Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
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Cirencester Town were put under pressure from the start by a Totton side just two points behind leaders Brackley but with two games in hand at the start of play.
However the Town defence held firm with Zak Westlake and Ellis Dunton in particular making some timely tackles.
In the 14th minute, Totton had their first clear cut chance when from a great free kick from Michael Gosney, a header goalwards had to be tipped over by Academy Goalkeeper Charles Steward standing in for the absent Mike Hedges.
It was Gosney with another free kick just a few minutes later to have the next chance but this time his shot at goal sailed way over the bar.
Town’s first chance of the game came in the 20th minute when Scott Griffin turned his marker inside out and curled a good left footed shot to the far corner which Daniel Thomas in the Totton goal did well to push away for a corner at full stretch.
It was Griffin again who had Town’s next chance on 35 minutes when he found himself in a good position but Thomas raced off his line to block well at the expense of a corner.
Town were dealt a blow when just after Griffin’s chance, Nathan Davies stretched for a ball and saw his hamstring go and he had to be replaced by Aiden Bennett.
Totton then thought they had scored when a good cross from the right was met with a looping header from Nathan Jack but Andy Gunn and Wayne Turk combined to clear off the line with Charles Steward beaten.
Town then took the lead with another James Mortimer-Jones special and he unleashed a great left footed shot that left Thomas rooted as it crashed in off the underside of the crossbar to give Town a 1-0 half time lead.
At the start of the second half it was Michael Gosney who once again caused problems with his set piece delivery as a curling ball to the back post caused Scott Claridge to head against his own bar and the ball was scrambled clear.
Next up Jonathan Davies found himself in space inside the Town area and he hit a powerful drive which young Charles Steward did brilliantly to parry over the bar at full stretch.
However it wasn’t long after this that Totton clawed a goal back when yet another Gosney free kick was whipped in at the near post and Steward did well to parry as it dipped and bounced in front of him but Jamie Whisken reacted quicker than any Town defender to tap home from close range.
Town were still giving it their all and created a number of half chances with Else having a couple of efforts from distance which didn’t really trouble the keeper and then Lee Smith crossed for Scott Griffin to head wide.
The referee who had bemused both management teams with his decisions throughout the afternoon then sent Totton’s Jonathan Davies off, but this didn’t affect Totton who at this stage were pushing for the second goal.
In the 82nd minute it came when Town failed to attack a Totton corner in their own penalty area and as the ball dropped, Stefan Brown had two attempts at goal with his second shot rifling into the back of the net.
Town gave it their all with Zak Westlake heading just wide from a corner and Wayne Turk hitting a good volley inches wide from a half cleared corner.
The final whistle went and everyone from the Cirencester camp felt hard done by as this simply wasn’t the result the side deserved after a good performance against a team second in the league. Once again there were debatable officiating decisions from all three officials which certainly left a bitter taste in the mouths of the Cirencester Town faithful.
Attendance – 126
Referee – Brian Durie
Cirencester Town:
1 Charles Steward
2 Scott Claridge
3 Ellis Dunton
4 Andy Gunn
5 Nathan Davies
6 Zak Westlake
7 Wayne Turk
8 James Mortimer-Jones (C)
9 Lee Smith
10 Scott Griffin
11 Jon Else
12 Mitchell Bryant (on for Lee Smith - 75 mins)
14 Jamie Dunn
15 Aiden Bennett (on for Nathan Davies - 32 mins)
16 Jody Bevan (on for Ellis dunton - 86 mins)
AFC Totton:
1 Daniel Thomas
2 Ryan Hill
3 Tom Baddeley
4 Ross Bottomley
5 Jamie Whisken
6 Nathan Campbell
7 Carl Pettefer ©
8 Jonathan Davies
9 Nathan Jack
10 Stefan Brown
11 Michael Gosney
12 Michael Charles
14 Nathaniel Sherbourne
15 Ian Richardson
17 Mark Osman
GK Grant Porter