Evo-Stik League Southern - D1 S&W

Cirencester Town   0 – 1   Shortwood United

Match Report by Dave Pyzer

This match was an eagerly anticipated local derby between two of the current form sides in the division with Shortwood winning six of their seven matches in March and Cirencester unbeaten in their last seven matches. Additionally Shortwood are in 7th place, one place above Cirencester, with one more point and a game in hand making this the proverbial 6 pointer.

The Cirencester squad, starting eleven and substitutes, was the same as that for the last match at Winchester.

Shortwood kicked off on a dull, bitterly cold afternoon playing down the slope and immediately mounted an attack down their left flank through Matt Bennett but fortunately Leigh Henry was alert and blocked the cross just outside the 6 yard box and cleared the danger.

Shortly afterwards Shortwood were awarded a free kick, in the middle of the pitch about 30 yards out, which Jake Parrott drove straight into the grateful midriff of Glyn Garner.

In the early stages of the game Shortwood looked the more likely, enjoying better quality possession than the strangely subdued Cirencester, making frequent attacks down their left flank.

In the 10th minute Cirencester had their first attempt at goal, following a long throw-in from Ellis Dunton that reached Sam Collier, with his back to goal just outside the left side of the 6 yard box, and he struck the ball on the turn over the bar.

Two minutes later Cirencester again reached the edge of the Shortwood penalty area but the ball was cleared by the visitors defence to TJ Bohane who fed the supporting Bennett on the left but his shot was wide of the left post.

Midway into the half Ellis Dunton received the ball on the left and made ground before feeding Shane Bumphrey who returned it as Dunton cut inside towards the penalty area where he passed it on to Sam Collier.  Collier laid it off to the supporting Ben Wells who struck a shot wide of the left post from 25 yards.

A couple of minutes later an almost identical move had the same result.

Cirencester came close to scoring when Shane Bumphrey won a corner on the left and Ben Wells kick was met by a Chris Thompson header that was blocked on the line resulting in a melee, the ball eventually reached Brad Hooper who on the turn shot over the angle of the left post and bar.

Half an hour in and Leigh Henry struck a firm free kick from the half way line to Sam Collier, inside the right side of the Shortwood penalty area and he took the strike early with his right foot towards the left post but unfortunately not enough power to trouble Tom King in the visitors goal.

Four minutes later Shortwood should have taken the lead when a left wing cross from the busy Bennett found Tim Haddock unmarked on the right side of the area but he struck his shot high over the bar.

A few minutes before half time Aidan Bennett made a strong run down the right and crossed to the far post where Shayne Bumphrey laid it back to Sam Collier who drove a left footed volley over the bar from left of the penalty spot.

Half Time:   0 – 0

Cirencester began the second half in more positive fashion and had a couple of throw-ins in an advanced position on the left within the first minute resulting in efforts that were cleared by the resolute Shortwood defence.

The only goal of the game came in the 50th minute when Cirencester failed to clear the ball from the right side of the 6 yard box and it fell to TJ Bohane inside the area, level with the penalty spot, who managed to get enough on his shot to wrong foot Garner in the home goal to go just inside the left post from his viewpoint.

Three minutes later Chris Thompson received the ball inside the Shortwood half on the right and made a strong run down the edge of the penalty area, beating three players, before crossing into the box. The headed clearance was met by James Mortimer-Jones who struck a left footed volley over the bar.

Twenty minutes into the half Cirencester replaced Bennett and Hooper with Sam Packer and Scott Griffin and almost immediately afterwards Kevin Slack replaced Bennett for Shortwood.

Midway through the half a Ben Wells free kick in the centre of the pitch, 30 yards out, was tipped over the bar by King.

A few minutes later another free kick taken from the right of the Ciren half by Glyn Garner was chested back by Sam Collier to Mortimer-Jones who shot over the bar from 25 yards.

Cirencester were showing more urgency and a challenge for a high bouncing ball in the centre circle by Dunton with TJ Bohane resulted in a clash of heads that delayed the game for a minute or two whilst the striker received treatment and earned Dunton a yellow card.

Shortwood replaced Bohane with Joe Tustain with two minutes remaining.

The final action in the Cirencester penalty area came when Leigh Henry sliced a cross from his left high into the air – coming down just below the bar where the alert Garner managed to punch it clear.  

Final Score: 0 - 1

The match proved to be a tight affair between two well matched teams with plenty of midfield action and resolute defences but few shots to trouble either ‘keeper.

MOM: Chris Thompson – who defended with determination, alongside the dependable Leigh Henry, and even found time to go on a jaunt down the right wing.  

Attendance: 158

Referee:      Lee Sheridan