Puritans stay sixth after another good day on the road

A four goal first half blitz put the Puritans on their way to a 4-1 victory at Cirencester Town in Saturday’s premier division clash to consolidate sixth spot.

United went in front in the 12th minute when Zac McEachran’s corner was headed back across to the far post where Darius Browne was on hand to nod the ball home from close range. Three minutes later United doubled their advantage when Ben Brown’s back-pass evaded keeper Harvey Rivers and Conor McDonagh nipped in to slot the ball into the empty net.

In the 19th minute United got their third goal when McEachran switched the ball across to Eddie Odhiambo on the left flank and he crossed for McDonagh to fire past Rivers.

Browne got his second goal of the game in the 35th minute. A cross from Odhiambo fell to Browne at the far post and he struck the ball home via the underside of the bar.

United went close to a fifth goal when McEachran’s corner was met by Luke Carnell but his header was cleared off the line by Kieran Diaz-Benitez.

It was over as a contest at the interval but Cirencester had a good spell at the start of the second half. Jack Harding did well to keep out a Matt Liddiard header from Sam Hunt’s cross and then had to be alert to save a Diaz-Benitez strike.

But United were soon back in control of the game and went close to extending their lead when McEachran put substitute George Jeacock through but the on-loan Oxford United striker shot just wide from the edge of the area.

United eased off in the closing stages and a free-kick from Hunt was headed against the post by Robbie James. But three minutes from time a cross from Diaz-Benitez was met by Jason Millhench who headed home for a deserved consolation goal.