The Calor League – Division One South & West

Godalming Town 1 – 2 Cirencester Town 

Match Report by Dave Pyzer

Cirencester made the torturous journey through the homeward bound evening traffic to visit Godalming Town for this midweek league fixture.

Glyn Garner (holiday) and Chris Holland (work) were unavailable and as a result Adam Clatworthy (from the Development Squad) and Jon Beeden took their places. Shane Bumphrey started in the central striker role following his goal-scoring performance on Saturday with Jody Bevan taking a place on the bench.

Godalming kicked off and immediately launched the ball into the corner behind right back Shayne Anson. 

As appears to be customary these days Cirencester conceded yet another early goal, in the 4th minute, when a cross from the right wing was parried by ‘keeper Adam Clatworthy into the path of the lurking Dan Seabrook on the edge of the 6 yard box and he promptly tapped it into the empty net before any of the visiting defence could react.  1–0

This didn’t seem to phase Cirencester – probably because they are used to it by now – and they set about their game enjoying plenty of quality possession with quick movement and interchange, switching wings and point of attack as they probed the home defence. Godalming were very well organised and once they had the ball they broke with pace down the flanks causing concern to the visitors.

Despite the quality of play neither side appeared to be able to break through their opponents defence.

Sean Wood shot over the bar from the edge of the penalty area following a several pass move that produced a cross from the right wing from Shayne Anson and Lee Smith shot into the arms of home ‘keeper Zaki Oualah after a driving run down the left flank.

Not to be outdone Godalming’s left back, Nick Hutchings, struck a superb cross-field pass from his flank to Dan Read on the right flank and the resulting first time volley flew across the Centurions 6 yard box.  This could have produced a goal but no-one got a touch and the ball went out for a throw-in back on the home team’s left flank.

Just before the half hour mark Sean Wood matched the pass of Hutchings when he spotted Lee Smith unmarked wide on the left and with his left foot he struck a sublime 35 yard ball from inside his own half, right of centre. Smith immediately attacked the home defence at pace and his shot from the left edge of the penalty area was pushed wide for a left wing corner by Oualah.  The corner kick was cleared.

A few minutes later Godalming’s centre back, Chris Musgrove, was allowed to venture down the field into the Cirencester half and 20 yards later he struck a shot wide of the right post when he was eventually challenged.

Five minutes before the half time interval Cirencester had a narrow escape when another long ball from inside their own half, on the left, landed behind the Centurions rearguard - they had pushed forward in support of an attacking opportunity. Mark Watkins made ground and fired in a fierce shot that Clatworthy could only parry and a combination of Anson and Clatworthy managed to block and clear the follow-up attempt on goal.     

Half Time:   1 - 0

Within two minutes of the re-start Cirencester had a chance to open their account when Shayne Anson reached the bye-line on the right flank and crossed the ball into the box where James Mortimer-Jones was supporting, goal-side of the penalty spot, but his volley was gratefully caught by Oualah.

Ten minutes in and Godalming were awarded a free kick some 30 yards out - down the centre. Sam De St Croix struck a fierce shot towards the top right corner that brought out an excellent diving save from Clatworthy who finger-tipped the ball wide of his left post.

Cirencester responded with a right footed overhead kick from Shane Bumphrey that went wide of the left post following good work from Anson and Jamie Edge – the latter supplying the cross.

Bumphrey was in action a few minutes later when he latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the home penalty area but his snatched left foot shot cleared the bar.

The Cirencester pressure was mounting and the busy Jamie Edge was the next to have a pot at goal but his shot, from the right of centre edge of the penalty area, also went wide of the left post.

Cirencester finally got a foothold in the game when they were awarded a penalty in the 75th minute. Lee Smith cut in from the left and was working his way along the edge of the penalty area looking for an opportunity to shoot. When he finally did shoot his shot was blocked and the referee, who was well placed, awarded a penalty for handball. The defender claimed his hands were by his side - to no avail.

Top scorer Lee Smith placed the penalty kick inside the right post as Oualah dived in the opposite direction.  1-1

Four minutes later Cirencester took the lead when a ball from deep inside their half on the right flank was heading in the direction of the home goal. Jody Bevan, who had earlier replaced Bumphrey, was steaming in and became the focus of the defence's attention enabling Lee Smith to sneak in on the blindside and prod the ball inside the right post from the edge of the 6 yard box.  1-2

With three minutes of normal time remaining Godalming were awarded a free kick from a similar position to the one mentioned earlier and once again De St Croix fired it in.  This time it didn’t get as far, as the defensive wall did it’s job and deflected it for a right wing corner that was cleared.

The referee found five minutes of added time from somewhere (there had been no physio action) and the game became a little tetchy but Cirencester held on for the 3 points.

Final Score: 1 - 2

Cirencester played quite well in the first half without really troubling Oualah or penetrating the home defence whilst their hosts looked dangerous on the counter.

After the break Cirencester looked more purposeful and certainly had to show character to get the win as Godalming are a very useful side.

Attendance: 102                                

Referee:      S Scott

1.   Zaki Oualah
2.   Jack Broome  (C)
3.   Nick Hutchings
4.   Victor Kiri      
5.   Chris Musgrove
6.   Gavin Miller    
7.   Dan Seabrook          
8.   Sam De St Croix
9.   Graeme Purdy
10.  Dan Read
11.  Mark Watkins
12.  Jack Mazzone (Graeme Purdy-70mins)     
14.  Tarome Hemmings      (Dan Seabrook-63mins)         
15.  Jack MacFarlane                
16.  Adam Everiss