Pre-season friendly
Fairford Town 2
Cirencester Town 8
NEW signing Ben Whitehead scored five goals as Cirencester put eight past Hellenic Premier new boys Fairford Town in a pre-season friendly at Cinder Lane on Thursday.

The visitors put on a display of fluid football and clinical finishing against a valiant home side who are now under the stewardship of former Centurion Jody Bevan and Chris Smith.

Jack Watts opened the scoring after five minutes and Whitehead scored his first 11 minutes later.

The much-travelled former Ciren player Lee Smith pulled a goal back for the home side before Louis Loader restored the two-goal cushion shortly after the mid-point of the half.

Whitehead made it 4-1 just before the interval and added two more within six minuted of the re-start.

Liam Gale doubled the Fairford tally with his first touch of the ball after coming off the bench before Felipe Barcelos converted a free kick from just outside the home penalty area.

Whitehead completed the scoring with his fifth and final goal of the night.

Joint Fairford boss Bevan told the Standard: "I was impressed with Ciren but we were very poor defensively.

"Ciren's pace and movement destroyed us. Saying that, we gifted them five of the eight goals."