Cirencester Town move up to third after beating Hitchin (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester Town move up to third after beating Hitchin

A MID-WEEK 0-1 loss at Bath by a flu-ridden side was soon forgotten as Cirencester Town FC swept to a 3-1 win on Saturday against young visitors full of running and enterprise.

With the help of the experienced Gary Wotton, Adi Viveash and Kevin Halliday, the Corinium Stadium side took maximum points at the expense of Hitchin, elevating Cirencester to third place in the league table.

From the kick-off, Jody Bevan broke into the box and it took a brave save from the visitors' keeper, Neil Cheek, to clear the danger.

Shortly after, a Michael Jackson through ball found Gareth Hopkins in space and, from his cross, Bevan's header was only just wide.

The Hertfordshire side countered with a quick break from Shane Hill and his cross found Aaran Cavill in space, but the latter's header was just wide of the target.

With play to-ing and fro-ing, both keepers had to be on their toes to cut out dangerous crosses.

Home custodian Mark Bryant did well a save a cross from Hill low down with Josh Sozzo charging in.

On 36 minutes, Cirencester opened their account from a corner. When Ben Fitch's deep cross was only half-cleared, Wotton latched on to the loose ball to fire home a tremendous volley from 18 yards.

But celebrations lasted only five minutes as Hitchin equalised when Sozzo waltzed his way past two defenders before unleashing an unstoppable shot from 25 yards.

The second half started much as the first with both sides intent on attacking.

Nick Stanley saw his powerful shot deflected for a corner and, from a Shaun Wimble free kick, keeper Cheek did well to save at the second attempt. In the last quarter, Cirencester gradually took control and got their noses in front when a Wimble free kick was not cleared and Viveash volleyed over the keeper to put his side in front.

In the closing stages of a hectic game, a great cross from Stanley found Fitch in space and his volley was only just wide of the target.

At the other end, Bryant twice had to come quickly off his line to deny Sozzo.

Two minutes from the end, Fitch put the game beyond doubt when he beat the offside trap and cleverly rounded Cheek before slotting the ball into an empty net.