CIRENCESTER Town FC extended their unbeaten run to seven on Saturday with a convincing 3-1 victory over a Sutton Coldfield side who, come the end of the game, were reduced to nine men.

The game started in explosive fashion. With only two minutes on the clock, Keith Knight and Gareth Hopkins combined to put the visiting defence under pressure.

Although Andy Ling had time to clear the ball, James Hughes nipped in to go into the box and was unfairly brought down by Sutton keeper Justin Bray.

Bray received the red card and was replaced between the posts by Darren Massingham.

And his first touch was to pick the ball out of the back of the net after Darren Robison had scored from the penalty spot.

Cirencester were now dominating proceedings and Matthew McEntegart, who had replaced the injured Dave Gee, was unlucky when his first-time volley flashed the wrong side of a post.

Shortly after, he got on the end of a Keith Knight cross but his powerful header was just over the bar.

Just before half-time, Sutton Coldfield had their best spell.

Steve Farmer's powerful header was well saved by Town keeper Mark Hervin and Simon Tucker was unlucky with a powerful 30- yard shot which flew just over the crossbar.

The second half was only seven minutes old when, against the run of play, the visitors equalised.

Dean Perrow got behind the home defence and although Hervin managed to get a hand to his first shot, his second shot from the rebound was only parried by Hervin and Tucker was well positioned to head the loose ball into the net.

This goal seemed to wake up the Centurions and Massingham was forced to pull off a string of fine saves.

He was, though, a little fortunate when Robison's shot cannoned back off the bar and, shortly after, it took two attempts to save a fierce shot from Knight.

On 62 minutes Cirencester regained the lead when Gareth Hopkins forced his way through to get enough of his body on to a Knight cross to plant the ball into the far corner of the net.

Ten minutes later, the Corinium Stadium team put the game beyond doubt.

A Robison through ball found Gareth Hopkins in space and he outpaced his defender before firing home an angled shot from 15 yards.

Five minutes from the end and with Town on a quick break, Sutton Coldfield were reduced to nine men when Farmer received his marching orders for an off- the-ball incident witnessed by both the referee and one of his assistants.

Cirencester Town: Hervin, Hughes, Hunt, Mayo, T Hopkins (Lee 75) Beaverstock, Knight, Robison, G Hopkins, McCabe (Reason 75) Gee (McEntegart 30) Subs: Fraser, Purcell (GK).