TWO-GOAL BROWN WINS IT FOR CIREN AT PAULTON

Zamaretto League Div 1 South & West.

Paulton Rovers 0 - 2 Cirencester Town 

TWO goals from Carl Brown gave Cirencester Town the perfect start to their Southern League campaign as they secured all three points at Paulton Rovers.

But it was a miserly defence, superbly marshalled by new signing Neil Griffiths which would have cheered Ciren manager Brian Hughes the most.

Hughes has worked hard over the summer, bringing in a number of new faces to address a leaky rearguard which let in 79 goals last season The signing of no-nonsense Cinderford captain Griffiths on the eve of the season could prove the most significant of them all.

In the absence, through suspension, of Jamie Reid, Griffiths wore the captain’s armband and playing alongside another surprise starter, Chris Thompson, at the heart of the defence, led by example to restrict Paulton to scraps in front of goal.

With Scott Griffin also banned, another Cinderford old boy Jody Bevan led the Cirencester line in a 4-5-1 formation, with summer signing Chris Williams, formerly of Bristol City, sitting in front of the back four as he had done in the friendly against Swindon Town.

There were also Cirencester league debuts for Matt Bath in goal and Nick Dunn in midfield.

A relatively uneventful first half sprang into life on 32 minutes when, after a nice interchange of passes between Max Etheridge and Bevan, the striker sent over a teasing cross and Brown nipped in ahead of keeper Phillips to touch it home.

Paulton should have been level seven minutes later when Chris Lane beat Bath to a ball on the edge of the box. Forced wide, Lane’s shot came in from a tight angle and Thompson was able to clear it off the line.

The outcome of the match was probably decided in a 60-second spell early in the second half. Lane wasted Paulton’s best chance when failing to hit the target after Josh Jeffries headed on a Charlie Rich free kick.

The ball quickly made its way down the other end and Brown, despite being under pressure from two defenders, found the bottom corner of the net from the edge of the box with a crisp finish.

Paulton could have given themselves a lifeline on 74 minutes when substitute Rick Hulbert spurned a good chance when given a free header.

Otherwise, Bath was untroubled as Ciren ran out comfortable and worthy winners.

Paulton: Philips, Tovey (Hulbert, 61), Rich, Ball, Price, Cousin, Jeffries, Lane, Taylor (Caldwell, 52), Cleverley (capt), Barwood (Milsom 78). Unused subs: O’Hara, Pendry.

Cirencester: Bath, Westlake, T Etheridge, Griffiths (capt), Dunn, Thompson, Dean, Williams, Brown (Robbins, 84), Bevan (Welsh, 78), M Etheridge (Guthrie, 86). Unused subs: Curtis, Knight.

Referee: Peter Lavelle.

Attendance: 140.

MoM: Neil Griffiths.

Reproduced from Danny Hall's report from the Wilts & Glos Standard's website