Promotion hopes back on course for hockey team (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Promotion hopes back on course for hockey team

AFTER three successive leaguje defeats, Cirencester 1st XI got back to winning ways with a comfortable 4-0 victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Bath Buccs B.

With both sides fielding weaker teams from the previous draw, it promised to be a close affair.

The hosts started strongly and slick passing between midfielders Rob Duffy, John Tasker and David Harvey brought the first chance for Cirencester which resulted in a close effort from Charlie Paine.

But Town then took the lead. Paine picked the ball up in midfield and looped a pass over the defence that was picked up by Simon Dicker who calmly dinked the ball over the keeper.

Later on, the visitor made what was to be their only decent attempt on goal.

A neat move down resulted in a short corner which was well struck, but turned over the bar by the diving body of keeper Dave Webb.

All other attempts by Bath Buccs were thwarted well outside the D by defenders Paul Holbrook, Steve Keating, Will Harrison and Steve Foster.

Cool under pressure, the unfamiliar back four moved the ball well, cleared safely and started attacking moves with well placed passes and, in the case of Paul Holbrook, with well executed aerial balls to the forwards.

Cirencester extended their lead when Dicker scored his second after receiving a well worked pass from Chris Poole on the left.

The visiting keeper made a smart save, but was unable to stop Dicker from scoring from the rebound.

Two goals to the good at half-time, Town continued going forward, limiting their rivals to occasional attacks down the flanks.

Paine claimed goal number three from a short corner with a flick high to the keeper's left after good work from Dicker and John Tasker.

And Paine wrapped it up a little latter with a simple tap-in, giving Town a well deserved win, albeit against weak opposition.