BETVICTOR Southern League

Division 1 South

Cirencester Town 2

Paulton Rovers 4

MISSED opportunities proved to be Cirencester Town's nemesis, writes Dave Pyzer.

They struck the woodwork four times during the match and Paulton Rovers took full advantage with a two-goal burst early in the second half.

The home side started positively as they pressed and tested their high-flying visitors' defence to threaten with a few corner kicks but just after the mid-point of the half home keeper Lewis Clayton was called into action as he denied Ed Butcher.

Cirencester continued to press forward and Aidan Bennett struck both posts within two minutes – the second of which eventually reached Ollie Artwell who blasted it into the top right corner.

Within minutes Paulton were surprisingly awarded a free-kick and Cameron Shorney's strike clipped the top of the wall en-route to the back of the net.

A few minutes after the interval, Paulton took the lead when David Sims-Burgess broke free to tuck the ball past an advancing Clayton and five minutes later Ben Bament doubled their lead when he smashed his shot into the top right corner.

As Cirencester pushed forward to get back into the game they inevitably left gaps and had to live dangerously and they suffered another setback when Ed Butcher scored to give his side a three-goal cushion.

During the final 15 minutes, Jack Freeman struck the cross-bar, Levi Irving and Alan Griffin headed wide of the target and Will Christopher’s fierce drive was saved by Joe Perry.

In added-time Griffin converted a penalty to reduce the margin of defeat.