SOUTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE SATURDAY 3RD NOVEMBER 2007, 3PM KO

I'm starting not to enjoy this. Yet again Cirencester managed to find another way of not getting a result. They finished up thoroughly discomfited by a team whom they surely have to beat if they are to avoid an uncomfortable and morale sapping relegation battle.

It looks like that uncomfortable time has come. And our team now have to dig deep and show us (and more important show themselves) that they are capable of turning this around and enjoying their football. Their fans are faithful and long-suffering but there are limits. Much more of this and the support will melt away.

Cheshunt 2 Cirencester 0

Mr Viveash knew that Cheshunt would use pace and determination to try and get the upper hand in what was already a crucial six-pointer for both clubs. With Michael Jackson back after a 4 week injury lay-off and Chris Collins back after his cut eyebrow had just about healed, this was probably the most experienced and battle hardened team that could be mustered.

Within 30 seconds they should have been ahead. Luke Hopper timed his run to perfection to get on the end of a superb Andy Chapman pass. Just 12 yards out with only the keeper to beat he pulled his shot wide when at the very least the keeper should have been tested. The nerves were showing and while Cheshunt were shocked they also would have noted the Ciren anxiety.

A minute later it was Snaky Stanley's turn to show his edginess. Not quite collecting another superb pass, this time from Michael Jackson, he was in any case already behind the defender and had time to control. But instead shot hurriedly and off balance for another let-off for Cheshunt.

Within 3 minutes it had all gone wrong. David Hicks, who last season had opened with an early long distance first time shot in a 4 – 0 hammering of Ciren, was forced wide on the right as he chased a clearance. I'm not sure if Alex Frost and Alex Stanley were still sorting out who was covering the left flank but there was a fatal hesitation.

With no other options on Hicks looked to be closed down as Michael Jackson and Alex Frost got in his face. He had other ideas. Checked on the ball, spun and then swung a boot at a ball going away from him. It soared sweet as a nut over the despairing Matt Bulman and hit the back of the net.

Cirencester were shocked but played calm football to sweep up at the back. As Cheshunt hoisted long balls forward Ciren completely dominated possession. But, and I've no idea why they thought this would work, instead of making sure with their passes and using the flanks, they sent long balls downfield for Snaky and Luke to contest possession against 2 sturdy and uncompromising defenders.

A too hasty and frequently inaccurate Cirencester build up left Luke and Snaky chasing half breaks. Cheshunt were no great shakes at getting the ball clear but, although corner followed corner and cross followed cross, they held out.

With the 'keeper Bobby Smith flapping at everything, coming out and dropping the ball but somehow never being punished as his defence pounced to hack clear, Ciren were being kept at bay without anybody in the Cheshunt defence actually knowing how it was happening.

It seemed the luck was with them and the feeling was growing that we were playing the game as Cheshunt wanted it to be played.

On 33 minutes a long ball out of defence was collected by Harry Hunt wide right. Again, there was nothing on. He tried to go past Alex Frost, the defender slipped and Hunt went outside him and immediately shot from 20 yards, across Bulman, to hit the far post. Up popped the ball for Darrell Cox to head home unmarked from 6 yards. It was a dreadful goal to concede and now Cheshunt had something to defend.

In spite of dominating territory, Ciren never looked like controlling the play in the final third. They continued to send long balls upfield presumably in an attempt to break through a possibly out of position defence. No such luck, except when Smith tipped a firm Luke Hopper shot round the post on 36 minutes. Cheshunt were inelegant but determined.

And they were starting to niggle Ciren. Snaky got himself caught up in a senseless bit of argy bargy with David Wattley when the pair of them clashed as they went for a long ball. Wattley stuck his face in, Snaky snarled back and a pair of yellows were flashed.

When Moley went up to connect with a free kick he was unceremoniously pulled down from behind by Michael Deane, unseen by the ref. And that stoked a flame that was to flicker for the next hour.

When Cheshunt were opened up, with only Andrew Chapman and Michael Jackson having the wit to try and pass Ciren into threatening positions, Ciren looked much more likely to score.

Snaky was having a horrible day, always receiving the ball under pressure and trying valiantly to make something of it but time after time being bustled off the ball.

Even though David Hicks in the Cheshunt midfield was having a stormer and the only player in the Amber shirts willing to put his foot on the ball and look up, it was Nathan Haisley and Matt Shaxton who were getting the clearances back and passing Ciren on.

And when the corners came in the strikes were just missing the target. It was getting frustrating.

Fifty five minutes gone, Luke Hopper made a great run to the left side to collect from Jackson, tricked past Tony Fenton and drove his way to the edge of the six yard box. Unselfishly, he did exactly the right thing and squared to Matt Shaxton 12 yards out.

