Cirencester Hockey Club Mens 1st XI 6 Bath Buccs Hockey Club B 5 (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Cirencester Hockey Club Mens 1st XI 6 Bath Buccs Hockey Club B 5

IN THIS, the final match in Gerrard Premier Three, both teams had the chance to retain their place in the league.

On paper, Cirencester had the easier task, only needing a win, whereas the visitors needed to beat the home side by 12 clear goals.

Cirencester started the better, pressing forward from midfield with good work from Paul Anstee, Sean Collins, Simon Dicker and Paul Holbrook.

A number of early chances fell to Charlie Paine and Chris Poole, all of which were squandered.

Several short corners also failed to produce a goal.

Bath Buccs found their rhythm and started to pass the ball well.

Slack marking gave them a number of opportunities, which were handled well by the defence of John Partridge, Andy McGrath, Steve Foster and Ollie Latter, with keeper Webb picking up the pieces.

It was, however, the visitors who made the all-important breakthrough with a strike on goal that was unluckily deflected, by Foster, wide of Webb at full stretch.

Knowing the importance of the game, Cirencester rallied and a move, started by Partridge in the left-back position, culminated in an unstoppable strike from the top of the D by Dicker.

Parity was not maintained for long when Buccs' first short corner was well struck under the body of Webb.

Once again, the home side rallied, forcing a number of short corners, which finally paid off when Latter picked up a rebound from the keeper to sweep home the second.

The home side could not keep the lead and once more the visitors went ahead after a long ball evaded all the Cirencester defence to leave two Buccs forwards room to pass the ball around Webb into the goal.

Half time saw the visitors 3-2 to the good but still needing another 11 goals to maintain their position in the league.

With the home side needing just the two goals, a stiff half-time talk from captain, John Tasker, and coach, Anstee, saw them pressing Bath from the start. Dicker scored his second from close range after good work on the right opened up the Buccs defence.

Once again, the home side could not keep the visitors out. A short corner was well saved by Webb but the Buccs forwards reacted quickest and forced the ball home.

Another short corner for the visitors resulted in the award of a penalty, which was overruled after the umpires conferred and agreed that the strike on goal was going wide when it hit the body of Partridge.

A let-off for Cirencester, who themselves were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty.

Parity was once again restored when Paine forced home after a cross from Poole on the right.

Cirencester then took the lead for the first time in the match with a controversial goal claimed by Paine.

The ball was smashed into the D by Latter and deflected by the Buccs captain.

Paine, on the far post, appeared to touch the ball into the corner.

Buccs vociferously complained to the umpires and Cirencester's players but the goal stood.

Last ditch defending and smart saves by Webb kept Buccs at bay until five minutes before the end, when slack marking allowed the visitors to move the ball around the back to an unmarked player in the D.

His first-time shot went through Webb's legs.

With time running out, it looked as if both teams would be relegated but with one minute remaining Poole became the hero of the hour with a little dink over the onrushing keeper to leave Cirencester 6-5 winners.

Cirencester live to fight another day in Premier Three but must learn their lessons from a season that has seen them concede too many simple goals, while playing great hockey in patches.

Consistency must be the buzzword for 2006/2007 if they are not to be embroiled in a relegation battle again.

Total Employment man of the match went to Poole for his last-minute goal to keep Cirencester in Premier Three.