Hopes of an Easter bonus is not forthcoming for Town (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Hopes of an Easter bonus is not forthcoming for Town

THOUGH it wasn't quite the Easter bonus that Town had been hoping for, two points from a brace of drawn games keeps alive hopes of a possible play-off place.

This Saturday, Cirencester are set to entertain the high-flying Aylesbury Ducks, 3pm ko.

Cirencester added to their latest unbeaten run in a dour encounter against visitings Merthyr Tydfil on Saturday that finished in a 1-1 draw.

With both sides cancelling each other out in midfield and throughout the 90 minutes, very few chances were created at either end.

The home side threatened first when Shaun Wimble's curling cross from into the box needed a punch at full stretch by keeper Ashley Morris to clear the danger.

With Danny Carter prompting from midfield, the visitors always looked dangerous on the counter-attack.

From a free kick, Carter's cross took a telling deflection and home keeper Mark Bryant did well to save cleanly.

In the home side's next foray, they gained a throw in deep in the Merthyr half and Wimble's long throw found Scott Griffin and his shot on the turn was well saved by Morris.

Merthyr countered with a break down the left and, from a free kick, they opened the scoring when Carter's cross found Jon Holloway and his glancing header deceived the home defence and the ball flew into the back of the net.

From the restart, Cirencester pushed forward. A Wimble run into the box ended when he was brought down, but the home side's strong appeals for a penalty were denied.

From a Wimble cross, Morris came a long way off his line to take cleanly with both Paul Hunt and Griffin charging in.

Right on half-time, Bryant pulled off a fine save when Carter laid the perfect ball for Garry Shephard whose first-time effort was well saved.

The second half began with an end-to-end period, and although few openings were created, Shephard went close with a powerful header.

At the other end, Morris did well to come quickly off his line to take a Nick Stanley cross.

Merthyr could have increased their lead mid-way through the half when Shephard got behind the home defence and laid a perfect cross for Craig Stiens whose shot was brilliantly blocked by Alan Bird.

With half-an-hour to go, Town made changes with Ben Fitch and Jody Bevan replacing Stanley and Stuart Fraser and this seemed to give Cirencester extra impetus up front.

Wimble saw his strong shot sail just over the bar and Michael Jackson's powerful shot was deflected for a corner.

From free kicks gained in dangerous positions, Cirencester had the visitors under pressure.

Three minutes before the end, the Centurions got an equaliser when their opponents failed to clear a move down the right.

And Fitch, picking up the loose ball, fired over the perfect cross for Marc Richards, making a late run into the box, to find the back of the net with a powerful header.

Cirencester: Bryant, Bird, Fraser (Bevan 63) Jackson, Richards, Viveash, Robison, Wimble, Griffin, Hunt (Cook 75) Stanley (Fitch 63). Subs: Hopkins, Curtis.

Monday's local derby away to Gloucester City finished with both sides sharing the spoils, but it took two great saves by both keepers to ensure the game finished goalless.

The visitors were the first to threaten when Ben Fitch's shot was only just wide of the target after breaking clear down the right.

In the Centurions' next build-up, Gareth Hopkins went close with a powerful header.

Gloucester countered, forcing a corner. Keith Knight's cross was only half-cleared as far as Neil Mustoe and his terrific shot saw Mark Bryant at full stretch to tip the ball over the bar.

Just before half-time, Glou-cester keeper Matt Bath pulled off a great save to tip Jody Bevan's goal-bound shot round a post.

The second half started with the hosts pushing men forward and player-manager Chris Burns, switching to a role up front to try and break down the Town back four, came close with a first-time snap-shot.

In an end-to-end spell, Scott Griffin, who had just replaced Bevan, saw his shot deflected for a corner. Shortly after, it seemed as though Cirencester had broken the deadlock when a Fitch run finished with him being brought down.

Although the referee pointed to the penalty spot, after consulting his assistant, he changed it to a free kick on the edge of the box from which Shaun Wimble's shot was charged down.

In the closing stages, Gloucester had their best chance when Tom Webb got to the by- line to fire over a low cross, only for Chris Thompson put his shot wide from six yards.

In finishing the stronger, Town forced several free kicks from dangerous positions.

Even so, keeper Bath was in commanding form to cut out any crosses that Cirencester did get into the danger area.

Gloucester City: Bath, Smith, C Thompson, Griffiths (M Thompson 67) Tomkins, Burns, Mustoe, Harris, Addis, Knight (Webb 45) Wilkinson (Varnham 55) Subs: Bennett, Reid.

Cirencester: Bryant, Bird, Fraser, Jackson, Richards, Viveash, Robison, Wimble, Bevan (Griffin 50) Hopkins (Cook 78) Fitch. Subs: Hunt, Stanley, Curtis.