WEDNESDAY 26 DECEMBER 2007 3PM KO

Swindon Supermarine 1 Cirencester Town 1

In a gritty first half, with Supermarine niggly but effective in midfield, neither side gained the upper hand. Nick Stanley had surged into the left side of the box on 3 minutes, surprising Cedric Abraham with his pace, and fired in a screamer that Tom King just managed to reach and push round the post.

But after that, Chris Thompson and Abraham had the Ciren pair bottled up and the Centurions struggled to make much progress in the final third of the pitch. Supermarine were trying to play the ball on the deck, doing so neatly where it did not count but making no progress against a well organised and tight Ciren defence.

Their possession and calm play out of defence did make Ciren hurry into the tackle. They were trying to play the game too quick, aiming to catch out the Supermarine defence with a quick switch.

The Blues were getting the ball back far too easily, with Snaky and Robbo being closed down well. It needed just a moment of composure and an accurate pass to unpick the defence. Instead, time and again a momentary Ciren opening was wafted away with an optimistic ball hit downfield for Snaky and Robbo inevitably to lose out to the dominant Abraham and Thompson.

It was only after Chris Taylor combined sweetly with Gary Horgan with a set of well placed wall passes to set Richard Kear running through a hitherto impregnable Ciren defence on 33 minutes that it looked as though the deadlock would be broken.

Matt Bulman was quick off his line to block the shot from the former Centurion. But the balance tipped towards the men in blue and Bulman was much the busier keeper for the rest of the half.

Pulling off a triple stop on 36 minutes to deny first Kear, then David Stroud and then a free header from Jason Welsh, he kept Ciren in a match that could at that moment have run away from them.

The home threat had once again been contained until, on 41 minutes Harry E dived in on Dan Allen deep in the Supermarine half.. The reaction was way out of proportion.

Supermarine had been chuntering and niggling all match and an ugly fracas blew up. Stroud rushed at H and pushed him over, Chris Collins was in to try and separate the players and Thompson unnecessarily dived in to try and shake H by the throat.

Three yellows later on Mr Eaton had restored order but, somehow, Supermarine had the game literally by the scruff of the neck. They poured forward, on both flanks, with the Ciren clearances not being collected and the pressure staying on the back line. It was hairy stuff and needed calm heads.

Nathan Haisley miscued a clearance and then felled Ash Edenborough in the box when both were chasing the loose ball as it was going harmlessly towards the touchline. Danny Allen buried the penalty emphatically on 44 minutes to give the Blues the lead.

Second half the Centurions re-focussed and, with Matt Shaxton at last making himself time to pass and play, they were much more threatening. Nick Stanley, so far shackled by the very impressive Cedric Abraham, was working hard in spite of getting a fearful battering as he strove to keep possession.

You can never fault Snaky for his persistence, and you have to admire his bravery as he collected knock after knock without Mr Eaton seeing anything wrong in a forward having to get through the leading edge of an arm or an elbow.

Snaky collected an infield pass on 59 minutes from Dan Wallington. Turning and shielding, taking the hit from behind, he fed Harry Etheridge back in centre midfield who picked out Smilin' Al, cleverly making his space up the left, with a pinpoint pass. Well seen, Big H, and a top notch pass.. Your dad purred at that one.

Dancing infield and driving past Kyle Lapham, Alex Stanley looked as if he was going to deliver a killer cross to the edge of the 6 yard box. But then he bent his shot with the outside of his left boot to beat King from 12 yards on a narrow angle and inside the far post for a classy finish and 1 - 1.

Ciren could have won it from there, with both Smilin' Al and Dan now being used up the flanks and Matt Shaxton much more influential in getting into space and using the ball accurately. The Griff replaced a weary Robbo and immediately his ability to shield the ball and set up play in the final third had an effect.

Ciren had chances as they dominated the play. Paul Cochlin headed inches wide off a Shaxton corner before Alex Stanley shaved the post following a half cleared corner on 74 minutes.

