Crusaders slip out of play-off place

Cirencester had the better of the first half, with a brace from Charlie Griffin giving them a convincing lead at the interval, and although we scored just after the break, we were unable to find a way through the Centurions defence again and suffered a serious, but no means fatal blow to our play-off hopes. Our forthcoming home game with Slough Town now becomes vitally important and we cannot afford any more slip-ups if we are to secure a play-off place.
The early mist and fog had cleared well before the kick-off and it was a pleasant sunny spring afternoon and we went close in the opening minutes, Alan O’Brien’s shot coming back off the post and Nat Jarvis soon headed over the bar. but the visitors came back on the attack and took the lead when Charlie Griffin headed in after 17 minutes. Almost immediately Jon Boardman limped off with a groin injury, a serious blow to our defence with Matt Day and Scott Rees already ruled out., and the visitors continued to look dangerous, Griffin heading the second goal from Brad Hooper’s cross right on half-time to give us a mountain to climb.
However, we were back in the game after 49 minutes when Jarvis claimed the final touch to an inswinging corner, but we were unable to break down the Cirencester defence again despite plenty of pressure. Garyn Preen fired over after a good crossfield attack, but even with Harry Goodger and Mark Draycott on to bolster the attack as we sacrificed defenders, the visitors held on. We did have a chance right on time,when Paul Strudley’s free-kick from inside the Cirencester half was scrambled off the line and the Centurions could celebrate the win.
Team’Strudley, Tyler, John, Boardman(Preen),Horgan(Draycott), Herring, Clark(Goodger), Jones,Jarvis, Brown, O’Brien. Subs;Berry-Hargreaves, Harrison .