Calor Div One South & West.

Paulton Rovers 0.

Cirencester Town 1.

CIRENCESTER TOWN arrested their recent slump with a display of passion, skill and commitment which earned a 1-0 victory at fellow promotion candidates Paulton Rovers.

The only goal of the game came from Ciren’s prolific striker Lee Smith who ended his longest barren spell of the season (six games) when forcing home a header in the 32nd minute after good build-up play from James Mortimer-Jones and the lively Steve Davies.

It was nothing more than Town deserved after dominating a first half in which they created four other chances.

Paulton, unbeaten in six, came into the game as the form team of the division while Ciren's challenge on leaders Merthyr had become temporarily derailed by a string of lacklustre performances.

They did, however, start the match back to full strength and reverted to the 4-3-3 formation which had served them so well, with Aidan Bennett playing as a central striker and Davies and Smith buzzing off him.

Bennett had an outstanding game and the mobile and interchangeable front trio gave Paulton plenty of problems.

All 11 players in a Ciren shirt, however, were thoroughly committed, moving the ball much more urgently than in recent weeks and putting in some lusty tackles when necessary.

Ciren came under plenty of pressure in the second period but Glyn Garner had to make only one save of note and centre back Mark Pritchett, in particular, was superb.

Cirencester Town: Garner, Anson (Hooper), Dunton, Pritchett, Liddiard, Henry, Shepherd (Wood), Mortimer-Jones, Bennett, Davies, Smith.