Chris Thompson had cause to regret his ill-judged fracas earlier when on 76 minutes he chanced his arm once too often and lumped Snaky late and from behind. Again, the Blues swarmed around the ref. Who took his time, let it all settle down and produced the yellow followed by the inevitable red. Totally unnecessary but the lad had brought it on himself.

Mr Collier took a huge risk, putting the crocked Leigh Henry on in the middle of the defence, and for a while it looked as if the gamble would blow back. Griff was getting goal side of Henry and into space as Dan Wallington was being cleared up the right.

It needed just a moment of calmness and an accurate delivery and that would have been it. Instead, Tom King was able to claim the crosses as they landed in his hands instead of on the waiting head of the predator lonely and apparently unloved beyond the far post.

Nick Stanley was inches off a rebound when King fumbled a fierce Scott Griffin shot on 82 minutes, our icon having been played in by Dan Wallington to the edge of the box, a sway and turn making the opening and leaving Henry on his backside. With Supermarine pressed back and conceding a series of free kicks, the siege increased in intensity.

Supermarine had only the counter attack as a weapon now. On 84 minutes Richard Kear eased Wallo off a ball wide left, drifted in and picked out Gary Horgan coming on the run outside the box. His drive was firm and true, aimed for the top corner. Matt Bulman had read the play, got his feet right and his spring got him up and across to tip the shot over.

Just as he had done minutes earlier when Kear had got into the box and fired from 12 yards. Now it was Ciren working hard to contain a feisty and resurgent Supermarine. That did not stop them trying to ref the match as well and Mr Eaton carded Shax and The Griff for mistimed efforts at getting the ball, both incidents producing a storm of complaints from the bluenoses.

In my opinion Shax had got the tackle in but had done it at full stretch and Lapham had gone over after the ball had been cleared. Griff's just sounded bad, cracking Lapham's shin-pad. But badly timed and yep, it was a caution without the need for handbags thrown in as well.

As in the first half, it was Matt Bulman who was the busier keeper in the final minutes. He saved the best til the very last minute. Mark Draycott was suddenly clear in the box with the Ciren backline appealing fruitlessly for offside. Bully was lightning quick and, 14 yards out, he had blocked before Draycott even realised the chance was on.

It was a stunning save, unlikely to be bettered at this standard of football both for the anticipation and for the speed of reaction. Top class, Bully.

Swindon: Tom King, Kyle Lapham (c), Dan Allen, Gary Horgan, Chris Thompson Y41 Y76, Cedric Abraham, Ash Edenborough [Stuart Pearson 88], Richard Kear, Jason Walsh [Mark Draycott 65], Chris Taylor, David Stroud [Leigh Henry 76]
subs: Adam Mayo, Nathan Lightbody

Cirencester: Matt Bulman, Chris Collins (c) Y41, Alex Stanley, Nathan Haisley, Lee Molyneux, Paul Cochlin, Dan Wallington, Harry Etheridge Y41, Steve Robertson [Scott Griffin 65 Y84], Nick Stanley, Matt Shaxton Y85
subs: Jon Else, Hanin Romhdane, Paul Hunt, Michael Jackson

Ref: Mr D Eaton, Tewkesbury Did OK, though there were times when I wondered if he would take any action about the constant niggling. Handled the flare ups fine, though in my opinion he over-reacted to Shax's and Griff's "tackles".

Att: 247 A big Centurion gang on show, virtually everybody who was there for our home game on Saturday making the short trip up the road. Full Muppett turnout, giving the officials the benefit of their extensive knowledge of the Laws.

MoM: Worked it in reverse this time, inviting any alternative to Matt Bulman. Nobody argued, indeed several made it very clear there was only one choice. Mr Viveash reported afterwards that, spontaneously, the team gave him a full round of applause back in the dressing rooms. That is a rare event in football, only done when it really matters but Bully merited the acknowledgement from his teammates