GOSPORT BOROUGH 2 CIRENCESTER TOWN 0

CIRENCESTER Town were harried to defeat by a relentless Gosport Borough in a match marred by an injury to Scott Griffin.

The visitors started brightly enough but when their early probes were stoutly defended they could not find the time or space to work the ball into dangerous positions.

The match looked to be settling into a battle of attrition until on 15 minutes Adam Wilde found himself open on the left and attacking the Cirencester box.

Matt Sysum looked to have contained him but then chose to win the ball inside the box, mistimed his challenge and conceded a soft penalty.

Despite the Gosport bench calling for a red card, the referee issued a caution to Sysum before Craig Davis calmly buried the spot-kick.

Rob Hoskin was proving the liveliest Cirencester threat and when he drove past Dean Arnold to shoot he forced 6ft 8in Mark Brown to tip the ball out of the top corner of the goal.

Cirencester could have fallen two behind on the half-hour when Justin Bennett ghosted clear to chip the ball over goalkeeper Matt Bath, but the ball bounced off the top of the crossbar.

Hoskin was getting some attention from Craig Davis, having clearly shown himself to be a threat.

He worked himself an opening on the edge of the box after interchanging well with Mark Pritchett, but his shot hit the outside of a post.

On 45 minutes Cirencester went 2-0 behind after they switched off at a free-kick from Arnold driven to the far post and Bennett headed low past Bath.

Gosport pressed forward but should have been punished as Cirencester counter-attacked.

Hoskin was put away and managed to get his shot off, despite desperate pressure from Josh Thomas, to force Brown to a good stop at his near post.

On the hour a sustained period of Cirencester pressure had Brown flapping at the ball and bawling at is defenders as shots were blocked and crosses touched away.

He used his immense reach to tip and just stop an effort from Sean Wood from 25 yards.

Carl Brown had been having an unproductive day for Cirencester and he was carded for a dive as he was replace.

He, Bevan and Sysum went off, while Fred Ward, Jason Welsh and Griffin went off.

The changes opened the game with Cirencester gambling with a three-man back line but now making Gosport work to contain the wily Griffin.

Bennett should have capitalised on breakaways, first firing wide when well placed and then seeing Bath save with his feet at point blank range.

The Cirencester fightback stalled on 76 minutes when Griffin was felled by a high challenge below his knee by Glen Howes as he spun to go past Bermingham.

Griffin was taken off an stretcher, with initial reports suggesting ligament damage, and Howes received a yellow card.

Cirencester were unable to make a breakthrough and Borough took the points.

Gosport: Brown, Arnold, Bermingham, Thomas, Ward, Fuel, Howes, Davis, Turvey (Kirby 73), Bennett, Wilde (Turner 86). Unused sub: Warden.

Cirencester Town: Bath, Sysum (Ward), Pritchett, Griffiths, Wood, Tomkins, Reid, Thompson, Bevan (Welsh 67), Hoskin, Brown (Griffin 67). Unused sub: Westlake.

Referee: I Parsons

Attendance: 243

Cirencester's star man: Wood