Centurions enjoy goal rush and three points (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Centurions enjoy goal rush and three points

Cirencester Town 5 (Halliday 12, Griffin 53, 64, Fuller 60, Hopkins 81), Bedford Town 1 (Howe, 45)

THERE are days when everything comes together, when everything works as it should.

This was one of those days for the Centurions. They were in dreamland.

Not only did they thrash high-flying Bedford, they did so playing entertaining football that exuded skill, character and panache.

They thoroughly deserved this resounding victory.

Nobody could have predicted they would give, arguably, their best performance of the season just days after their 5-2 mauling by table-topping Salisbury.

With both teams kicking off in 4-4-2 formations, there was little indication of the rout that would follow when Bedford fired the first salvo: the dangerous Rene Howe turning and shooting in the box to bring a save out of Cirencester goalkeeper, Paul Thompson.

This was the first of several instances, in the first 10 minutes, which required Thompson to be alert as Bedford confidently pressed forward.

However, Cirencester grew in assurance after Kevin Halliday gave them a 12th-minute lead.

Lee Smith, who continually stretched Bedford with incisive right-wing runs, crossed from the right by-line.

Getting in front of his marker at the near-post, Gareth Hopkins flicked the ball against the underside of the crossbar.

As the ball bounced down onto the goal-line, Kevin Halliday dived to head it in.

From then on, Cirencester were first to every ball.

Their new signings, Nathan Haisley and Kyle Lapham, started imposing themselves on the game, midfielder Haisley with his energy and steeliness, defender Lapham with his accurate passing.

The Centurions' movement became too good for Bedford whose attacks grew increasingly predictable, many foundering on the defensive rock that is Adi Viveash.

On 36 minutes, having cut in from the left and bore down on goal, Howe had only Thompson to beat from 12 yards.

Howe seemed bound to score but Viveash suddenly appeared from nowhere to produce a goal-saving block.

On 44 minutes, Hopkins collected a Scott Griffin pass inside the box.

Hopkins, criticised this season for being insufficiently predatory, was unmarked with a clear sight of goal.

With Cirencester's supporters pleading for him to shoot, the centre-forward instead attempted a return-ball to Griffin who was offside.

Hopkins was punished a minute later when Thompson stooped, at his near post, to collect Ian Draycott's low, right-wing cross.

Uncharacteristically, Thompson fumbled the cross and Howe netted Bedford's undeserved equaliser from six yards.

Conceding a goal just before halftime traditionally saps confidence but Cirencester were in too positive a mood to let that happen.

Showing commendable character, they re-established their lead by scoring a quality goal within eight minutes of the restart.

Sent clear by Hopkins, Smith again reached the by-line and crossed perfectly for Griffin to prod home at the near post.

Pushing Bedford ever deeper, Cirencester unsurprisingly increased their lead on 60 minutes.

Bedford's increasingly shaky goalkeeper, Ian Brown, dropped Halliday's left-wing cross, prompting a near-post scramble that culminated with Scott Fuller forcing the ball in.

Four minutes later, Cirencester scored the goal of the game.

Standing in the D, 25 yards from goal, Smith collected a defensive header.

As Bedford's defenders rushed out to close him down, Smith displayed quality vision by calmly curling an inch-perfect pass onto the toe of Griffin, who claimed his second by side-footing home from the six-yard box's right-hand angle.

Smith also provided Cirencester's fifth when, yet again, he reached the by-line and delivered a telling cross.

Correctly anticipating that Bedford's centre-half would miss the header, Hopkins pulled away at the far post and emphatically hammered in a shot off the left-hand upright.

It was a fitting finale to an inspirational performance.

Man of the match: Lee Smith (Cirencester) Cirencester: Paul Thompson, Neil Arndale (capt), Scott Fuller, Nathan Haisley, Marc Richards (Gary Horgan, 85), Adie Viveash (b 67), Kyle Lapham, Lee Smith (Michael Jackson, 85), Gareth Hopkins, Scott Griffin (Steve Cowe, 79), Kevin Halliday. Unused substitutes: Shaun Wimble, Mike Symons. Bedford: Ian Brown, Jason James (Matt Gearing, 79), Gavin Hoyte, Mike Ford (Craig Rydeheard, 79), Lee Howarth (capt), Tom Bonner, Ian Draycott (Ashley Blake, 79), Derwayne Stupple, Carl Williams, Rene Howe, Eddie Lawley. Unused substitutes: Matt Childs, Chris Dillon. Referee: G J O'Sullivan (Churchdown) Attendance: 166.