CIRENCESTER TOWN'S second home match of the week brought neighbours Malmesbury Victoria to The Talent Hire Stadium writes Dave Pyzer. 

Thus encounter was the club's third Hellenic League – Premier Division match of the new season and after a hard-fought battle it was the visitors that secured a narrow victory.

The home side started positively as they pressed their visitors who used the long ball to ease the pressure and mount counter attacks.

The first clear chance was created by Cirencester as Kyle Chester fired wide of the far-left post following some incisive passing but the visitors replied immediately as Zac Skinner sent a low cross-shot past the far-right post.

This became the pattern of the first half as Cirencester pressed and Malmesbury countered but as the interval loomed there was plenty of goal threat as Robertson headed wide for Malmesbury and a deep cross was fired into the side netting for the hosts.

A couple of minutes before the break Malmesbury scored when the ball was delivered into the ‘mix’ in front of the goal - eventually dropping into the path of Jack Smith who responded quickest to clip it into the net.

The second half was more pressure from Cirencester but no breakthrough as Malmesbury put bodies on the line to block and in the event of a clear shot at goal Brown was in position to save.

In the final minutes of the game Cirencester created several chances but it would not go into the net and Malmesbury took the points.

A battling performance from Cirencester as they continue to show improvement.