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We are due a change of luck now - Hughes [Gloucestershire Echo (England)](Gloucestershire Echo (England) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) LUCK hasn't been smiling on Cirencester Town so far this season with two defeats, controversial refereeing decisions and injuries blighting their start to the campaign. Tuesday night's 2-1 defeat to Stourbridge was the Centurions' second consecutive defeat following the 4-1 opening day annihilation at St Albans. Brian Hughes' men welcome big-spending Oxford City to the Corinium Stadium tomorrow (3pm) with league points and a change of fortune being chased. They put in a much improved performance against the Glassboys on Tuesday, only to be robbed of at least a point by a controversial winner. Diego Maradona isn't a name that lends itself to the Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division, but Linden Dovey's winner for Stourbridge brought echoes of the Argentinian master. Dovey challenged Cirencester keeper Danny Greaves for a high-ball and his arm appeared to deflect the ball into the net. The goal was given and Hughes and Cirencester were left to rue their luck. "It was an amazing decision," Hughes said. "The referee and linesman were looking directly at it and they gave nothing. "The linesman then told me that my keeper had punched it in, but if Danny can punch it 20 yards backwards when trying to clear it, then I've got real problems. "I really couldn't believe it and it cost us a point as we had played really well and were holding a side who will be right up there at the end of the season." Hughes' night was compounded by a knee injury to experienced striker and last season's top scorer Jody Bevan, who was withdrawn after a heavy first-half challenge. The striker, who has already recovered from one cruciate ligament rebuild in his career, has been referred to a specialist and could be out for some time. Defender Matt Sysum also aggravated a knee problem in the Stourbridge defeat and looks set to sit out the next two weeks. "It was a nasty one with Jody, who is obviously concerned having had it happen to him before," Hughes said. "He's seen his GP and has been referred to a specialist and we'll have to wait and see. "It does leave us really light in the forward areas now and myself and Kevin Willetts (assistant) have been on the phone trying to get someone in. "Whether they are the right person or not, we're striving hard just to get some bodies in before the game on Saturday." Saturday's opponents Oxford City were thrashed 6-0 by league new boys AFC Totton on Tuesday night. (c) 2011 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |