GLOUCESTERSHIRE SENIOR CHALLENGE CUP FIRST ROUND TUESDAY 30TH OCTOBER 2007 KO 7.30PM

Cirencester Town 0 Bristol City 2

Mr Viveash diplomatically rested Lee Molyneux and Matt Shaxton, playing in a Universities Cup game for Hartpury the next day. Both Michael Jackson and Chris Collins were in the warm up but not in the squad.

He gave bench starts to Adam Miller, Sean Bailey and Paul Bains from the Academy in a match where the visitors, in no way risking any of their first team squad and having had a Reserves game that afternoon, played a very young team from their own Academy.

This is physically the biggest pot either team could win this season, being a handsome trophy. But the contest to pick it up on a cool, damp evening was somewhat spoiled by the referee taking centre stage in this match.

For much of the time he was woefully off the pace and at times 30 yards away from the action. But, he seemed determined to show that he was fully in charge on such important things as having free kicks taken from the exact spot an infringement occurred. Or speaking sternly to a player who quite reasonably had complained when he had been clonked from behind.

A youthful Ciren, matched by an even more youthful Robins, could have done with a more mobile arbitro in a high paced and very entertaining match that was only clinched by the visitors in the final minutes.

Ciren loan debutant Alex Frost from Team Bath marked his first start in the centre of defence with an unfortunate own goal after just 2 minutes. A corner cleared beyond the Ciren box was collected by Ashley Kington. His shot from 25 yards sliced well wide, so wide in fact that it curved back towards the right touchline where Ashley Tower collected.

Now it had become a good, onside pass. Towler diddled Dan Hilder easily and crossed into the box where Marlon Ashton attempted a volley and also horribly mistimed. His shot, with the ball by now clearly spun beyond recognition, was met by Alex Frost and almost in slow motion continued spinning and finished up behind Matt Bulman in the Ciren net.

Andy Chapman brought City's Balazs Megyeri to a first class save off a fulminating drive on 11 minutes after being sent away off a pin point pass out of defence by Dan Hilder. Ciren were competing well against a very slick and effective City squad. The most visible difference between the teams was that the Robins had very obviously been taught not only how to mark and close down but also on how to win a tackle.

Every time a Ciren player was closed the ball was won back. It was very impressive stuff. The other difference was that the visitors had a couple of really quick players who were playing in a team that were comfortable enough on the ball to be able to control, hold and pass.

The speedy Jackson had shown early on that he had learned how to peel off the last man and go for the gap. Not surprisingly, when possession changed in midfield and the Ciren defence was high up the pitch, the Robins attempted to send him behind the defence every chance they got. By and large he was well contained until, on 32 minutes he was sent racing through.

Matt Bulman won the race for the corner of the penalty box to collect the ball but then slid beyond the area as he tipped it away from goal and towards the corner flag. Lino flagged wildly.. Obviously, Bully had gone outside the box when he had connected with the ball.

The first (unwritten) Football Law is use your common sense. This time it was ignored and it spoiled what was already an enthralling contest. Striding up from the centre circle the ref dramatically produced a red card and then went across to confer with his lino. Silly man. If he had already made a decision then there was no point in going to have a chat afterwards.

Nathan, as skipper, obviously joined him for the high level discussion of how a face saving solution could be found for the problem the ref had created for himself. And Nathan received a yellow for his contribution to the conversation.

With forward Steve Robertson sacrificed to put Academy keeper Adam Miller on in place of Bully, Ciren now had a lot to do. To their credit, with Sean Bailey given a debut as a second half sub in place of Jon Else and acquitting himself very creditably, the ten men made their visitors work very hard for nigh on an hour.

Andy Chapman rained in crosses, from both flanks. Nathan strode the midfield like a colossus and indeed did look like the only man playing amongst boys from his lofty perch of 4 years more experience. And the defenders, with Alex Frost and Alex Stanley dovetailing neatly as the passes slid in around, through and beyond them, protected a vocal and safe handling Adam Miller very well.

Snaky Stanley worked tirelessly but without really managing to get on the end of anything to test Megyeri too much. Rhys Carpenter, on in place of Big H second half, twisted, turned and darted to good effect but also ultimately without a full on chance on goal.

It was a good contest, both teams playing slick passes and both teams working the flanks to try and get behind the defences.

Finally, George Boon escaped down the left on 87 minutes. Rob Stambolziev met his perfect near post cross with an equally perfect near post run to put an unstoppable header into the net to clinch a deserved win.

Within the remaining minutes Mr Robbins, who had watched the Robins routinely kick away all the balls when free kicks were awarded against them, remembered that it was him we had come to watch and too lame, too late, rapidly showed 2 yellows for the next 2 offences. Unbelievable display by the arbitro.

Centurions: Matt Bulman R32, Dan Wallington, Dan Hilder, Nathan Haisley (c) Y32, Alex Frost, Alex Stanley, Jon Else [Sean Bailey 45], Harry Etheridge [Rhys Carpenter 45], Steve Robertson [Adam Miller 32], Nick Stanley, Andy Chapman
other subs: Luke Hopper, Paul Bains

Robins: Balazs Megyeri, Chris Williams, George Boon, Martin Slocombe Y88, James Wilson (c) [Luke Wilkinson 21 Y89], Ashley Kington, Ross Stearn, Ryan Child, Marlon Jackson, Ashley Tower [Rob Stambolziev 62], Joe McLennan

Ref: Mr S Robbins, Bristol Those in the clubhouse who said his bias had to be obvious because of his place of origin were off the mark. He obviously could not be a Robins fan because he showed he had no understanding of what good football is about.

Att: 89 Admirable, given that FGR had an FA Cup replay tonight. And those that came were rewarded with an entertaining match. Ciren MoM: Nathan Haisley Highlight? First half, when it was a bit frantic as we were striving to contain the passes zipping around. "Calm Down lads, Calm Down. Stay on your feet, cover the angles" Nice one, Nathan.