CIRENCESTER Town slipped to a third consecutive league defeat in a row on Saturday after going down 1-0 at Waltham Abbey.

The visitors were dealt an early blow when Luca Robinson was sent off for a lunging tackle.

The Centurions battled away a man down but their resistance was broken in the 65th minute when Sam Shaban headed past Stuart Nelson. 

Cirencester pushed for what would have been a deserved equaliser in the circumstances, but they could not find a way through and they headed home empty-handed. 

A third defeat in a row means they continue to lose ground in the Southern League Division One South table, dropping down to seventh.

Having lost back-to-back league matches, Cirencester made the trip to Waltham keen to return to winning ways.

But that job was made incredibly difficult in the 20th minute when Robinson was shown a straight red card. His heavy touch in the hosts' half of the pitch forced him to chase the ball and he made a lunge that saw him make contact with the defender's leg. 

The referee dismissed Robinson and it became a backs-to-the-wall job for the visitors.

They soaked up plenty of pressure as Waltham looked to try and make the most of the extra man but the away side held firm.

Prince Domafriyie had the ball in the back of the net for the hosts, but the offside flag cut the celebrations short. 

With the game moving past the hour, it looked as if Cirencester might be able to hold on, but when Shaban headed home Benjamin Baker's cross, Cirencester were forced to throw players forward.

Reegan Messenger headed wide as the away team pushed and Fekix Miles also came close with a drive from 20 yards out. 

The Centurions were giving it a go but it left them vulnerable at the back as the game wore on and Nelson had to make a number of saves to keep the score at 1-0.

In the end, Cirencester fell short but it was not for a want of trying. However, it remains another defeat.