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
This was a top of the table clash at the Corinium Stadium with Cirencester Town in 3rd place taking on Merthyr Town one place behind.
After heavy rain the previous day the game was under threat however after an early pitch inspection we had the green light for the game to go ahead albeit on a wet difficult surface,
Ciren played the first half attacking the Shed End. Merthyr showed their intent as early as the 2nd minute winning a free kick from outside the box. 10 minutes later Ciren had their first free kick after a foul on Ciren’s top goal scorer Lee Smith.
In the 24th min Ciren did well to survive after Glyn Garner made a terrific save and he was relieved after more Merthyr pressure to see the ball cleared off the line.
Merthyr took a well deserved lead in the 40th minute when a ball through the middle was missed by Jon Beedon which Ian Traylor pounced on and then drilled a powerful shot past Garner.
With Merthyr having the better of it and certainly deserving their lead it seemed a moment of madness when Dan Summerfield, who had been booked earlier for a foul on Smith, should haul him down in the 43rd minute earning him a second yellow followed by a red. The first half finished with Merthyr 1 up and down to ten men.
Cirencester made the perfect start to the second half with captain Shayne Anson on a run from the right smashing a right footed shot past Giles Cutlan for his first goal in a Ciren shirt.
Minutes later Aaron Cornwall was shown a straight red after what appeared to be a very high foot directed at the head of James Mortimer-Jones.
Ciren went 2-1 up in the 52nd minute from a powerhouse run down the right from Aidan Bennett who unleashed a shot, which Cutlan managed to hold and then drop with the ball rolling over the line.
Ciren were now piling on the pressure with a Smith shot hitting the post and a Bennett pile driver skimming the top of the bar.
Ciren made two changes bringing on Shane Bumphrey and Jacob Davidge for Steve Davies and Aidan Bennett.
Jamie Edge sent a great ball down the right for Lee Smith who with pace accelerated into the box firing past Cutlan to make it 21 goals for the season.
With five minutes remaining Ciren were looking good with a 3-1 lead until Smith made another run down the right. He spotted Shane Bumphrey in the middle and crossed the inch perfect ball in, which Bumphrey controlled, picked his spot in the far corner pulled the trigger giving Cutlan no chance and Ciren a healthy 4-1 lead.
Just when we thought it was all over there was one more twist with a last minute attack from Merthyr when in the top corner Kayne McLaggon said something to the linesman with the ref showing his third red card of the game.
The game finished with Cirencester taking all three points, taking us into second place with a game in hand on the leader and our eighth league win in succession.
Merthyr it has to be said never gave up and kept playing good football when down to 9 men and are sure to be in the mix come the end of season.
The Four Pillars Hotel Man of the Match Award was presented for the second home league match running Ciren to Leigh Henry.
Attendance: 150
Referee: Daniel Leach
Cirencester Town:
1. Glyn Garner
2. Shayne Anson (C)
3. Ellis Dunton
4. James Mortimer-Jones
5. Jon Beedon
6. Leigh Henry
7. Jamie Edge
8. Sean Wood
9. Aidan Bennett
10. Steve Davies
11. Lee Smith
12. Jody Bevan
14. Shane Bumphrey (on for Steve Davies - 72 mins)
15. Brad Hooper (on for Sean Wood - 87 mins)
16. Jacob Davidge (on for Aidan Bennett - 77 mins)
17. Dean Bromley
Merthyr Town:
1. Giles Cutlan
2. Dan Summerfield
3. Paul Keddle
4. Andrew Thomas
5. Gary Colbourne (C)
6. Aaron Cornwall
7. Ryan Newman
8. Kris Leek
9. Ryan Prosser
10. Kayne McLaggon
11. Ian Traylor
12. Kerry Morgan
14. Marcus Griffiths
15. Zaki Misbah
16. Steve Williams
17. Jack Howe