Town back to winning ways as Hopkins scores a hat-trick (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Town back to winning ways as Hopkins scores a hat-trick

CIRENCESTER Town got back to winning ways and maximum points in a thrilling Southern League local derby at the Corinium Stadium against Team Bath which saw Gareth Hopkins scoring a hat-trick.

For Saturday's game, Town introduced two new players with Mark Bryant, recently signed from Mangotsfield, taking over the green jersey while, on the bench, was Phil Corcoran, signed from Fairford Town to try and add some extra fire-power up front.

From the start, the hosts were immediately on the attack and, from a free kick 30 yards out, Shaun Wimble's curling free kick tested Bath keeper Darren Chitty.

But the visitors struck back and Bryant was twice called into action, first to deny Owen Story with a powerful shot and then to pull off a fine save from a Matt Reeves' effort.

On nine minutes, Cirencester opened the scoring when a Darren Robison free kick was only half-cleared and Hopkins latched on to the loose ball to find the back of the net with a pinpoint angled volley.

Celebrations, though, were short-lived as, within five minutes, Town conceded two goals.

In the first, Matt Lewis got behind the home defence to fire in a powerful, angled shot.

And when Cirencester failed to clear a cross just two minutes later, an unmarked Stefan Wojciechowski found the back of the net from six yards out.

From the restart, Jody Bevan was unlucky when he got past the Bath defence, only to see his attempted lob go just over the bar.

Mid-way through the half, the Centurions got back on equal terms when, from a free kick, Wimble fired over a perfect cross for Hopkins to drill home a powerful header.

Town could have gone further ahead before the break. Bevan put a first-time shot only inches wide and, shortly after, Bevan was again unlucky with a glancing header from a Wimble corner.

On the stroke of half-time, Bath struck back when Bryant pulled of a fine save to deny Lewis.

After the break, Town were unlucky when a great cross from Kevin Halliday found an unmarked Fitch whose volley cannoned off the underside of the bar.

Phil Corcoran replaced Bevan on 15 minutes and his first touch of the ball was a clever flick from a Robison free kick to find Hopkins who fired home a tremendous angled shot to put the home side 3-2 ahead.

After making changes, Bath had their rivals under pressure and Bryant did well to parry a shot from Wojciechowski and then recovered enough to save Reeves effort from the rebound.

And after Neil Arndale broke down dangerous looking attacks, it was Town who in the end came away with maximum points. Cirencester: Bryant, Arndale, Halli-day, Wimble (Cole 88) Richards, Howarth, Robison, Stanley, Hopkins, Bevan (Corcoran 61) Fitch. Subs: Bird, Fraser, Thompson G/K. Referee I Hamilton (Cheltenham), attendance 146.