Evo-Stik Southern Premier

Hitchin Town 2 Cirencester Town 0

CIRENCESTER TOWN travelled to Hitchin on Saturday with high expectations after their encouraging win against Tonbridge Angels in the FA Trophy the previous week, but alas their positivity was misplaced, writes Terry Keogh.

On a bright, exceptionally cold afternoon at Top Field, where a minutes’ silence for the tragic events in Paris was immaculately observed, the Canaries punished Ciren’s defensive frailties and poor distribution.

This was in no part down to a lack of effort; there were plenty of triers in black and red, particularly Charlie Griffin who chased and harried all afternoon, and Matt Liddiard who ran his guts out, covering every blade for the full 90 minutes.

The Centurions started much the brighter; just 20 seconds into the game a quick and decisive seven-pass move ended with Liddiard firing narrowly wide.

Then on eight minutes, some neat play between Ian Herring (back from injury) and Brad Hooper sent Zack Kotwica away on the right, but his dangerous cross was gathered by Hitchin keeper Charlie Horlock.

The Canaries’ first real chance came halfway through the first half, a Lucas Kirkpatrick effort being deflected for a corner. From the resulting kick the powerful Brett Donnelly lost his marker to head narrowly over.

On 30 minutes Ciren’s Ollie Knight produced a jinking run into the area before finding the ever willing Liddiard, but unfortunately the ball got stuck under his feet in the cloying ground and the danger was averted.

Another Ciren move found Griffin out on the left – he cleverly won a corner kick after drawing a couple of defenders. In the resulting move the ball was fed back to an onrushing Ellis Dunton, whose firm, low effort was parried by Horlock and eventually scrambled away.

At the half-time whistle Ciren were certainly worth their share of the spoils.

Had they returned to the field with the same momentum, they might have got something from the game, but it was the hosts who were much the stronger and more decisive as the game went on.

For most of the first half Ciren left back Dunton had kept the tricky and diminutive Jonny McNamara at bay, but in that second period most of the danger came from his pace and guile.

On one occasion his cleverness led to a melee in the Ciren goalmouth, but Shayne Anson was on hand to clear off the line.

Ciren’s only real chance in the second period came when, after Kotwica had left two defenders lying in his wake, he opted for a strike at the near post when the better option would have been the square ball to the advancing Hooper. Horlock dealt with his effort comfortably.

Poor defensive clearances were to give Hitchin both their scoring opportunities. The first, on 77 minutes, was dispatched by Hitchin substitute Matt Lench from a narrow angle, and the second, a straightforward tap-in by Robbie Burns, secured the points nine minutes from time.

Brian Hughes replaced Kotwica and Knight for the tenacious Connor Thompson and Aidan Bennett respectively, but they could not change the outcome of the game.

The result finds Cirencester languishing in a worrying 18th place in the league and it is imperative they get some positive results from their backlog of home fixtures.

Cirencester Town: Garner, Herring, Dunton, Anson, Hooper, Henry (capt), Liddiard, Mortimer-Jones, Griffin, Knight (Bennett, 78), Kotwica (Thompson, 66). 
Unused sub: Bevan.