With the goal completely open, and Brown transfixed at the near post to cover Hopper, it was a certain goal. Until, felled by a silent sniper, Shax tumbled and the ball rolled gently beyond him with no blue shirt following up.

Still Ciren strove, now a wee bit too frantic and anxious and Cheshunt just fixed in the groove of getting to the ball first and if necessary getting to the man first. The niggle count was going up.

Nathan and Darrell Cox exchanged pleasantries followed by Lee Allen late on Matt Shaxton and Lee Molyneux then judged to be late on Michael Deane when the lively lad counter-attacked into the space left by the by now limping Shaxton.

None of it was really anything more than handbags. But there was just the tinge in the air that Cheshunt were swarming the ref every time there was a tackle in an attempt to up the ante.

It could have been all over on 70 minutes. Dean Fenton supported up the right, forced a miskick out of Alex Frost and though Steve Obeng was flaggged offside he really should have netted when he met a perfect low far post cross 6 yards out. It had the effect of making Ciren just that bit more cagey in throwing everything into all out attack.

Moly certainly threw everything in on 78 minutes, with Chaps losing the ball and Moly diving in to recover from Lee Allen. He got the ball alright but also crunched the man as well. Even as the Amber swarm started buzzing the ref had Moly off. Maybe it was a second yellow, maybe it was a straight red, but he was gone.

As always when these things happen the side with 10 men then play. Ciren had attack after attack, with 20 minutes still to play given the number of times an Amber had gone down and needed treatment. Jon Else was on in place of Shaxton, and his ability to get hold of the ball and make a pass hit the target sure helped. And Jacko was working his socks off, always offering, always sliding Chappy free up the left.

The chances kept coming, cross after cross, corner after corner. Snaky shot wide, with his right foot, and shaved the post. Twice Andy Chapman sent free kicks just wide – somehow, we do have to make the keeper play it, not watch it whistle over.

And inevitably, Cheshunt had a counter attack with Harry Hunt chasing away and being beaten by Bully coming out fast. And just as inevitably, even though he got there first, the ref thought that was worth a yellow. What for? The lad arriving late and falling over Bully? If it was a yellow, it was a penno, ref.

Snaky wriggled through on 87, drew all the defence and set Robbo up 10 yards out. Open goal. Easy to say, not so easy to do out on the pitch. But it is just a firm side foot Robbo, all their defence is over there. No need to make the net bulge ... oh no. Tried to do just that. And missed over the top. Ugly.

Two minutes into the 10 added minutes, Michael Deane is finally tempted to remove Snaky's legs while they are still attached to his hips. Alex Stanley marches up and smacks the penalty onto the bar. Jacko collects and rifles his shot for the inside of the post and of course, the keeper gets to it and holds it. Grrr. It just had to be one of those days.

Unfortunately, Cheshunt had done the cute thing and hit the target twice. No excuses, if you miss three so say open goals and don't get your other chances on target, then you're always going to risk losing all 3 points. Cheshunt did it right. Ciren did not. End of story.

Ambers: Bob Smith, Dean Fenton, Michael Deane, Tony Fenton Y 88, Dave Wattley Y42 Simon Peddie 60], Lee Allen Y66, David Hicks [Josh Cooper 70], Steve Obeng (c), Harry Hunt, Darrell Cox Y74 [George Gregoriou 90 + 6], Dewayne Clarke
subs: Alex Charalambolis, Glen Parry

Centurions: Matt Bulman Y 85, Chris Collins (c), Alex Stanley, Matt Shaxton [Jon Else 76], Lee Molyneux Y 73, R 78, Alex Frost, Nathan Haisley Y74, Michael Jackson, Nick Stanley Y42, Luke Hopper [Steve Robertson 63], Andrew Chapman
subs: Rhys Carpenter, Harry Etheridge, Dan Wallington

Ref: Mr M Steel, Sutton, Cambs Did fine, though maybe unconsciously influenced by the Cheshunt chuntering? Maybe he was, but would he yellow our lads in the handbags situations if they chose not to react? I think not.

Att: 149 At least 34 Ciren fans there and the overwhelming view was that they'd spent a lot of time and money to follow their team in what was a key match and had not seen the performance they wanted.

MoM: David Hicks [Cheshunt] His play stood out - they've got quick lads, they've got sturdy lads but this one is a footballer and he did everything exactly right today to get the win. And he was only on the pitch for just over the hour. Ciren MoM: Eventually, once they had got over their disappointment, the fans vote was unanimous - Michael Jackson