FOOTBALL

Barnstaple.......... 0

Cirencester.......... 5

Cirencester Town bounced back from their defeat to Paulton in style as they breezed past bottom club Barnstaple Town writes Dave Pyzer.

Cirencester made an early start for their journey to Devon to face Barnstaple and on a soft, heavy pitch, due to the incessant rain, they still managed to come away with an emphatic victory.

Within five minutes of kick-off Cirencester opened their account when Alan Griffin converted a corner kick at the near post as his header rebounded over the line from the underside of the bar.

Whilst the home side responded to this setback to mount a couple of attacks the Cirencester defence was in determined mood to deny them any progress and shortly after the mid-point of the half, Griffin doubled his tally as he worked an opening on the edge of the box to produce a fine finish inside the left post.

A few minutes later Harry Stevens latched onto a pass and rounded the advancing Cirencester ‘keeper Luke Merchant but Alex Albert covered to clear the danger.

Immediately from the re-start Barnstaple pressed, leading to a goalmouth scramble but not the goal they were seeking and a few minutes later Ben Whitehead added to the Cirencester tally as he unleashed a fierce strike into the top left corner.

After this Cirencester began to dominate possession with the home side producing a few unsuccessful counter attacks and with ten minutes remaining an incisive Cirencester move culminated in a clinical finish from Tommy Ouldridge.

Six minutes from time Will Christopher completed the scoring with a terrific strike from the right flank that dipped over the 'keeper and under the bar.

Charlie Griffin's side are fifth in Evo-Stik South Division One South.