Paulton Rovers 1 Cirencester Town 6

Cirencester Town went four points clear at the top of the league – they blitzed Paulton after the visitors took the lead against the run of play.

Rovers lost left back, Nuno Felix, after three minutes after Cirencester striker, Josh Grace-Parsons, tested home keeper, Aaron Sainsbury.

On fourteen minutes Paulton looked to have scored, as Lee Ibrahim set up Will Hailston whose drive clipped the bar and keeper, Alex Harris, went for a corner.

Four minutes later, in similar fashion, Dan Cottle turned and crossed the bar, then Hailston and Dave O’Hare saw shots blocked.

Cirencester took the lead on twenty-four minutes, as Jordan Morris broke down the left, crossing for Joe Turley to head home.

Rovers pressed, with Tom Llewellyn and Cottle going near and testing Harris, whilst at the other end, Tommy Anderson had a shot blocked by Alex Twiggs.

On the stroke of half-time, Anderson laid the ball into Grace-Parsons, who made space to hit a low shot past Sainsbury.

Cirencester opened the second period the livelier and on fifty-three minutes made it 3–0 with Grace-Parsons turning home Levi Irving’s cross.

Worse was to happen after fifty-eight minutes as Irvine’s cross from the left was deflected into his own net by the unfortunate Twiggs.

Paulton kept pressing, and youngster, Luke Seviour, a product of the youth system came on for injured centre-half, Craig Allan and tested Harris, but then got himself booked for a clumsy challenge.

Cirencester substitute, Ross Gabriel, made it 5–0 after eighty-one minutes, turning home Anderson’s cross from the right.

Two minutes later Rovers grabbed a consolation, as Cottle was tripped and O’Hare made no mistake from the penalty spot.

The visitors made it 6–1 in the final minute when Nick Hancock set up Anderson, who made no mistake from close range.

Paulton will be glad of the lockdown to regroup when the season recommences.

Tony Walsh