Cirencester Town FC
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Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
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Match Report by Andy Buchan
On the back of a tough FA Cup win on Tuesday night, Cirencester were entertaining Mangotsfield United for this Calor league Division One South & West match at the Corinium Stadium.
Cirencester had made a few changes due to injury and suspensions with Beeden and Shepherd suspended, Captain Anson and Holland injured.
‘The Mangos’ have good travelling support and were very vocal behind Glyn Garner's goal. There was a slight wind otherwise perfect playing conditions for an entertaining game.
In the 1st half Ciren were playing towards the Arena and into the slight wind. In the 7th minute Ciren had their 1st corner after good cross from Lee Smith. From the corner the ball was cleared up-field which ended up for a Mango's corner ‘’Was it going to be that sort of game, end to end stuff?
Smith, who has been in great form, made a penetrating run through the middle and from 30 yards out laid it off to Steve Davies on the left, who cut into the right and from the edge of the box fired a shot at the far right corner. Ex Ciren keeper Kevin Sawyer did well to get down at full stretch and palm away.
Sawyer was called into action again in the 15th min after a good ball by Aidan Bennett for Matt Liddiard who fired a shot that Sawyer managed to once again at full stretch tip over the bar for a corner.
The Mangos could have taken the lead in the 22nd min after what was really their 1st opportunity when Josh Egan broke through on the right and hit a scorching shot that clipped the top of the bar before going out for a goal kick.
In the 29th min Sam Collier knocked the ball back for Brad Hooper whose shot was heading for the underside of the bar. Sawyer could only parry it, but managed to catch it on the second chance.
Cirencester took the lead in the 31st minute when most of the play was on the left side of the pitch. Davies had the ball in the middle 25 yards out, he suddenly switched play seeing Sam Collier on the right and fed the perfect ball, which Collier took on the run, smashing the ball into the far corner past a sprawling Sawyers.
Half Time Ciren could have been 4-1 up! But settled for a score line of 1 nil.
Ciren were quick out of the blocks in the 2nd half after a ball down the left which Collier ran onto, with Davies and Smith screaming for it on the right. Unfortunately Collier over- ran it with a Mangos defender clearing.
Minutes later Bennett surged forward down the left and made his way into the box, but his shot was deflected for a corner. From the corner Leigh Henry at the back post got a good header on which was just over the bar.
Smith was on the prowl again making one of his trademark runs. He skinned Ryan Bennett twice on the right and then sent in a tantalizing cross, which Sawyer caught then dropped and re-grabbed as the Ciren boys were on the prowl.
The Mangos had started to pick up their game and had 3 or 4 decent chances to level the game. No more so than in the 60th min. One can only say that Glyn Garner must be a church go-er, as he had two ferocious shots that were both on target, hit him in the chest, and bounce clear.
After this, the Mangos had more of the play, more chances and should have been level if not winning the game.
Within minutes Collier had another chance to increase his tally after hammering a shot that Sawyer knew little of, except he got in the way of it.
From Ciren looking under pressure and many in the crowd thinking it was only a matter of time before Mangos equalized, Lee Smith had other ideas and made a strong run into the Mangos box, he unleashed a viscous shot that came off the inside of Matt Sysum’s leg and through the legs of Sawyer giving Ciren a 2 nil lead. Some may say it was an own goal but there was little Sysum could do! So definitely a Smith goal.
Ciren made a substitution in the 83rd minute with Jody Bevan replacing the industrious Sam Collier.
In the dying seconds of the game i.e. the 93rd minute Mangos had a free kick from the left the ball was played into the box, the ball dropped to Jamie Reid who thumped the ball into the net through a crowded goalmouth.
The final score came with a 2-1 win for Ciren.
This was another good all-round team performance; picking the Four Pillars Man of the Match Award was again difficult, but the supporters' vote went to our "Mr. Consistency" this year, Ellis Dunton.
More good news is that Ben Wells has come through his operation and we all now wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him back on the pitch in 2014.
Next match is a BIGGY! FA Cup next Saturday at Banbury United. We shall need all the support we can get, so tell your friends and let's cheer the lads onto another big win.
Attendance: 122
Referee;Simon Wales
Cirencester Town:
1. Glyn Garner
2. James Mortimer-Jones
3. Aidan Bennett
4. Tim Bond
5. Ellis Dunton
6. Leigh Henry (C)
7. Matt Liddiard
8. Brad Hooper
9. Sam Collier
10. Steve Davies
11. Lee Smith
12. Josy Bevan (on for Sam Collier - 83 mins)
14. Dean Bromley
15. Dan Hill
Mangotsfield United:
1. Kevin Sawyer
2. Neil Arndale (C)
3. Shaun Lamb
4. Matt Sysum
5. Ryan Bennett
6. Jamie Reid
7. Kyle Tooze
8. Ashley Willaims
9. Lewis Powell
10. Ben Hunt
11. Josh Egan
12. Charlie Hitchings
14. Liam Monelle
15. David Stone
16. Ryan Bath