Ciren Town FC back to losing ways (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Ciren Town FC back to losing ways

Northwood 3 (Luke Garrard 8, Darren Grieves 13, Peter Dean 16), Cirencester Town 0

ONE of Cirencester's worst performances of the season saw them concede three goals in the first 16 minutes.

They initially seemed poised to take fellow relegation battlers, Northwood, apart.

Mark Danks danced past Fergus Moore on the right when put clear by Neil Arndale and placed a perfect cross into space on the edge of the six-yard box.

Neither Steve Cowe or Gareth Hopkins read the play and another opportunity went begging.

Danks again ran in but this time went one step further, firing his shot just wide with Watson beaten.

On eight minutes, Northwood's first up-field foray appeared to be going nowhere when Craig Fullam stepped in to cut off Garrard's pass.

But Gary Horgan turned into trouble off Fullam's pass and was robbed, inside his own half, by Dean Clark.

The ball was lofted down the left beyond Arndale, sending Peter Dean clear.

Dean looked marginally offside but ran on and chipped for the far post. Unmarked Darren Grieves headed down to Garrard who was clear six yards out. Garrard drove into the net.

As if a switch had been thrown, Cirencester's attack became all fumbles, with only Danks showing the anticipation needed to gain control.

Northwood began to have time to play their passes.

On 13 minutes, Horgan again lost possession inside his half.

Halliday conceded a needless foul and, from the ensuing interplay, Dean Clark was in space far out on the right.

His deep cross went between Viveash and Arndale and Grieves gleefully headed home from eight yards.

Tails up and talking positively, Northwood swarmed forward.

With Garrard dominating midfield, Cirencester's midfield passes were being blocked off.

On 16 minutes, Garrard intercepted Cowe's loose lay-off and fed Frazer Toms.

There seemed no immediate danger but no challenge was made when a long, speculative cross dropped into Cirencester's box.

Finding himself in space, the nippy Dean lifted a simple header over Paul Thompson to make it 3-0 just eight minutes after the opening goal.

Cirencester dug in but were hurried.

Horgan hit a long-range shot over the bar when neither Cowe nor Hopkins showed for a pass.

Cowe hit a long-range strike against the bar when Hopkins nodded down a Danks cross.

These were the sum total of Cirencester's goal attempts in the remaining half-hour.

Northwood could have made it five before the break.

Dean again got clear onto a Garrard cross but hit the post.

Then Grieves went clear in the box, only for Thompson to make a stunning stop off his point-blank shot.

The second half was marginally more even, with Cowe and Hopkins woefully off the wavelength.

They were replaced with Scott Griffin and Steve Cook, who provided a more active target.

Northwood were not going to give up what they had and defended in depth, again reducing Cirencester to long-range efforts.

Horgan again hit the woodwork, Danks diving to head the rebound just wide.

Griffin got through on the left and squared to the unmarked Smith, whose weak effort went past the post.

Having had a fierce shot well stopped by Watson, Griffin netted when Danks found him in space but he was flagged offside.

This was questionable because he had gone round a defender.

Youngster, Michael Symons, replaced the out-of-sorts Smith and looked promising, holding the ball well and twice just being crowded out after Danks had managed to find him in space.

It was as close as Cirencester got in an increasingly error strewn and over anxious second-half attacking display.

Man of the match: Dean Clark (Northwood). Northwood: Liam Watson, Dave Nolan, Fergus Moore, Jason O'Connor, James Shipperley, Wayne Carter, Kuke Garrard (c), Dean Clark Gary Meakin 86, Darren Grieves, Peter Dean, Frazer Toms Gavin Hart 67. Other substitutes: Aaron Ferdinand, Alastair Heselton, Billy Matthews. Cirencester: Paul Thompson, Neil Arndale (c), Kevin Halliday, Michael Jackson, Gary Horgan, Adie Viveash, Craig Fullam, Lee Smith Michael Symons 80 Gareth Hopkins Scott Griffin 57, Mark Danks, Steve Cowe Steve Cook 57. Other substitutes: Marc Richards, Gus Fraser. Referee Mr P Toyer (Luton). Attendance: 151.