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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Match Report by Andy Buchan
Cirencester Town travelled to Southampton for this Division 1 S&W match. Although Sholing are at the opposite end of the league this is not a reflection of their season to date as they have played 7 games less than Ciren due to good cup runs.
On a fine but cloudy day the team coach left the Corinium Stadium at 11.30 arriving at Sholing Fc at 1.30.
From the kick off Ciren made an impressive start and in the 3rd minute were awarded a free kick on the left hand side which Ben Wells floated in a high ball from 25 yards. Jamie Reid rose high and powerfully and headed into the top right hand corner giving Ciren the early lead.
In the 7th minute Sholing's Charlie Smeeton made a good run down the left getting to the by-line and sending in a low hard cross in front of goal. Fortunately for Ciren nobody was following in.
Four minutes later Ciren were attacking again and when a through ball came to Sam Collier and, as he turned towards goal, it looked like he was fouled as the defender clattered into him. The ball spun out as far as Scott Griffin who from 30 yards fired the ball with swerve and it rocketed into the top left hand corner giving Ciren a two nil lead.
Ciren continued to press and after a foul on Griffin, Wells sent in a high ball from the free kick which Collier headed just over the bar. Sholing nearly pulled a goal back in the 15th minute when from a corner the ball came out of the box and was hammered back in by Mike Carter whose shot smashed against the post, coming back out for the ball being fired again at goal, however on this occasion over the bar.
Sholing were to pull one back in the 19th minute when Reid was adjudged to have pushed a Sholing player in the box. Barry Mason stepped up and took the penalty, placing the ball in the corner of the net.
The remainder of the first half was even play with both teams having opportunities. Bennett, Griffin and Wells all had shots just wide, and it was in the 44th minute when Ciren called on Lee Clatworthy to bring out two great saves, the first from a Smeeton header which looked to be heading for the top corner. From the corner, Mason fired a shot towards the left hand corner and it would surely have been a goal but for a one handed save by Clatworthy.
H.T. Sholing 1-2 Cirencester
The second half started with both teams looking to score. In the 51st minute Lee Bright was booked for a foul on Collier as was Allard in the 61st minute fouling Smeeton.
Sholing were now looking the more likely to score with Clatworthy being kept busy and making some good saves. It was in the 68th minute, after a real mix up in the Ciren box when Clatworthy failed to collect the ball, and it found Marvin McLean with an open goal bringing the score level at two apiece.
Sholing now had the bit between their teeth and were looking for the winner which nearly came from Lewis Fennemore whose lobbed shot at goal beat both Clatworthy and the bar.
Ciren made two substitutions bringing on Sam Packer and Joe Sheppard for Sam Collier and Alex Allard. Sholing were close again in the 77th minute after Dan Mason hit a sweet shot which Clatworthy punched out only as far as Carter whose shot was goal bound but for another good save.
With 10 minutes remaining, Ciren came to life. Sheppard had a good effort deflected out for a corner and Griffin hit a shot on the turn which was inches wide of the post.
The game was decided in the 88th minute when a through ball found Sam Packer on the right, his pace took him into the box, and from a tight angle he fired the ball into the far corner putting Ciren back in the lead.
Minutes later the referee blew for full time securing all three points for Ciren.
F.T Sholing 2-3 Cirencester
This was another battling and fine team performance from Ciren, and once again it was very difficult to name any one player for man of the match. However a mention must go to Jamie Reid who was making his 150th appearance for the club, was captain of the team, scored a goal, the team won and he in fairness was our best player.
We have no game next week as Merthyr have a cup match, so we will see you all for our home game against Paulton Rovers on the 27th November.
Attendance: 101
Referee: Casimir Nzenga
Sholing:
1.Matt Brown
2. Kevin Brewster
3. Marc Diaper
4. Peter Castle (C)
5. Lee Bright
6. Mike Carter
7. Marvin McClean
8. Dan Mason
9. Barry Mason
10. Lewis Fennemore
11. Charlie Smeeton
12. Cassius Newton (on for Lewis Fennemore - 79 mins)
14. Liam Robinson
15. Craig Stanley (on for Charlie Smeeton - 87 mins)
16. Alex Sawyer (on for Daniel Mason - 59 mins)
17. Lee Webber
Cirencester Town:
1. Lee Clatworthy
2. Alex Allard
3. Aiden Bennett
4. Ellis Dunton
5. Ben Wells
6. Chris Thompson
7. Jamie Reid (C)
8. James Mortimer-Jones
9. Sam Collier
10. Scott Griffin
11. LIam O'Brien
12. Sam Packer (on for Sam Collier - 68 mins)
14. Joe Shepherd (on for Alex allard - 76 mins)
15. Nathan Hawkins