Play-offs party looks all over for gallant Cirencester (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Play-offs party looks all over for gallant Cirencester

HAVING picked up just a point from their last two outings, Cirencester will be looking for a positive result from this Saturday's Standard-sponsored home game against lowly Stamford.

Although the play-offs party now seems a forlorn hope, manager Brian Hughes will want his gallant Town side to finish on a high note with just three games left to play.

A match that had previously been postponed twice was finally played on Tuesday evening.

Unfortunately for Town, their Merthyr Tydfil hosts took the points in a close 1-0 victory.

The game was barely five minutes old when Mark Pritchard was sent clear and his low drive struck Darren Robison on its way into the Centurions' net.

The home side continued to press and Town keeper Mark Bryant did well to save a 25-yard shot from Chris Bale.

At the other end, Robison got in a firm header from a Ben Fitch cross, but his effort was scrambled off the line.

At the start of the second half, Robinson's powerful drive was blocked by Ashley Morris and, soon after, the home keeper did well to deny Gareth Hopkins on the follow up.

Just before the end, Bryant denied Pritchard twice the chance of scoring again.

Although Cirencester Town extended their unbeaten run to eight games in a 1-1 draw at Solihull on Saturday with yet another draw, they dropped further away from the play-off positions.

Early on, Michael Jackson and Marc Richards linked up to create space for Darren Robison and his powerful shot was only just wide of the target

In their next build-up, Town gained a free kick 25 yards out and Shaun Wimble sent a curling effort inches over the bar.

Solihull countered with a quick break with Carl Adams finding Paul Danks and Alan Bird got in a vital tackle to clear the danger. From a Wimble cross, Gareth Hopkins' powerful header was sailed just over.

Shortly after, Ben Fitch fired over a telling cross, but Scott Griffin, diving at full length failed to get the vital touch. The visitors, when they did break out of defence, found Bird and Adi Viveash in commanding form.

With half-time approaching, Town went close when Richards laid the ball off to Griffin whose angled shot hit the side netting.

Four minutes before the break, Town opened the scoring. From a corner, Wimble's near-post cross was met perfectly by Griffin to score with an inch-perfect angled header.

The second half started in the same vein with Cirencester in control, although Mark Bryant pulled off a fine save to deny Paul Danks after a fine run by Seb Hamilton.

Despite Fitch making several dangerous runs, Town could not capitalise on their total dominance.

Wimble had a powerful shot saved by Mark Shiels, a Richards header was well saved by the home keeper and Griffin went close with an attempted lob from the edge of the box.

With the Gloucestershire side set to take maximum points with just minutes left, there was a mix-up in the Town defence when Andy Smith fired over a hopeful cross.

Bird, who had performed so well, tried to play the ball back to Bryant but, with the Town keeper already committed, the ball trickled over the goal-line.

Cirencester: Bryant, Bird (Stanley 80) Fraser, Jackson, Richards, Viveash, Robison, Wimble, Hopkins, Griffin, Fitch. Subs: Bevan, Hunt, Cook, Curtis. Ref: O Langford (West Midlands), attend: 112.