Southern League Division 1 South

Melksham Town 0 – 4 Cirencester Town

The Centurions were on the road for this mid-week fixture and despite being under pressure for much of the match returned from Melksham with the points.

Cirencester opened the scoring within the first five minutes when a ball into the home box caused some confusion enabling Brad Gray to slot home from close range.

Melksham responded to the early setback when Felipe Barcelos worked an opening to bring an early save from keeper Dan Lawrence as he pushed it wide of his left post.

The home side attacked down both flanks with Albert Hopkins (left flank) and Isaac Pearce (right) often involved but a determined Cirencester defence stood firm and when the ball was cleared down the right channel it found Josh Parsons who cut left to create room to shoot inside the left post.

Ten minutes later Tommy Anderson fired over from the edge of the box after some neat build-up play and almost immediately Melksham had an appeal for a penalty kick rejected by the referee as they mounted a strong finish to the half.

A couple of minutes into the half Michael Perrott tested Lawrence with a firm strike that the keeper parried and the busy Anderson clipped the outside of the right post after a neat move.

With the home side producing wave after wave of attacks Cirencester countered quickly and shortly after the mid-point a superb pass from Lee Llewelyn released Jonny Dennis who made no mistake as he curled his shot inside the far-right post.

Melksham responded as the impressive Hopkins struck the top left corner of the goal-frame and almost immediately Josh Nelmes poked the ball home from close range.

Try as they did it just wasn’t Melksham’s day and the visitors held on to claim a valuable 3 points.

Next up: Cirencester Town host Sholing in the Southern League Division 1 South on Saturday. Kick off: 3pm.