Cirencester left to rue missed chances after 2-1 home loss

CIRENCESTER Town lost 2-1 to Biggleswade at The Corinium Stadium in Southern League Division One Central despite dominating much of the first half.

Centurions boss John Brough made four changes to his starting XI, with Aidan Bennett, captain Jake Lee, Nick Peare and Luca Robinson coming into the side for Reegan Messenger, George Peare, Daniel Hill and Cameron Walters.

Cirencester dominated the early exchanges, and this fast start paid off, when a thunderbolt from Will Christopher gave the home side the lead as he fired the ball into the net from 25 yards out.

Against the run of play, Biggleswade got the equaliser through Amaru Kaunda, with the number nine needing multiple goes to beat the experienced Stuart Nelson and by half-time, 1-1 was a fair reflection as Biggleswade grew into the game.

With the fog getting thicker, there was plenty of chances for Cirencester to take the lead, with Felix Miles blasting the ball high over the bar from close range after good work from Luca Robinson down the right wing.

Cirencester were reduced to 10 men, when Nick Peare received a red card for a challenge inside the box - the referee giving a corner to the visitors.

But minutes later, Biggleswade took take the lead through George Wheelerbailey, his low driven effort beating Nelson in goal.

The Centurions created chances despite a man down, most notably substitute George Peare forcing a great save out of Tyler Joseph.

The 90th minute saw another red card, with Biggleswade captain Lawrence Marsh picking up a second yellow card, but Brough’s men couldn’t take advantage.

Brough said: “It was a game we possession-wise, certainly first half, we dominated, but we didn’t get into the areas to work them enough.

“They sat quite a few behind the ball but we’ve got to be brighter in that final third to create some space, and get the ball down the flanks and get the ball into the box.

“But we didn’t do enough first half, which was sort of a backlash in the second half when we got the ball wide.

“And for the first 15 minutes of the second half, I thought we should have been at least 3-1 up.

“We should have put our chances away. The sending off I didn’t see it so I can’t comment, but it upset us a bit.”

Cirencester, who sit fourth in the table, have no game until a trip to lowly Thame United on December 23.

Bishop’s Cleeve succumbed 4-1 to Bideford in Division One South as a hat-trick from Mattie Buchan inspired the Devon side to victory.

Toby Holland had equalised for the Mitres as half-time approached but they had no answer after the break as Lewis Hill hit Bideford’s fourth goal in stoppage time at the end.

Evesham United snatched a late point against Melksham Town after Aaron Heap scored his first goal for the club to snatch a 1-1 draw.

The first half was dull with very few chances, the best cominge just before the half-hour as Levi Steele’s effort was parried by the keeper, who them got to the rebound ahead of Ethan Moran.

Evesham were reduced to 10 men in the dying minutes of the first half as Alfie Dunn after he was deemed by the referee to be showing studs in a challenge - their seventh red card in eight games.

Melksham took the lead on the hour with a superb Albert Hopkins free kick from around 25 yards out, but it was soon 10 v 10 when Melksham had Ben Brooks sent off.

The final stages were dominated by Evesham, but it took until stoppage time for the equaliser from Heap, which leaves Evesham seventh in the table, three points outside the play-offs.