Town shrug off defeat to prepare for the FA Cup (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Town shrug off defeat to prepare for the FA Cup

BRIAN Hughes, the Cirencester Town manager, will be putting aside the disappointment of last Friday's league loss at Merthyr Tydfil to concentrate his efforts on this weekend's serious challenges of the FC Cup.

For with the arrival of Wimborne at the Corinium Stadium on Saturday (3pm ko), for the first qualifying round of this prestigious competition, the Centurions harbour hopes of getting to the first round proper for the first time in their history.

On paper, Wimborne, currently lying mid-table in the Wessex League, don't appear to be that serious a threat.

Even so, with Town not getting that many league victories under their belts thus far, they will be looking to their strikers to dash the aspirations of the minnows from Dorset.

Town have completed what were probably their most three difficult matches of the season - away to Salisbury, Chippenham and Merthyr Tydfil.

But after having to cope with horrendous traffic on Friday to take on high-flying Merthyr, Hughes must be disappointed that in all three fixtures - especially the last - they had much possession, but were unable to get the ball into the net.

Town started brightly with Lee Smith getting in three telling crosses, and Gareth Hopkins was unlucky when he just failed to get enough head on the ball from a stooping dive to make it count.

The visitors continued to play the ball around the park and, from a Shaun Wimble cross, Nick Stanley laid back a pass to Gary Horgan whose powerful shot was only just wide of the target. In the their next build-up, another Wimble cross picked out Smith, but his header was well saved by Ashley Morris.

Almost on half-time, Merthyr did get more into the game when Paul Keddle got behind the Town defence, but his header was well saved by Steve Book.

A little against the run of play, the home side opened the scoring five minutes before the break. A through ball from Garry Shephard found a totally unmarked Craig Steins and he picked his spot, giving Book no chance.

This gave the hosts renewed confidence, although it was their opponents who could have then drawn level. A fine cross from Smith, aimed at Wimble, would have got through had Keddle not managed to get a toe on to the ball to deflect the danger.

From a free kick at the other end, Dane Williams' powerful shot brought a great save from Book to parry and Jason Welsh shot wide from the rebound.

The second half began with Merthyr stepping up the tempo. On 58 minutes, the pressure told when Keddle worked his way to the byline to fire over a deep cross that picked out Shephard who found the back of the net with a cleverly placed header.

The visitors continued to look dangerous, but were finding it difficult to create any clear cut- chances. A Hopkins' lay-off left Wimble in the clear, but his powerful shot was well saved.

Merthyr put the result beyond doubt 20 minutes from the end. From a corner, Mike Fowler's cross was misjudged by Book and Welsh had time to pick his spot to add the third goal.

Shortly after, Town brought on Paul Hunt and Tom Etheridge for Wimble and Smith, and these changes seemed to have the desired effect.

From a quickly taken free kick, Stanley found Horgan and his cross picked out Hunt who found the back of the net with a beautifully judged header.

Merthyr Tydfil: Morris, Williams, Keddle, Needs, Eckhart, Griffiths, Fowler, Williams, Welsh, Steins, Shephard (Clarke 85). Subs: Davies, Ingram, Sommers, Dorrian.

Cirencester Town: Book, Richards, Halliday, Jackson, Horgan, Viveash, Fullam, Smith (Hunt 75) Hopkins, Stanley, Wimble (Etheridge 75). Subs: Cowe, Fraser, Hall. Referee: Richard Palmer (Radstock), attendance 432.