Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
Above photos provided by Mike Allen
Cirencester Town slumped to their third straight defeat after a lacklustre display against Oxford City mustering only one shot on goal all afternoon.
In the 1st minute Michael Lyon blazed wide for City and it took another 23 minutes before the next chance came with a great cross from Lyon causing panic in the Town defence until the ball was scrambled behind for a corner by Town right back Neil Arndale.
In between Jamie Reid got booked for a tackle and the referee gave a number of picky free kicks against the Town which eventually came to nothing.
Josh Green for City then went into the referees notebook himself for an off the ball incident at a corner kick and from that corner Neil Arndale was in the right place to clear a header from Green off the line.
The rest of the first half passed without incident with former Centurion Nick Stanley driving in a shot on the stroke of half time which was easily saved by Town keeper Danny Greaves.
The second half started with Town's only shot of the game with midfielder Jamie Reid picking up a knockdown and driving the ball across City's 6ft 9" goalkeeper Jason Mooney who got down comfortably to save.
In the 60th minute Town were shocked to go 1-0 down when Felipe Barcelos from wide out on the touchline sent a free kick into the box which deceived Danny Greaves and sailed into the top corner to stun the Cirencester faithful behind the goal.
Unfortunately for Town it was Oxford City who again looked the more likely to score with Barcellos getting in another cross with striker Steve Basham on for Lee Steele hitting the far post with a glancing header.
Only three minutes later it nearly got worse for Town when after a corner had been blocked midfielder Reece Fleet hit a rasping shot which hit the Town bar and bounced away.
The final few minutes were played out with Town not troubling the Oxford goal and disappointingly slumping to that third straight defeat.
With Swindon Supermarine the next opponents on Wednesday Town will need to bounce back and show the spirit and fight they have in previous seasons.
The Four Pillars Hotel Man of the Match, voted on by the home supporters, was awarded to Zak Westlake.
Attendance: 125
Referee: Adam Nunn
Cirencester Town:
Danny Greaves, Neil Arndale, Richard Mansell (C), Zak Westlake, Jamie Reid, Andy Gunn, Tom Etheridge, James Mortimer-Jones, David Murphy, David Stone (Tambling 66), Paul Banks (Sysum 83)
Subs not used: Ellis Dunton, Adam Mayo, Will Loughman
Oxford City:
Jason Mooney, James Clark, Marvin Martin, Reece Fleet, Josh Green, Wayne Blossom (C), Felipe Barcelos, Declan Benjamin, Michael Lyon, Lee Steele (Steve Basham 68), Nick Stanley (Jimmy Deabill 86)
Subs not used: Jack Ashton, Adam Learoyd,