Cirencester Town 0 Banbury United 2

WITH this defeat having confirmed Cirencester's relegation from the Southern League Premier Division, the Standard pledges its support to The Centurions in their bid to bounce back as soon as possible.

We have every confidence that Town will return to the Premier League under Steve Abbley's innovative and determined chairmanship.

Cirencester went out with a whimper following a typically tame end-of-season match between two poor teams with nothing left to play for.

With their midfielders running beyond their strikers to stretch Cirencester's defence, mid-table Banbury soon pressed Town back.

Banbury should have scored in the 10th minute when they intercepted Matthew Bicknell's cross-field pass and played their striker, Howard Forinton, through for a one-on-one with Town's reserve goalkeeper, Alex Hards, who was playing because of first-choice custodian Kevin Sawyer's hand injury.

Forinton was too casual, chipping Hards but sending the ball wide. The chance arose from a poor clearance by Hards, who struggled with his kicking throughout.

Banbury missed another golden opportunity on 24 minutes, when their Chris Jackson headed Darren Pond's right-wing free kick wide when unmarked at the far post.

A minute later, a quick one-two saw Pond test Hards with a low 30-yarder hit with the outside of his foot.

On 35 minutes, a far-post free kick was headed back into Cirencester's six-yard box where Banbury's Andy Baird drew a point-blank save from Hards.

On 42 minutes, Town almost made Banbury pay for their profligacy. Ian McSherry, one of few Cirencester players showing spirit, dropped his shoulder to reach the by-line and cross to unmarked Steve Cowe, who glanced an eight-yard header wide of the far post.

Banbury nearly scored four minutes into the second half, Town's James Rowe clearing Chris Jackson's header off the line following a United corner.

However, United did not have long to wait before scoring. When Cirencester's Lee Smith attempted to head the ball back to Hards, on 59 minutes, Baird nipped in between them and slipped it into the net.

Three minutes later, Banbury thought they had doubled their lead but Ollie Stanbridge's strike was disallowed for a push on Hards.

Town came closest to equalising on 64 minutes, when Smith played a corner into Banbury's six-yard box where Matt Jones thumped a header against United's crossbar.

On 65 minutes, Cirencester's Steve Leigh misjudged a high ball dropping onto the left-hand edge of Town's penalty area, allowing Baird to get behind him.

Hitting the ball on the bounce, Baird dispatched a powerful, 18-yard cross-shot that soared over the bar.

On 68 minutes, Banbury doubled their lead with one of the match's few touches of quality.

Slick passing having played him into space 30 yards out, George Redknap looked up to see Hards off his line and then executed a perfect chip that left the ball nestling in the bottom left-hand corner of Cirencester's net.

Rednap fluffed a far easier chance on 83 minutes, getting behind Cirencester's defence but miscuing his volley with only Hards to beat.

The 87th-minute saw Banbury nearly grab a lucky third when Matty Gooderick's miscued left-wing cross drifted onto Town's crossbar.

Lee Molyneaux almost scored Cirencester a consolation goal on 91 minutes when he flicked a near-post corner goalwards but United's veteran goalkeeper, Alan Judge, dived to the foot of his right-hand post to push the ball wide.

Town manager, Neil Hards, said afterwards: "I thought we could've put some effort in for the last home game but we didn't compete.

"We perked up for 15 minutes and created a few chances for ourselves but the second half was a dead rubber. As soon as the goal went in, we gave up the ghost."

Cirencester Town: Alex Hards, Lee Smith, Matthew Bicknell (Olamidi Dedegbe 73), Steve Leigh (Y 36), Matt Jones, Lee Molyneaux, Nathan Haisley, Michael Jackson (c), Ian McSherry, Steve Cowe (Dan Hilder 73), James Rowe (Liam Horsted 73).

Unused substitutes: Oliver Holder, Dan Wallington.

Banbury United: Alan Judge, Stuart Bridges, Tommy Kinch, Kieran Sullivan (c), Chris Jackson, Darren Pond, Ollie Stanbridge (Murray Nicholls 91), George Redknap, Howard Forniton (Jody McKay 83), Andy Baird (Y 63), Joe Gardner (Matty Gooderick 77).

Cirencester Man of the Match: Ian McSherry

Referee: M E Weaver (West Midlands) Attendance: 169