We’re back on the road on Saturday and it’s a big test as we take on the Division’s in-form team Cirencester Town on their 3G surface at the Corinium Stadium.

Cirencester Town vs Bideford
Evo-Stik League South – West Division
Saturday 17th February 2018
3:00pm kick off
Corinium Stadium, Cirencester

A Brief History of Cirencester Town FC
Formed in 1889 Cirencester Town spent most of the first half of their existence playing in the Cheltenham League winning the Division One title on five occasions. They also competed in the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League twice winning the league title. In 1968 the club became founding members of the Gloucestershire County League but moved up to the Hellenic League Premier Division just a year later. After being relegated from the Premier Division in 1972 Cirencester bounced back by winning the Division One title in 1973/74 but were relegated again from the Premier in 1978. The Centurions then spent thirteen years in Division One before finishing as runners-up in 1990/91 to return to the Premier Division. The club finished 2nd in their first season back in the Premier and in 1995/96 were crowned Hellenic League champions meaning promotion to the Southern League. After eight seasons in the second tier Cirencester were promoted to the Southern League Premier Division after a 3rd place finish in 2003/04. They were relegated in 2009 but returned to the Premier Division after winning the play-offs in 2009/10 beating Bridgwater Town in the final. Cirencester were relegated again in 2012 but bounced back once more by winning the Division One South & West title in 2013/14. In 2016/17 The Centurions were relegated from the Premier Division for a third time and now compete in Division One West.

Cirencester Town FC
Corinium Stadium
Kingshill Lane
Cirencester
Gloucestershire
GL7 1HS
Tel: 01285 654543
Website: http://www.cirentownfc.com
Twitter: @CirenTownFC

Form Guide
Cirencester are having a really good 2018 so far and are the division’s form team with five wins in their last six outings. Cirencester have won their last four home games and last time out on the road impressively beat Evesham United 5-2. Cirencester are 11th in the West Division (W13 D4 L13), six points off the play-off spots.

Cirencester Town’s last six (WLWWWW)
10/02/18 Evesham United 2 Cirencester Town 5 (League)
03/02/18 Cirencester Town 2 Paulton Rovers 1 (League)
30/01/18 Bishops Cleeve 0 Cirencester Town 1 (League)
27/01/18 Cirencester Town 5 Mangotsfield United 1 (League)
20/01/18 Wimborne Town 5 Cirencester Town 1 (League)
16/01/18 Cirencester Town 3 North Leigh 1 (League)

Bideford’s rotten luck with the weather has continued with last week’s game against Mangotsfield being postponed and Wednesday night’s visit to Kidlington being abandoned just before half time with The Robins leading 1-0. It was the 11th Bideford game to be postponed/abandoned due to the weather this season and the ever increasing number of rearranged games will surely adversely affect their chances of reaching the play-offs. Bideford are 10th in the West Division (W13 D6 L5).

Bideford's last six (DWWWDD)
06/02/18 Bideford 1 Tiverton Town 1 (St Luke’s QF) *Bideford won 5-4 on pens
03/02/18 Wimborne Town 2 Bideford 2 (League)
30/01/18 AFC Totton 2 Bideford 3 (League)
13/01/18 Swindon Supermarine 0 Bideford 5 (League)
06/01/18 Bideford 1 Bishops Cleeve 0 (League)
26/12/17 Bideford 1 Barnstaple Town 1 (League)

Most recent previous meetings:
14/10/17 Bideford 3 Cirencester Town 0 (Southern Div 1 West)
02/04/16 Cirencester Town 3 Bideford 4 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
27/10/15 Bideford 1 Cirencester Town 1 (Southern Div 1 S&W)
28/10/14 Bideford 0 Cirencester Town 2 (Southern Premier)
12/08/14 Cirencester Town 6 Bideford 2 (Southern Premier)

Back in October, Bideford comfortably beat Cirencester 3-0 at the Sports Ground with goals from Billy Tucker, Ryan Turner and Craig Allan. The sides last met at the Corinium in April 2016 when The Robins produced a stunning comeback to win 4-3 after being 3-0 down at half time. Goals that day came from Dan Western (2), Billy Tucker and Ian Sampson.