ROBINS UNDONE AT HOME
CIRENCESTER Town made it four wins in five as they secured a 2-0 victory away at Evesham United.
The home side settled quickest without creating a real chance but it was Cirencester who took the lead in the 26th minute through Ben Whitehead, the division’s top goal scorer.
He evaded the offside trap and, with just the keeper to beat, slotted the ball home.
Not happy with their one-goal lead, they doubled their advantage in first-half injury-time when Ellis Dunton squeezed the ball into the net from an acute angle at the end of the six-yard box.
In the second half Evesham had good periods of possession but no cutting edge.
The only real chance of the second half yet again fell to Whitehead late on, which took a superb full length save from Andrew Hannah to keep the ball out.
A second-half Steve Hutchings brace saw
Moneyfields secure a 2-0 win at Thatcham Town, extending their unbeaten run to eight games.
The first half was tight, with Felipe Barcelos dropping an early header wide for the visitors and George Jeacock going close with a couple of half-chances for Thatcham.
The second half started in a similar fashion but a moment of quality broke the deadlock on 55 minutes as Hutchings’ dipping shot from outside the area flew into the back of Chris Rackley’s goal.
It brought the game to life, as both Jeacock and Moneyfields’ Dan Woodward fired in low shots which needed good handling from the respective goalkeepers in the damp conditions.
The Kingfishers were unlucky a few minutes later when Lewis Coyle set up Jack Alexander, who fired a first-time shot against the top of the crossbar from 25 yards.
Moneyfields wrapped the game up on 86 minutes when Hutchings' shot from the edge of the box took a deflection. Though Rackley got a hand to the ball he couldn’t prevent it from trickling over the line.
Slimbridge snuck a 1-0 win at home to Paulton Rovers at Thornhill Park thanks to a second-half goal from Will Hawes.
Paulton were the stronger side in the first half with Ben Prictors’ corner landing on the top of the Slimbridge bar early on.
The best chance for the visitors saw Liam Monelle striking the woodwork on 32 minutes with Swans keeper Eric Edge left stranded.
The second half started well for the visitors as Mitch Tippins hit the post from 20 yards out, before Jack Ball forced another save from Edge.
But mid-way through the second half Hawes struck, as Jamie Lairds’ backpass was mis-kicked by Brown under pressure from Dunbar, allowing Hawes to pick up the ball and tuck it under the goalkeeper.
Paulton were unlucky not to gain a point late on as they had a free kick cleared off the line by Christian Turner for The Swans.
Elsewhere there was a 0-0 draw as Bideford welcomed Mangotsfield
United to the The Sports Ground.
Kevin Squire place a shot just over Mangotsfield’s cross bar early on and shortly after he had a good header saved by keeper Kieran Hodges.
After 30 minutes Hodges pulled off a tremendous save from Ryan Turner before Bideford captain Ben Carter and Mangotsfield’s Luke Spokes both spurned chances.
Hodges continued to earn his keep, as he pulled off saves from Turner, James Mayne and Will Hancox in the second half.
In the dying seconds Turner sent a powerful header towards the top corner of Hodges net, who pulled off another great save, allowing the visitors to a share of the spoils. Fleet Town and
Winchester City saw their fixture called off due to a waterlogged pitch at Calthorpe Park.