Cirencester looking to get back on winning trail (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester looking to get back on winning trail

CIRENCESTER Town will be looking to put the ignominy of losing three vital games swiftly behind them on Saturday when they entertain a Banbury United side occupying a place in the lower half of the Southern Premier table.

In a workmanlike display last week, Town lost their Senior Challenge match 2-0 away to Bristol Rovers who scored a goal in each half in this Wednesday evening tie.

However, Cirencester then found themselves on the end of a humiliating 5-0 defeat on Saturday away to Southern League leaders Chippenham.

And there was a further upset in Monday night's trip to Hednesford where Town slipped to a disappointing 3-1 loss.

Cirencester turned in probably their worst performance of the season against top-of-the- table Chippenham on Saturday.

Within five minutes, they were a goal down when failing to clear a break down the left. Mark Bryant parried James Constable's first shot, but the rebound fell to David Gilroy who made no mistake from eight yards.

It took only five minutes for the hosts to increase their lead when a mix-up in defence left Constable clear to lay the ball for Simon Charity to slot home.

The visitors gradually got into the game and Jody Bevan was unlucky with a powerful volley.

But when Cirencester failed to clear a move down the left, Charity latched on to a loose ball to net from 18 yards for a 3-0 lead.

Ten minutes before the break, Cirencester had to reorganise their line-up when Kevin Halliday was stretchered and replaced by Adam Howarth.

Soon after, another long clearance saw David Gilroy latching on to the through ball and scoring from the edge of the box.

Right on the interval, Ciren-cester lost Adam Mayo to a red card. In a further change after the break, Marc Richards replaced Ben Fitch.

The visitors looked more lively and Scott Griffin was put through on goal by an Adi Viveash through ball, but his shot was just wide. Shortly after, Shaun Wimble's angled shot was well saved by Mark Hervin.

From a quick break on 65 minutes, Chippenham got a fifth when a Constable pass into the box enabled Gilroy to score.

Cirencester Town: Bryant, Arndale, Halliday (Howarth 35) Mayo, Jackson, Viveash, Robison, Wimble, Hopkins Bevan (Griffin 60) Fitch (Richards 45). Subs: Stanley, Bird. Referee Graham Scott (Abingdon), attendance 616.

A 3-1 loss at Hednesford on Tuesday night saw Town slipping to a fifth defeat on the trot.

After a nightmare of a journey, in which their coach broke down on the motorway, Cirences-ter were made pay for a slow start when Paul McMahon beat the offside to score the first goal.

Hednesford double their lead on 17 minutes when Chris Brind-ley scored from a McMahon pass. As snow suddenly descended, a Darren Robison goal from Shaun Wimble's free kick put Town back into contention.

In spite of Town fashioning several chances through Gareth Hopkins and Bevan, Leon Sweeney wrapped up the result for the hosts with goal scored on the counter.