Hood uses his head to end Cirencester resistance

NatHAN Vaughan will have few more comfortable afternoons than he did last Saturday after a dominant performance from Leamington yielded a second successive league win.

Cirencester had produced a shock 1-0 victory over Paul Holleran’s side when the two teams met in October, but the Southern League Premier Division’s bottom club never looked like replicating that success, with a comfortable catch from Ollie Pitt’s 11th-minute effort Vaughan’s only involvement.

Opposite number Mike Hedges was only rarely troubled himself in a first half which saw Brakes have most of the play, but struggle to fashion any clear-cut chances.

Craig Owen flashed a shot wide of the target in the second minute, while Matt Dodd looked dangerous on his home debut without finding an end product.

A fierce drive from Dodd did call Hedges into action, but the shot was at a good height for the young keeper and he was able to beat the ball away.

Neil Barnfield was unable to take advantage after Hedges dropped an Owen free-kick, tamely scuffing the loose ball into Dodd, who later saw a goalbound shot blocked by Zac Westlake.

James Mace had the best chance of the half two minutes before the break, heading over from close range after Jamie Hood had nodded back a Lee Chilton corner.

The visitors’ lack of ambition suggested one goal would eventually open the floodgates, but it was to be a familiar story after the break as Leamington huffed and puffed without being able to find the decisive breakthrough.

Kolodynski volleyed a rising ball over and then looked to have been set clear by Jacob Blyth, only for a defender to get back and deflect his shot for a corner.

Dodd’s involvement was ended by a tight hamstring in the 54th minute, with Alex Taylor being brought on in his place.

Two minutes later, Blyth was unable to direct a header on target after a fine cross from Stephan Morley.

Barnfield was denied by a fine save from Hedges, who after appearing to be going the wrong way, adjusted his body to get down and tip away the well-struck shot.

However, from the resultant corner, Jamie Hood showed the forward players how it is done by rising to head home Chilton’s delivery.

Hedges produced a fine double stop to deny Blyth and the follow-up from Chilton as Brakes quickly went in search of a second.

But he was powerless to stop Brakes doubling their lead in the 74th minute, Taylor picking up a Blyth flick before turning smartly and curing the ball into the left-hand corner of the net.

Jody Bevan fired a first-time volley wide of the post in a rare Cirencester foray, while Blyth had a gilt-edged chance to make it three when quick thinking from Kolodynski set him free in the area. However, the striker somehow crontrived to roll his studs over the ball and it trickled apologetically into the grateful midriff of Hedges.

Brakes: Nathan Vaughan, James Mace, Stephan Morley, Neil Barnfield, Liam Daly, Jamie Hood, Matty Dodd, Craig Owen, Jacob Blyth, David Kolodynski (Michael Tuohy, 79), Lee Chilton (James Husband, 84). Subs not used: Asa Charlton, Lee Williams.

Cirencester Town: Mike Hedges, James Mortimer-Jones, Aiden Bennett, Zak Westlake, Nathan Davies, Jamie Reid, Wayne Turk, Scott Claridge, Jody Bevan (Josh Russell, 84), Scott Griffin, Ollie Pitt (Liam James, 67). Sub not used: John Else.