Cirencester Town 3 Clevedon Town 1

This really was the proverbial game of two halves with Clevedon dominating the first session without any success and Cirencester coming back in the second and putting away their chances.

Manager Micky Bell was forced in to making changes to his starting line up due to absence, injury and suspension. 

He used the opportunity to introduce a debutant goalkeeper, Joe Perry, signed on loan from Newport County, give a second start to under 18 Kaine Gazzard and a debut start on the bench for his under 18 team mate, Billy Bristow, Town also welcomed back George Brimson to the fold after his trip down under.

Clevedon started full of bright ideas and from the outset created chances as early as the third minute but Glyn Garner in the home goal kept their efforts at bay. 

With Russell Church, Joe Swift, Adi Adams and Clayton Fortune continuing to cause problems it look to be only a matter of time before the visitors gained some reward for their efforts, but this proved not to be the case. 

The best chance of the half fell to Joe Swift on forty four minutes after Dave Stone had been brought down by Leigh Henry with a challenge that earned him a caution, Swift's free kick, some 25 yards out on the Clevedon left hand side, was curled round the wall and Garner did well to smother the shot at the foot of the post.

For Cirencester, their best effort of the half came from a movement down their left flank by Shane Bumphrey who crossed into the box where the ball was met by the head of Sam Collier, his effort was gathered just under the bar by Joe Perry in the visitors' goal. 

With Bumphrey, Sam Collier and Aiden Bennett showing some flashes of skill, the Clevedon defence did well to keep them out and the half ended with the score on 0 - 0.

As stated at the start, this was really a game of two halves, after the interval the hosts came out looking a totally different side and within five minutes were two goals ahead. 

The first came from a move down their right flank by Brad Hooper, who benefited  from a slip by Rory Prendergast that gave him the chance of a clean cross into the six yard box where Shane Bumphrey had an easy tap in. 

The second came two minutes later when Bumphrey, out on the left hand side, sent in a cross that was met by Aiden Bennett who made no mistake as he slotted the ball in to the back of the net.

Clevedon had a couple of chances during the middle of the half but always found Garner in the way with their final efforts. 

Just after the hour, the home side went further ahead with, what can be described as a rare occurrence these days. Cirencester were awarded a corner on their right, the kick was taken by Ben Wells who had the pleasure and surprise of seeing his effort go straight in to the visitors' goal from the corner kick.

Clevedon continued to fight and efforts from Dave Stone and Dan Williams came close until deep in stoppage time when they were rewarded with a consolation goal, this time from a Stone corner that was headed down by George Brimson to Williams who riffled his shot in to the roof of the net.The attendance was 118 and Clevedon Town man of the match Kaine Gazzard.

At the final whistle the score was Cirencester Town 3 Clevedon Town 1.

Clevedon Town line-up 1.  Joe Perry 2.  Kaine Gazzard 3.  Joe Swift 4.  Dave Stone 5.  Steve Kingdon 6.  Ben Murray 7.  Russell Church 8.  Adi Adams 9. captain Clayton Fortune 10. Rory Prendergast 11. Reeko Best 12. Billy Bristow - sub for Ben Murray 72 mins 14. George Brimson - sub for Russell Church 72 mins 17 Dan Williams - sub for Reeko Best 72 mins.

Spectators are welcome at The Hand for the next home games on:

• Saturday, March 9 v Paulton Rovers, kick-off 3pm;
• Wednesday, March 20 v Poole Town, kick-off 7.45pm; and
• Saturday March 23 v Shortwood United, kick-off 3pm.