First Team defeat Shortwood in tough encounter at The Corinium to maintain promotion push

The Calor League – Division One South & West

Cirencester Town   2 – 1  Shortwood United

Cirencester Town and Shortwood United played out a crucial local derby match at the Corinium Stadium on Saturday with both sides desperately needing a win to maintain their promotion prospects.

In a hard fought encounter, Ciren went ahead on 26 mins through a Lee Smith penalty goal after he had been upended in the penalty area and they went further ahead early in the second half when captain Leigh Henry scored.

Shortwood then came back at Ciren strongly and got a goal back on 88 mins through Kevin Slack but Ciren held firm to win the match.

Click here to read Dave Pyzer's match report.

Ciren, currently three points ahead of Merthyr but with a slghtly worse goal difference, now need a single point from their last league match away at Yate Town to guarantee automatic promotion as Champions. 

Please go along to Yate Town's Lodge Road ground this coming Saturday 26th April to support the team in what is sure to be another tough test against a strong side.

The second placed team in the league will then have a Play Off Semi-Final tie (one-off match) on Tuesday evening 29th April at home to the team in fifth place which will be either Swindon Supermarine or Shortwood United depending on their own last day match results.

The other Play Off Semi Final will almost certainly be between Tiverton Town and Paulton Rovers, who are guaranteed to finish in either third or fourth place with the home team depending on who finishes in third position in the league.  

The winners of each Play Off Semi Final will then play in the Final at the home ground of the highest placed team on Saturday 3rd May 2014.