Frustration for 10 man Rovers at the Corrinuim Stadium.

 Match report from Andy Harris

It was another frustrating afternoon for Rovers as once again they relinquished a winning position with a late goal.

Rovers almost got off to a dream start as in the 3rd minute Chris Lane was brought down just outside the area and Lee Marshall’s well struck left footed free kick looked goal bound until a home defender managed to deflect it clear. Town then almost took a 7th minute lead as a ball wide on the right found, Carl Brown, who cut inside and fired a right foot shot that Rovers’ keeper, Kyle Phillips, did well to push aside, diving low to his left.

Just 2 minutes later and Rovers were ahead as hesitation in the Cirencester defence saw Ollie Price’s ball forward drop to Matt Cooper who fired home from 10 yards out.

Rovers had a couple of scares as firstly on 27 minutes a right wing corner saw Scott Griffin make space at the near post but headed over the bar. Then it was Tom Etheridge who headed well wide from a corner from the opposite side.

Right on half time Chris Lane and Rob Claridge combined well to set up Cooper but he blazed his shot over from the edge of the penalty area.

Rovers began the second period brightly with skipper, Dan Cleverley, shooting wide and a great Lane run ending with a far post cross which just eluded everyone. The pattern of the game changed on 55 minutes as Rovers’ midfielder, Josh Jefferies, was dismissed for a second bookable offence when he was harshly adjudged to have kicked the ball away. Almost immediately Lane went on another run and sent in a great shot which home keeper, Matt Bath, did well to touch away for a corner. Cooper was sacrificed as Rovers left the hard working Claridge alone up front and brought on Phil Waters as a substitute in midfield.

Apart from a free kick on 75 minutes which was touched into the path of Matt Pritchett who forced Phillips to tip the ball over the bar Rovers seemed to be coping quite comfortable with their numerical disadvantage until the 88th minute.

The home side were awarded a free kick inside their own half and a hopeful free kick to the far post was headed home by substitute Jason Welch who had been on the field for barely a minute.

If the home fans were expecting their side to go on and win the game in the limited time available they were sorely disappointed as their visitors should have wrapped up the points with two great chances. Both were very similar in origin as Waters sent Ben Lacey away down the right and firstly his cross picked out Claridge, whose measured shot was parried by Bath and then deep in injury time Lacey picked out substitute, Charlie Rich, who failed to get a convincing strike on the ball, which went agonisingly slowly onto the outside of the post and bounced away to safety.

Team: Phillips, Ball, Marshall, Lock (Rich 67 mins), Price, Cooper (Waters 62 mins), Jeffries, Lane, Claridge, Cleverley (C), Lacey
Subs not used: White, Milsom, Cousins

Star Man: Rob Claridge
Referee: M Eva
Assts: A Farrelley / C Boyles

Attendance: TBA.

Cirencester’s website is at: - http://www.cirentownfc.com/firstteam/