LIVELY HIGHWORTH BEAT DISJOINTED CENTURIONS LAST NIGHT

Highworth 1

Cirencester Town 0

Highworth boss Dave Webb would have been happier than his opposite number Adi Viveash of Cirencester Town after the Hellenic Premier side beat their Southern League Western Division opponents 1-0 in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday night.

The only goal of the game came just before the half-hour mark when Highworth striker Tom Dingle profited from a Andy Minturn slip to slot an easy chance past Tom King from the edge of the six-yard box.

Having been away at a wedding when his side put on an impressive second-half display at Hungerford Town on Saturday, Ciren manager Adi Viveash will not have been delighted by his first view of his new-look side.

They were often second best on the night and took too long to decide where the next pass should go; far too frequently, possession was lost and they had to start again.

Tom King again started in goal with the Academy’s Dan Thompson at right back and Shortwood/Hartpury triallist Ben Pugh at left back. Kes Metitiri was paired with Minturn in central defence.

Pugh does possess a lethal long throw which no doubt could prove a very useful future weapon.

Nathan Haisley was joined in central midfield by Andy Chapman, with Luke Clennell and Steve Davies on the flanks.

Adam Heath joined the always dangerous Julian Alsop up front. Four former Centurions turned out for Highworth – Mark Jordan, Mark Belcher, Dan Hilder and Dan Wallington.

Ciren’s Davies and Heath, who had impressed on Saturday, both had quiet games in a typically scrappy pre-season affair.

Gary Thorne and Matt Williams, who both came on in the second half, made a difference in a slightly improved Ciren display post-break, although man of the match candidates were few and far between.

The nearest Ciren came to scoring was when Nathan Haisley hit a post in the second half after linking well with Matt Williams.For sure, pre-season friendly games are all about finding the mix that works.

Lets hope the Centurions are on an upward curve as the pre-season moves towards the opener at play-off finalists Uxbridge on 16 August

Ciren: Tom King, Dan Thompson [Rob Dean 76], Ben Pugh, Nathan Haisley, Andy Minturn [Gary Thorne 64], Kes Metitiri, Steve Davies [Harry Etheridge 71], Luke Clennell [Sean Bailey 64], Julian Alsop [Matt Williams 60], Adam Heath [Steve Robertson 71], Andy Chapman