wayne Baldwin and Mike Davis latched on to the loose ball to fire over the perfect cross for Marc Richards to volley home.

Within ten minutes, they were 2-0 up when Griffin fired over a pinpoint cross for Hopkins to head home at the far post.

On the half-hour, the home side hit back when Andy Turner found the back of the net with a terrific shot.

But the Foresters' celebrations were short-lived when, just five minutes later, Hopkins was well positioned to net Griffin's cross.

And just before half-time, they made it four when a Gary Wotton through ball found Griffin and he cut round the keeper to find an empty net.

The second half was barely two minutes old when Hopkins claimed his hat-trick with a terrific shot from 25 yards.

Within minutes, they made it six when Hopkins latched on to the end of a Davis cross to find the back of the net.

And were is not for a series of fine saves by Clayton Hook, who had taken over the keeper's shirt at half time, it could well have been more.

Nonetheless, even he couldn't prevent Hopkins from getting a fifth when he cut out a clearance from Abdou Sall to get behind the defence to fire home.

Shortly after, Michael Jackson got in on the act to score with an angled lob from 25 yards.

Cirencester: Thompson, Bird, McEntegart (Fraser 65) Richards, Jackson, Wotton (Mayo 53) Robison, Wimble, Hopkins, Griffin (Bevan 53) Davis. Subs Gitch. Referee C Nock (Stourbridge), attendance 149.

On Saturday, Cirencester got back to winning ways with a convincing 2-0 defeat of Bromsgrove in a game strongly influenced by a gale-force wind.

Although under pressure for long periods in the first half, Town created the best opening of the first half.

After Scott Griffin broke clear, he laid a perfect ball to Gareth Hopkins who got past keeper Matt Lowe who managed to get a hand to his shot.

The second half was in stark contrast to the first. With the wind now behind Town, Hopkins brought a great save from keeper Lowe.

But Cirencester opened the scoring after just ten minutes when Shaun Wimble, who had replaced an injured Andy McCabe towards the end of the first half, fired over a curling corner kick.

When this was only half-cleared, Michael Jackson latched on to the loose ball to drill home a terrific shot from 15 yards.

From another Wimble corner, Darren Robison's header was only just over but, mid-way through the half, they should have put the game beyond doubt.

Wimble was again the provider of a telling cross into the six -yard box and Hillman's attempted clearance came back off a post to the feet of Hopkins.

While Steve Pope's desperate challenge brought him a second yellow card, Hopkins' low shot from the penalty spot was well saved by Lowe.

The visitors mounted several attacks late on and Mark Bellingham was unlucky with a first-time volley and Thompson had to come quickly off his line to cut out two dangerous crosses by Paul Szewczyk.

In the last minute, Town secure the points when Hopkins outpaced the defence before firing an unstoppable shot past the advancing Lowe.

Cirencester: Thompson, Bird, McEntegart, Richards, Jackson, Wotton, Robison, McCabe (Wimble 35) Hopkins, Griffin (Bevan 75), Davis (Fitch 80). Subs: Mayo, Fraser. Referee: D J Hine (Worcester), attendance 231.