Evo-Stik Southern League Premier

Cirencester Town 0 Hitchin Town 0

CIRENCESTER TOWN maintained their unbeaten start to the season but it was a close-run thing, especially in the second half when Hitchin Town worked up a head of steam.

The hosts’ front three failed to fire individually or as a unit which resulted in a busy afternoon for the Cirencester back five who were gutsy and resolute throughout.

Midfielders James Mortimer-Jones and Brad Hooper also found themselves fully occupied keeping the lively visitors at bay. It was not much of an issue in a forgettable first half when neither side played with any cohesion. But after the break, following an initial spell of Cirencester dominance, the Canaries began to take control.

Lewis Rolfe was superb throughout and young right back Kane Smith put in a faultless display, as did his captain Alasan Ann at centre back.

With Jonny McNamara – tormentor in chief during last season’s equivalent game – suddenly coming alive after the interval, Ciren were at full stretch manning the barricades.

The two best chances game of the game both fell to Hitchin in the second half. Simon Martin got underneath an attempted diving header in the 64th minute when well placed and McNamara failed to convert a one-on-one with Garner in the 76th minute.

Having burst clear, the diminutive and tricky wide man tried to take the ball past Glyn Garner but the veteran stopper outwitted him.

It was not Garner’s only fine save on an afternoon when both he and opposite number Charlie Horlock didn’t put a foot wrong – as you might deduce from the 0-0 scoreline.

An improved display from Ciren after the break saw them come close in the 50th minute. Aidan Bennett had his hands full in an unaccustomed right back role, but in a rare foray forward he hit the bar with a fizzing cross – showing how much his energy was being missed up front.

Cirencester’s admirable spirit saw them finish the game the stronger. Leigh Henry’s downward header from substitute Ollie Knight’s free kick in the 85th minute was somehow kept out by Horlock and then he tipped over a rising Josh Parsons half-volley as the clock passed 90 minutes.

The versatile Ian Herring will be available for the visit to Paulton Rovers on Tuesday having served his three-match ban, with another defender, Mark Pritchett, also back in contention for Saturday’s home match against King’s Lynn after his suspension.

Both may get their chance, especially if Ben Brown continues to be troubled by his hamstring problem and Gethin Jones cannot shake off the injury which hampered him in the last ten minutes of the Hitchin game.

But of more concern to Cirencester Town boss Brian Hughes will be that his still unbeaten side are posing their greatest threat going forward from set pieces.

Cirencester Town: Garner, Jones, Dunton, Langworthy, Hooper, Henry (capt), Bennett, Mortimer-Jones, Griffin (Ricketts, 70), Parsons, Kotwica (Knight, 83).