Evo-Stik Southern Premier.

Cambridge City 3, Cirencester Town 1.

CAMBRIDGE maintained their push for a play-off place and cast Cirencester further adrift in the relegation zone with a comfortable 3-1 victory on Saturday.

Ciren, weakened by the absence of two regulars, Zak Westlake and Scott Claridge, are in last place, ten points behind Supermarine, and effectively down.

But with two matches against relegation-threatened rivals, Bashley and Evesham, to come over the Easter weekend, they have a significant role to play in proceedings at the bottom of the table.

In an uneventful opening spell, Ciren were restricted to long-range efforts from James Mortimer-Jones and Jody Bevan, while the Lilywhites probed a little more dangerously at the other end.

They were ahead in the 28th minute when Town were undone, not for the first time this season, from a setpiece, with Dave Theobald heading Lee Clift’s excellent corner past Mike Hedges in the Cirencester goal.

Now playing confidently, Cambridge were 2-0 up three minutes later.

Adam Marriott, who had made a loan switch from Cambridge United in the week, produced an instant dividend when swivelling inside the box and shooting skilfully into the back of the net.

It wasn’t until the 62nd minute that Cambridge extended their lead when Craig Hammond, played in by Marriott, produced a fine chip to beat Hedges.

Cirencester were in no mood to give up and, with City failing to capitalise on their chances, the visitors got a goal back in the 71st minute.

The ball broke to Aiden Bennett inside the box and his effort through a crowded goalmouth was deflected off Lee Chaffey and past Zac Barrett.

There might have been a grandstand finish had Wayne Turk been able to finish off some good interplay between himself and Bevan with a more telling shot.

That was Ciren’s last chance of the game as City consolidated their fifth place in the league table.

Cirencester Town: Hedges, Bennett, Dunton, Reid, Davies, Dunn, Turk, Mortimer-Jones, Bevan, Griffin, Else. Subs: Pitt, James, Russell.