Gresley Rovers vs Cirencester Town
The game started at a frantic pace with the ball flying around the pitch like cars on Spaghetti Junction!
On 9 minutes it was Gresley who had the first sniff at goal but Steve Lenagh could only put his left foot shot just wide after some good work from Carl Francis.
A minute later, however, the ball was down at the other end and home keeper Dale Belford was having to pull off one of his many saves during the game to palm away Andy McAbe's cross.
Cirencester began to settle and on 20 minutes went close to opening the scoring when they whistled a shot just clear of the cross bar.
Four minutes later it was the turn of Gresley to threaten but again the shot went wide of the mark this time from Carl Slater
Scott Griffin was causing all sorts of problems for Gresley defenders and it only looked to be when would Cirencester score not if.
The answer came on 31 minutes. The ball had found itself in the Gresley area and Matt Smith was unlucky not to have been awarded a free kick after having his ankles tapped on the penalty spot but has the luck seems to be going for the Moatmen at present the ball squirted out to Adam Mayo waiting on the edge of the box and he made no mistake has he hammered a first time shot past Belford.
Things could have got even worse three minutes later if it had not been for Belford. Griffin collected the ball cut in past a defender before firing a shot that Belford did very well to tip away for a corner.
Gresley finished the half with two further half chances the first when Leon Doughty chipped a shot jus wide and Lenagh just failing to get on the end of a Slater cross after the young midfielder had made a good dash down the left.
1-0 at half time, Gresley were still in the game but not for long. On 50 minutes a poor clearance from Richard Wardle allowed Gareth Hopkins their top scorer to play a clever and crisp one-two with Griffin before slotting the ball past Belford.
On 53 minutes Francis was hacked down and Doughty took the free kick from 20 yards and his dipping shot whistled just over the bar.
Three minutes later Francis fastened on to a through ball but just could not seen to get the ball from under his feet.
Cirencester were now playing arguably some of the best football seen at the Moat Ground from a visiting side this season fully justifying their position in the league and looked threatening every time they got forward.
On 61 minutes there was an almighty scramble within yards of the Gresley goal line with the ball bouncing about like it was on a pin ball table but somehow a Cirencester player managed only to put the ball wide of the post.
Three minutes later Belford had to be at his best when he acrobatically punched away Hopkins' goal bound header from Shaun Wimble's cross.
The pressure on the Gresley defence was almost unbearable, as Cirencester looked odds on to increase their lead.
One moment of respite came on 84 minutes when substitute Jamie Barrett put Gresley's only shot on target which Paul Thompson dealt with low down to his left.
The moment did not last long. A minute later Cirencester substitute Jody Bevan with almost his first touch left the home defence flatfooted and ran on to a through ball from Mark Richards and slotted the ball home.
Things could have been even more embarrassing than they were in injury time Bevan almost grabbed his second goal in six minutes but Belford denied him.
Gary's view of the game
"We were beaten by a better team tonight and they deserved to win but on our day we know we are more than capable of competing with sides like that.
"I'm devastated with the result, even more so with the performance particularly in the second half.
"I defended the players after Saturday saying it was just one of those things and that these things happen. We were second best on Saturday and we had a great chance at home to put things right but the second half performance was totally unacceptable to everyone involved with the club.
"I'm at a loss to put a finger on it. These are the same players that have got us on the fringe of things to get us into the Premier Division. Two games a go we were flying and looking forward to the rest of the season but then we put in two totally inept performances and I'm at a loss for words.
"The same set of players, two weeks ago, were creating good football, creating good chances, they were wining everything in the air, wining every first and second balls and we went out with pride, passion and desire. But, in the last two games they've just rolled over and I find that disgraceful as a manager.
"I can understand the supporters frustrations but what can I do? I'd ask them to back the players because this set of players have done very well this season. We've got the second lowest budget in our league but I'm not using that as an excuse for the last two performances.
"We got right on the fringe of things. I've just said to the players that this time six weeks ago we were 7 points off the pace, we got ourselves back in it, but now we could be 6 points off the pace going into the next set of games and we shoot ourselves in the foot.
"The disappointing thing for me isn't losing to a good side like Cirencester they have a lot of games in hand and will be there or there abouts at the end but the manner in which we rolled over tonight. Yate, I backed the players on that one but I can't back them for this although I know the buck stops with me and I understand that. The pressure now rolls on to Saturday.
"I'm ever the optimistic person and I know we've some tough games coming up. This game is in the past now and I've said that to the players it no use crying over spilt milk!
"Defeat hurts no one more than me especially for Gresley Rovers because I love this club, but, I question if it hurts one or two of the players as it does the supporters and myself.
"Ninety nine per cent of the supporters are fantastic and realise we are going through a sticky patch at the moment but there are the odd one or two that give us abuse and I won't take that from anyone.
"I've been pleased with my players and I can guarantee that they will bounce back. Some of the players are very low at the moment and come Saturday we will be there or there abouts its a must win game.
We gave the ball away too easily tonight. Look at their front two how many times did they give the ball away? Their passing was crisp, it was sharp. Their movement was good and we weren't on that level tonight we looked and come a poor second."
Gresley Rovers (0) 0
Cirencester Town (1) 3
Scorers: Mayo 31, Hopkins 51, Bevan 85.
Gresley Rovers: Belford, Haynes (Barrett 60), White, Smith, Hood, Slater, Doughty, Holmes (Alexander 79), Francis (Sinclair 66), Lenagh, Wardle. Subs not used: Everitt, Lake.
Cirencester Town: Thompson, Davis, McEntegart, Jackson, Mayo
, Wootton, Robison, McCabe (Wimble 45), Hopkins, Griffin (Bevan 83), Richards. Subs not used: Fraser, Tomkins.
Rovers Star Man: Dale Belford superb again.
Referee: C Evans (Lincoln).
Attendance: 343
