Brace of goals from Mike Davis gives Town all three points at Hemel Hempstead (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Brace of goals from Mike Davis gives Town all three points at Hemel Hempstead

TWO goals from Mike Davis in a 2-1 brought Cirencester three well deserved points from Saturday's Southern League Premier Division trip to Hemel Hempstead.

After Town's thrilling midweek 2-2 draw at Tiverton - a great result against one of the sides thought likely to win the League - the Centurions turned in another convincing display at Hemel Hempstead without two of their key players, skipper Gary Wotton and Gareth Hopkins.

The hosts got the game under way, but it was Town who were first to threaten when Adam Mayo and Michael Davis made space for Scott Griffin whose low shot was just wide of the target.

The hosts countered with a run and dangerous cross from Dean Palmer, which was scrambled away, before the visitors opened the scoring on eight minutes.

When Neil Arndale's cross found Nick Stanley at the far post, he headed back across the area for Davis to find the back of the net with a diving header.

Cirencester continued to push and Griffin came close with a low shot and, from a Shaun Wimble corner, Darren Robison's header was only just over the bar.

In Town's next build-up, Wimble and Stanley linked up well to finish off a great move down the right but Stanley's final effort was just wide of the target.

After another nice move down the right, Arndale's cross found Stanley and he laid off to Wimble. He found Davis and his cross picked out Wimble whose header was just wide.

Just before half-time Cirencester were unlucky not to add another when Stanley's first- time volley was cleared off the line by Daniel West.

The second half continued in the same vein with Cirencester doing most of the attacking.

But from a quickly taken free kick, George Fowler's header finished in a goalmouth scramble and Arndale did well to head over the bar for a corner.

Some 20 minutes into the second half, Town doubled their tally with a peach of a goal.

From a move that had begun in their own half, Griffin and Stanley stretched the home defence before Griffin laid a perfect ball for Davis to coolly pick his spot from ten yards.

This goal jolted Hemel into action and Town keeper Paul Thompson twice had to save bravely in goalmouth scrambles.

It was 15 minutes from the end before Hemel finally opened their account. A quickly taken free kick by Bryan Hammatt caught Cirencester napping and Bobby Highton found the back of the net with an angled shot.

Cirencester: Thompson, Arndale, Halliday, Mayo, Jackson, Bird, Robison, Wimble, Stanley Griffin, Davis (Edwards 85). Subs: McCabe, Bevan, Hemming, Fitch. Ref: C Banks (Oxford), attend: 198.

Cirencester had to be content with a share of the spoils in a 1-1 draw against visiting Hednesford on Tuesday night.

Scott Griffin first came close with a volley and then brought a fine save from keeper Ryan Young. In the hosts' next build- up, Michael Jackson found Griffin in space and it took a vital challenge from Richard Teasdale to clear the danger.

For the visitors, Chris Gray and Andy Bell both tested Paul Thompson. Just before half- time, a fine Nick Stanley run finished with a lay-off to Adam Mayo whose first-time shot was well saved by Young.

From a free kick shortly after the interval, Shaun Wimble's powerful shot was just wide. On 63 minutes, the visitors took the lead via a quick break when Bell made no mistake from ten yards.

The Centurions countered and, from a free kick, Wimble's deflected shot was tipped over the bar and a Wotton header from a corner was only just wide.

In the closing stages, Jody Bevan went close with a dipping header. With three minutes left, Cirencester got the equaliser when Bevan met a Wimble corner perfectly to send a powerful header into the Hednesford net.

Cirencester: Thompson, Davis, Halliday, Jackson, Mayo (Hemming 68) Wotton, Robison, Wimble, Stanley, Griffin, Fitch (Bevan 80). Subs: Bird, Edwards, McCabe. Ref: R D Palmer; attend: 215.

Following this Saturday's trip to Banbury, it's a case of gladiatorial action when the Centurions face The Romans at the Corinium Stadium on Bank Holiday Monday (3pm ko).

Bath City, formed the same year as Cirencester Town - 1889 - reside at the well known Twerton Park. Among the famous names to have played for Bath are Stan Mortenson, Tony Book, Paul Randall and Jason Dodd.

City's proud FA Cup history includes reaching the first round proper on no less than six occasions. In 1979, the club became founder members of the Alliance Premier League - now called the Football Conference - a league in which they stayed until 1986/7.

After relegation that season, they bounced back to the Confer-ence two years later before suffering relegation again in 1996/7.