Evo-Stik League Southern Premier

Cirencester Town 0 Paulton Rovers 1

PAULTON ROVERS became the first club to do the double over Cirencester Town this season and the architect of their victory was, wouldn’t you know it, former Centurions captain Shayne Anson.

The fondly-remembered Anson was never an attacking threat in his time with Cirencester – one goal in 61 appearances – and he had yet to score for Paulton since joining them in the middle of last season.

But when Town spurned a couple of opportunities to clear a Paulton corner in the 55th minute, it was Anson who lashed in a sweetly-struck left-footed drive from the edge of the box to his unalloyed delight.

From that point Paulton defended as if their lives depended on it – it was far from cultured but it proved effective enough to secure their third win on the bounce.

Paulton will face a heavy fine for accumulating five bookings – Cirencester picked up three of their own in the second half – but the three points will cushion that blow and in truth there was not a malicious challenge all night.

How Ciren missed the physical presence and finishing prowess of their top scorer Nat Jarvis, who was sidelined with injury.

In the first half, the hosts seemed to be suckered into a frenetic game of kick and rush by their robust opponents.

It was an even if uneventful 45 minutes. Nick McCootie and Mitchell Page might have done better with their chances while Ciren finished the half strongly, Paulton youth team graduate Kyle Phillips making a fine save from Josh Parsons in the 41st minute and Aidan Bennett firing over from close range soon after.

From the moment Anson produced what proved to be the winner 10 minutes into the second half, Paulton had something to defend, and though Ciren hammered on the door continuously they were never let in.

A marvellous lunging block by full back Sam Teale, as Ed Williams was about to pick his spot, was a turning point in the 72nd minute and Ciren fans may have guessed their fate three minutes later after a marvellous double save from Phillips, who firstly parried a goal-bound shot by Ben Wells and then smothered sub Shane Bumphrey’s attempt at a follow-up.

Ciren continued to press forward without quite having the guile to unpick a notably resolute defence.

Cirencester Town: Garner, Herring, Dunton, Pritchett (capt), Liddiard, Wells, Hooper (Bumphrey, 71), Mortimer-Jones, Parsons, Bennett, Williams.

Unused subs: Pitts, Knight, Bond, Davidge.