Evo-Stik League Div 1 S&W.

Taunton Town 0 Cirencester Town 0.

CIRENCESTER TOWN put in an industrious display to gain a well-deserved point at Taunton on Saturday.

Ciren were again without three first-team regulars, injured pair Ellis Dunton and Chris Thompson, along with the suspended Jamie Reid.

In the early stages of a dogged encounter, most of the play took place in the middle of the pitch. It was not until the 23rd minute that Ciren won their first corner, which came to nothing, while Taunton’s first opportunity did not arrive until the 32nd minute when Rodney Marsh hit a low, weak free kick into the side netting.

Four minutes later, Marsh spurned a golden opportunity, miscuing his shot into the waiting hands of Lee Clatworthy when he only had the keeper to beat.

In the 43rd minute, Marsh did get a thunderous shot away from 16 yards, but Clatworthy pulled off a marvellous one-handed save to push the ball around the post.

Ben Wells chanced his arm with a free kick from 35 yards in the 59th minute, with Matt Unwin making a clean save.

A minute later, Ciren had their best chance of the game after good interplay between Shane Bumphrey and substitutes Liam O’Brien and Scott Griffin led to a chance for Sam Collier from 10 yards. Unfortunately, the striker’s effort cleared the bar.

The game at last began to open up in the last half-hour and on 69 minutes Taunton substitute Jamie Short hit a powerful shot which caught the outside of the post.

Ciren were finishing the game strongly, however, with O’Brien controlling play in midfield and Bumphrey and Griffin both going close up front.

In the 86th minute, Ciren’s supporters felt they had a shout for a penalty when Wells was felled by Taunton keeper Unwin as he was about to let fly, only for referee Adam Penwell to turn down the appeals.

Then, in the last minute, Clatworthy came to Ciren’s rescue one more time, punching out a fierce snap shot from Jamie Short.

Cirencester Town: Clatworthy, Allard, Bennett, Sysum (capt), Wells, Hawkins, Bumphrey, Mortimer-Jones, Collier, Shepherd (O'Brien, 53), Packer (Griffin, 53). Unused sub: Bailey.