Evo-Stik League Southern Premier

Burnham 0 Cirencester Town 1

GRITTY teamwork resulted in a threadbare Cirencester squad extending their unbeaten run in the league to nine with a victory at The Gore.

The game was never going to be a classic on a soft, sticky pitch but when Cirencester moved the ball quickly with first-time passing they looked dangerous.

It was a case of grinding out the three points which were secured by a Josh Parsons penalty in the 65th minute.

The Centurions had a number of players missing for various reasons – Leigh Henry (recent operation), James Mortimer-Jones (other commitment), Kyle Pitts (eye infection), Ben Wells (illness) and Gethin Jones (suspended).

Worse was to follow for Ciren when Ben Prictor was stretchered off in the 23rd minute with a repeat of the knee injury that caused him to leave the field at Merthyr in November – and ended his long run in the side.

The visitors were forced to use their sole sub, Jacob Davidge, and that prompted a final reshuffle with Aidan Bennett moving to left back. Bennett (twice) and Nat Jarvis had earlier had sights on goal, the shots clearing the bar.

Burnham’s response was a fierce drive from the busy Victor Osubu which arrowed straight at Glyn Garner in the Ciren goal.

Cirencester were winning plenty of possession while the home side were relying on scraps.

In the 53rd minute, Ciren thought they had opened the scoring when Dunton won a header that Parsons collected and tucked inside the right post only for the assistant referee to flag for offside.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 65th minute when a penalty was awarded following a strong run by Davidge down the left and a scything tackle on Parsons in the box. Parsons calmly tucked the spot kick inside the right post.

Midway through the half, Ed Williams broke dangerously into the area but his fierce shot was well parried by Alex Lynch at the near post.

The last 10 minutes of the game produced a couple of moments of excitement for the home supporters as keeper Garner had to leave his area twice to thwart their efforts.

A through ball required him to make a tackle just outside the area. The second incident saw him drawn out of his box to the right flank but the attempted cross was overhit and once again Cirencester survived the scare.

Cirencester Town: Garner, Herring, Dunton, Pritchett (capt), Liddiard, Prictor (Davidge, 23), Hooper, Bennett, Jarvis, Parsons, Williams.