Shepherd makes Town return as Brough’s men take up top spot
MIDFIELDER Joe Shepherd made his return to the Cirencester Town side in Saturday’s 2-1 Southern League Division One South win at Frome Town.
The 27-year-old signed for Supermarine in the summer of 2014 from Cirencester.
He made 22 appearances in Ciren`s Southern Division One South & West championship-winning side in 2013/14, scoring four goals along the way.
He leaves the Webbswood after making almost 200 appearances for Marine, scoring 9 goals.
Cirencester have also signed fullback Lewis Binns.
The 24-year-old had been in limbo since Southern Premier Division South side Merthyr Town had been forced to go into `mothballs’ due to the Covid-19 rules in Wales.
Binns joined the Martyrs in June 2019 from Cinderford Town after being crowned supporter’ player of the year.
He is a former Hartpury College student who arrived at the Foresters in the summer of 2018 from Evesham United where he spent four seasons.
Formerly with Newport County, he is a technically gifted footballer with a specialty for dead ball situations.
The Centurions returned to league action with at Frome and after a hard-fought battle managed to return with the points.
Playing into the wind and rain, Cirencester struck first when Jordan Morris rode a couple of tackles to release Levi Irving to the left corner where he delivered a cross for Aidan Bennett to powerfully head into the net.
At the mid-point of the half Kane Simpson chased a ball down the left channel to supply Robert Hobbs and he drove in the equaliser.
As the interval loomed, Frome were awarded a penalty, which was well saved by Alex Harris.
The second half continued in the end-to-end fashion but it was Cirencester that made the breakthrough as
Shepherd charged down the left flank before delivering a low cross into the home box that was cleared to a lurking Jonny Dennis who drove in the winner.
Evesham United and Cinderford fought out a 1-1 draw in an entertaining match at the Jubilee Stadium.
The visitors took the lead right on half time when Zak Drew scored with a terrific free kick.
Jack Horrell equalised from just inside the box, seven minutes after the restart.
On Tuesday, Cirencester moved top of the table beating Williand Rovers 3-0.
They opened the scoring after seven minutes when Levi Irving won the race to a through ball to lob the advancing Mike Searle.
In the second half Shepherd added the second goal and a ball was launched the ball down the centre for Josh Parsons to make it 3-0.