Ciren unlucky as they slip to late defeat against Roman Glass

Cirencester Town were left ruing missed chances as they went down to a late Dan Stoneman effort as Roman Glass maintained their unbeaten start with a 2-1 win on Tuesday night.

Jay Malpas’ opener was levelled out by Jack Freeman’s header as the two sides were locked at the break and after a number of chances for the Centurions, the former Westfields man countered to score the winner with just over ten minutes left.

Roman Glass extend their lead at the top of the Hellenic Premier table to three points, with a game in hand over second place Droitwich Spa, whilst Cirencester sit in 14th on eight points from their first nine league matches.

But it was a frustrating night in the end for Cirencester, with Harlie Price hitting the post, Freeman coming close to a second and Kyle Pitts headed straight at Rob Brown form a corner – either side of Stoneman’s winner.

Ciren will be looking to get back to winning ways at the weekend, when they head to another tough test in Worcester Raiders, whilst Roman Glass are on the road again, heading to Westfields.

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The visitors started well, pressing high and forcing Ciren into a number of early errors. Stoneman tested returning keeper Alex Harris on two minutes, before the deadlock was broken with just seven minutes on the clock.

After losing the ball on the edge of their box, Ciren were left scrambling as Stoneman cut back towards Malpas, who turned the ball home despite Harris’ efforts to try and smother it.

Ciren were struggling for rhythm. Theo Jeremy cut in from the right and drilled one straight at Brown in their best chance of the opening 25 minutes.

But then out of nowhere Fraser Bell got forward from right back, cut back and crossed for Jack Freeman to get above Brown to nod home – taking a massive whack in the process.

And that equaliser settled the hosts down, massively. Jonty Welch got forward and after being found by Fraser Bell, had an effort well saved by Brown.

Fraser Bell crossed for Freeman again soon after, but the header was straight at the keeper – before Jeremy let fly from 25 yards with the effort fizzing just over.

Cirencester went close after half time after Harlie Price was unable to get the ball out of his feet, Freeman followed up with a fiercely struck effort that was beaten away by Brown.

The visitors were forced into a change at the break, with Owen Punselie subbed instead of being sent off after he walked the line whilst being on a booking towards half time.

He was replaced by Nathan Hall, who headed just wide with Glass’ first chance of the half.

Jack Horrell was booked for a lunge on half way as Glass countered from a corner and followed Punselie in being withdrawn before being sent off ten minutes later after a couple of fouls that incensed the visiting bench – in reality the referee remained consistent, which is only a positive.

The lack of a red card did see a member of the Roman Glass management sent off though.

Harlie Price fired a free kick into the wall, before his follow up effort was straight at Brown as Ciren looked for the crucial third goal.

Price beat the offside trap with 15 minutes left, but Brown produced a great save to turn the effort onto the post, with the striker unable to squeeze the ball home from a tight angle.

And Glass struck the killer blow with just over ten minutes remaining, as Stoneman flew up the pitch on the counter and after his initial effort was saved by Harris, he was able to turn the rebound home to spark scenes of celebrations for the visitors.

Ciren forced a couple of corners in the final moments and other than Pitts’ header, Roman Glass defended them well enough and saw the game out quite comfortably.

The Centurions will look to dust themselves down and go again at Raiders on Saturday

Cirencester Town: Harris, Fraser Bell, Bennett, Scott, Pitts, Horrell, Jeremy, Welch, Price, Freeman, Finley Bell

Subs: Peare, Keightley, Reeves, Morris, Rose

Roman Glass St George: Brown, Tierney, Ward, Budd, Kearney, Anthony, McClennon, Myrie-Williams, Punselie, Malpas, Stoneman

Subs: Ward-Baptiste, Boorman, Hall, Hartley, Williams

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Harlie Price (Cirencester Town)