The tears flowed as Monmouth-based Ross 2nd XI walked off the pitch following defeat in their league encounter, although they had the consolation of winning many friends with the way they competed right to the end.

Tackling a hugely talented Cirencester team with a full complement of players was hard enough – but playing with a scratch Ross team made this an impossible task.

There was no arguing that Cirencester were a team whose technical superiority stood out. But it is also easy to sympathise with Ross, who believed after edging Hereford in their last league match before Christmas that they could, against all expectations, go on to defeat a team lying above them in the league.

Despite being two goals down at halftime, captain Andrew Cross told his Ross team to remain calm and to keep playing their game.

They had been outplayed in some areas of the pitch, but overall their team play had been excellent. They simply needed to convert the inevitable chance that would come along and they would be back in the match.

Ross did go on to enjoy a strong spell in the latter half of the match, with Kieran Brann running freely upfront ably supported by Jake Hatenyi.

Edward Peck wasted a good opportunity when he could not decide whether to pass or shoot. From the resulting short corner, Chris Chalk was also unlucky to be just inches wide with a rasping effort.

Peck made up for his error with unstinting runs up the right flank, with Edward Goldsmith meanwhile trying to recreate his trade mark runs from midfield, but neither of these ever managed the desired effect.

Despite shipping four goals, the defensive line of Ben da Cunha, James Adamson, Gareth Hughes and goalkeeper George Goldsmith did not have a bad day at the office.

This was emphasised when Ben was voted South Herefordshire Caravans man of the match.