A STRONG finish could not prevent North Leigh bowing out of the FA Trophy in the first round with a 2-1 defeat at Cirencester Town.

After going 2-0 behind to the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division side early on, they hit back strongly with a late surge that saw Jamie Cook pull a goal back.

Sam Elkins had an effort controversially ruled out for offside and further efforts from Cook and Miles Welch-Hayes were inches away from taking the tie to a replay.

Cirencester scraped through thanks to a confident start.

North Leigh had already ridden their luck, before falling behind in the 26th minute when Charlie Griffin headed in at a corner.

An equaliser should have arrived within seven minutes, when Callum McNish shot wide on the rebound after Town goalkeeper Glyn Garner parried a shot from Cook.

Cirencester doubled their lead five minutes into the second half when Leigh Henry nodded in from close range at another corner.

The home side appeared to be in cruise control, but were given a fright in the closing stages.

On 73 minutes, Elliott Osborne-Ricketts put in Cook with a delightful ball and the striker made no mistake. This set up a grandstand finish as the Millers poured forward.

They were convinced an equaliser had arrived when Elkins netted, only to see the offside flag.

North Leigh went close with several efforts before the end but could not break through.

It extended their losing run to three games, having lost 2-1 at home to Winchester City in Division 1 South & West last Wednesday.

Zac Westlake scored for Mark Gee’s men, who had the chance to go level on points with leaders Cinderford Town last night when they played their game in hand at Shortwood United.

North Leigh: Foster, Welch-Hayes, Hopkins, Elkins, Westlake, Hole, Osborne-Ricketts, Turk, Cook, McNish, Williams Subs: Else, White. Attendance: 89.