Evo-Stik Southern Premier

St. Ives Town 1

Cirencester Town 1

A FIRST goal for the club by Matt Coupe ensured another valuable point for Cirencester and took their unbeaten run to three games as they try to secure their status in the Southern Premier.

After a long journey to Cambridgeshire to play St. Ives, Cirencester found the pitch was so heavily sanded it was regularly visited by seagulls throughout the afternoon.

This made controlled, passing football very difficult for either side due to the uneven bounce and boggy areas.

The visitors started positively and opened the scoring after nine minutes when Coupe cleverly flicked a Kerry Morgan free kick over both his left shoulder and 'keeper Tim Trebes before it dropped inside the far post.

Encouraged by their early success Cirencester pushed forward and pressed their hosts but St. Ives levelled the score just after the mid-point of the half through Jack Higgs following a counter attack down the right flank.

Despite the setback Cirencester continued to press but it was their hosts who created a couple of good openings as the half was drawing to a close.

After the interval the game was more even as the soft pitch cut up with both sides working the ball forward but unable to break through the stubborn defences.

Glyn Garner pulled off a couple of good saves during the half and Gethin Jones cleared a shot off the line but it was Cirencester who finished strongly and following a goalmouth scramble they too had a shot cleared off the line with five minutes of play remaining.