Hughes' revamped Cirencester Town side stick five goals past Grantham (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Hughes' revamped Cirencester Town side stick five goals past Grantham

CIRENCESTER manager Brian Hughes' much re-vamped side hit five past lowly Grantham in Saturday's Southern League Premier match at the Corinium Stadium.

In a shake-up by Hughes, Michael Davis has been transferred to Yate, Andy McCabe returned to North Leigh and Adam Hemming put on a month's loan with Cinderford.

The squad also saw some new faces with Alan Bird in the starting line-up and Tom Cole on the bench, and new signing Adam Howarth would have probably have started had he been fit.

The game started with a bang when, after two minutes, Shaun Wimble found the back of the net with a terrific drive from a free kick 25 yards out.

Virtually from the restart, Grantham forced a corner and Paul Thompson had to push Jamie McGowan's cross over the bar for another corner.

From the second flag kick, Thompson came off his line to take McGowan's cross.

The hosts increased their lead on 24 minutes. A good move finished with Neil Arndale finding Michael Jackson whose cross picked out Gareth Hopkins who made no mistake from 12 yards.

Ten minutes before the break, a low cross was slotted home by Richards before the visitors pulled one back two minutes later. A corner kick by Brett Darey - who had just replaced Willis Francis - was forced over the line by Jamie Clarke.

Celebrations were short-lived as Cirencester scored a fourth when Wimble and Richards linked up to prise open the defence for Hopkins to score.

Two minutes from the end, Cirencester added a fifth when Jackson hit a dipping shot to beat Ziccardi at the near post.

Cirencester: Thompson, Arndale, Halliday, Jackson, Bird, Wotton, Robison (Cole 83) Richards (Mayo 83) Bevan (Stanley 83) Hopkins, Wimble. Subs: Fitch. Ref J Comley (Windsor), atten 165.

Cirencester lost Tuesday's league game against Chippenham at the Corinium Stadium to a 13th-minute penalty.

A good crowd of 469 braved a cold and foggy night for this action-packed local derby.

When keeper Paul Thompson was adjudged to have fouled Martin Paul, Scott Walker made no mistake from the spot.

The hosts countered and Chippenham keeper Mark Hervin had to save bravely at the feet of Jody Bevan.

But Cirencester had the best chances late in the half when a Kevin Halliday cross found Bevan in the clear but his powerful header was just wide.

On the stroke of half-time, a Marc Richards lob was tipped over the bar by Hervin.

The second half started with Cirencester pushing forward, but Chippenham were still dangerous on the break. Twice Thompson had to pull off fine saves from James Constable while Gary Wotton did well to clear a low shot off the line.

In the closing stages, Hopkins had a powerful header saved and, right on the stroke of full time, Gary Thorne got in a vital challenge to deny Nick Stanley the chance of an equaliser.

Cirencester Town: Thompson, Arndale, Halliday, Jackson, Bird, Wotton, Robison, Richards, Bevan (Griffin 65) Hopkins, Wimble (Stanley 75) Subs: Mayo, Fitch, Cole. Referee: K Milford (Yate). Attendance 469.