West of England (North 1).

Gloucester City A 4, Cirencester 2.

CIRENCESTER’S slim hopes of promotion appear to have slipped away with this defeat at Gloucester.

With five regular players missing and a late withdrawal, they travelled with a bare 11.

Cirencester started well and took the lead through a Rob Carmichael strike after ten minutes.

Gloucester equalised from a short corner off goalkeeper Webb's helmet and took the lead before half-time from another short corner.

Despite numerous good openings Cirencester were unable to make any of their chances count.

Despite a robust half-time team talk, Cirencester fell asleep in defence allowing Gloucester to deflect the ball into the net to take a two-goal lead.

Carmichael scored his second from a short corner halfway through the second half after Gloucester were down to ten men.

However, Gloucester regained the two-goal lead with a reverse strike from the top of the D.

Now five points behind the leaders, Cirencester must find their early-season form if they are to get back on track.