Southern League – Premier Division

 

Cirencester Town   3

Poole Town 2

 

HIGH-flying Poole Town were the visitors for this mid-week league fixture.

 

The Dolphins have been at the top end of the league table all season but like their hosts have suffered a loss of form in recent matches.

 

This fixture was their third away match on the bounce having lost the previous two over the Easter weekend against Chippenham and Dorchester.

 

Poole kicked off and almost immediately Richard Gillespie had a shot on goal as a defensive header dropped to him on the centre front edge of the area, but he missed the target.

 

Play then switched to the other end of the pitch as Nat Jarvis crossed from the left flank for visiting goalkeeper Nick Hutchings to catch on the edge of his 6 yard box.

 

The next goalmouth action was at the Cirencester end where Luke Roberts was thwarted by a superb block tackle by Leigh Henry in the right channel of the area.

 

The home side then enjoyed a period of possession as they worked the ball forward with several players involved, culminating in a Hooper cross to the back post from the right that was headed clear.

 

Cirencester were pushing forward at every opportunity and finally broke the deadlock with eight minutes of the half remaining when Jarvis collected a loose ball in the left channel, turned and struck a fierce, low, left footed shot from 25 yards that flew inside the right post.

 

The reaction from Poole was immediate as Keith Emmerson drove down the left and crossed to the front edge of the area where Gillespie, on the run, could only strike his shot wide of the left post as the ball came at him quickly.

 

The Centurions started the second half well, playing neatly.

 

On the hour mark Mark Pritchett sent a curling right footed cross towards the back post where Jarvis leapt the highest to head home.

 

The euphoria of the two goal lead was short-lived as within a minute the visitors were awarded a penalty when Gillespie drove down the right channel of the area, inducing a challenge from Jones that caused him to fall to ground.

 

Richard Gillespie stepped up to take the kick himself and drove his kick down the centre and whilst Glyn Garner got his hand to it as he dived to his right, he could not prevent it entering the net.

 

Encouraged, Poole pushed forward but suffered a setback when Ricketts received a ball on the right front edge of the away side’s area and shot towards the far left post.

 

The Poole ‘keeper dived to his right to keep the ball out and it was loose for a moment – enough time for the alert Josh Parsons to latch onto it and drive the ball home.

 

With 30 minutes gone in the second half Poole reduced the arrears as Quigley made a run down the right flank towards the corner, slipping the ball inside to Richard Gillespie who struck a curling right footed shot inside the left post to make it 3-2 to the home side.

 

The last ten minutes were tense with Poole driving forward and Cirencester defending with determination and resolve.

 

When the final whistle blew The Centurions were celebrating not just a 3-2 win but a great team performance.

 

Cirencester’s next game is away to Histon on Saturday, April 11.