Cirencester stretched their unbeaten start in the Southern Premier with a 2-1 win at Hemel Hempstead.

The Centurions were missing key men Gary Wotton and Gareth Hopkins through injury, but were still too strong for their hosts as a Mike Davis double earned maximum points to keep Ciren in touch with the leaders.

Scott Griffin had already gone close with a shot just wide by the time Ciren opened the scoring on eight minutes.

Neil Arndale's cross found Nick Stanley at the far post and he headed back across the area for Davis to score with a brave diving header.

Griffin went close again with a low shot and from a Shaun Wimble corner Darren Robison's header was only just over the bar.

In their next build-up Wimble and Stanley linked up well but Stanley's final effort was just wide of the target.

Another good move down the right saw Davis pick out Wimble, but his header was just wide of the target.

Teenager Stanley who scored in both of Ciren's games prior to Saturday saw his first-time volley cleared off the line by Daniel West just before the break.

Brian Hughes' men continued to dominate in the second half though it took 20 minutes for them to double their lead.

They did so in style with a move that began in their own half and finished with Stanley stretching the home defence and Griffin laying the perfect ball for Davis to coolly pick his spot from 10 yards. The goal seemed to jolt the home side and they pushed extra men forward.

Twice Paul Thompson had to save bravely and 15 minutes from the end Hemel pulled one back when a quickly taken free-kick by Bryan Hammatt caught Cirencester napping and Bobby Highton found the back of the net with an angled shot.

CIRENCESTER: Thompson, Arndale, Halliday, Mayo, Jackson, Bird, Robison, Wimble, Stanley Griffin, Davis. Subs: McCabe, Bevan, Hemming, Edwards, Fitch.