Cirencester Town tramples on the Aylesbury ducks (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester Town tramples on the Aylesbury ducks

VICTORY over Aylesbury last weekend not only extended Cirencester Town's unbeaten run to seven games, but has also put them back into serious contention for a possible play-off spot.

And Town manager Brian Hughes will surely be looking to his side to maintain their current momentum away to Solihull Borough on Saturday and in next Tuesday's trip to Merthyr Tydfil.

Town's 3-0 win over high-flying Ducks on Saturday was especially commendable, considering they have been without two key players, Neil Arndale and Kevin Halliday, for quite some time.

The Centurions went straight at their opponents from the start and, from a Sean Wimble cross, Marc Richards header was only just over the bar.

In the hosts' next build-up, Gareth Hopkins despatched a low shot the wrong side of a post after a long clearance from Adi Viveash.

It was no surprise when, on ten minutes, the home side opened the scoring from a corner. From Fitch's flag-kick, Viveash was well positioned at the far post to slam the ball into the back of the net from eight yards.

Within two minutes, the home side were two up. After Hopkins and Wimble had stretched the visitors' defence, the latter's final ball found Scott Griffin in space and he coolly beat keeper Jack Rashid from the edge of the six-yard box.

From the restart, Aylesbury mounted their first serious attack and Town keeper Mark Bryant had to save bravely at the feet of Drew Roberts.

But the local side countered and a great run from Hopkins finished with a fierce angled shot which he sent just wide.

On 20 minutes, Cirencester got their third goal with the best move of the entire game.

This time, Wimble and Hopkins combined well down the left to stretch the Ducks' defence and Michael Jackson had space and time to lay off a perfect ball to Griffin who coolly flicked it over the advancing Rashid.

Although Town dominated the remainder of the half, Aylesbury were very quick on the counter-attack and Alan Bird needed to get in two telling tackles to clear the danger.

With half-time approaching, Rashid was at full stretch to save Sean Wimble's powerful shot had to do the same again to tip over Griffin's attempted lob.

At the start of the second half, Darren Robison tested Rashid with a powerful shot.

After this, the visitors gradually got into the game, pushing extra men forward, and Bryant had to pull two fine saves to deny Daniel French.

Cirencester countered with another fine move down the left, which finished with a Wimble lob going just wide of the target.

With 20 minutes to go, manager Hughes brought on Paul Hunt and Steve Cooke for Hopkins and Fitch, hoping that fresh legs would help on a hot afternoon.

Although Town continued to stay on top, they were finding it difficult to create any clear-cut chances.

With just ten minutes to go, Aylesbury were given a chance to get back into the game with the award of a penalty after Nick Stanley had brought down Roberts.

But any hopes of a consolation were soon denied when the same player saw his spot-kick hit the Town crossbar.

Cirencester Town: Bryant, Bird, Fraser, Jackson, Richards, Viveash, Robison, Wimble, Hopkins (S Cook 70), Griffin (Stanley 82), Fitch (Hunt 70). Subs: Bevan. Referee B J Gee ( Dursley), attendance 234.