Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division

Cirencester Town 3 - 1 Frome Town

Match Report  by Dave Pyzer

After five games on the road Cirencester finally returned to the Corinium Stadium to face Frome Town who are currently at the lower end of the league table but in recent weeks they have recruited Josh Klein-Davies (ex Paulton), Lewis Haldane (ex Yate) and Omar Simpson (ex Chippenham) to bolster their forces.

The Centurions starting eleven was unchanged from the team that played so well at Dunstable whilst Ben Wells and Ben Prictor joined Chris Knowles and Jacob Davidge on the bench.

Cirencester kicked off playing down the slope towards the Arena end of the ground and immediately put the visitors under pressure to such good effect that the first break from Frome was in the 12th minute when Lewis Haldane rounded Glyn Garner on the right side of the penalty area and shot towards the inside of the near post.  Fortunately for the home side Kyle Pitts had spotted the danger and covered his ‘keeper to clear off the goal-line.

This near miss encouraged the visitors and a couple of minutes later Matt Smith took a pot at goal from some 30 yards, left of centre, that flew wide of the right post.

Frome were beginning to pass the ball better, probing the home defence, and Pitts did well to cut out a through ball at full stretch - just outside the penalty area.

Cirencester opened the scoring in the 18th minute when a free kick was awarded for a foul on JOSH PARSONS just outside the visitor’s penalty area. Parsons picked himself up and placed his low drive inside the left post.  1 – 0.  

Parsons was in the action again five minutes later when he headed a right wing corner over the bar from the right of the penalty spot.

Around the half hour mark the game was much more even and Frome’s Dylan Bonella fired a free kick from 30 yards into the wall and shortly afterwards as Garner jumped to catch the ball from a left wing corner kick he was bundled and the ball dropped inside the 6 yard box to be hacked clear.

As half time approached a free kick on the right was sent to the far post where Ellis Dunton collected, turned and laid it back for Matt Liddiard to shoot, left of the penalty spot, the effort was blocked and rebounded to Brad Hooper outside the area. Hooper struck a right footed volley towards the left post where visiting ‘keeper Daren Chitty saved comfortably.

Not to be outdone the dangerous Haldane once again rounded Garner on the left side of the area but his shot did not have enough on it - enabling Gethin Jones to clear from inside the 6 yard box.

Half Time:   1 - 0

Within the first minute of the re-start Cirencester had the chance to increase their lead as Hooper and Ed Williams exchanged passes on the right flank before Williams embarked on one of his trademark mazy runs into the penalty area. Once there he was surrounded and had the presence of mind to lay the ball back to the supporting Parsons who fired it over the bar from the edge of the area, right of centre.  

Frome’s recent recruit Haldane then found himself in space on the left side of the home penalty area and cut back to shoot wide of the far post with his right foot.

Five minutes into the half LEWIS HALDANE finally got his reward as he latched onto a ball from Matt Smith, once again down the left channel of the penalty area, and withstood the incoming challenge to be free to drive towards goal. As he approached the 6 yard box he was one-on-one with Garner and as the ‘keeper advanced to cover his right post Haldane slipped the ball under him to level the score.  1 – 1.

A few minutes later Parsons fed Aidan Bennett on a run in the right side of the penalty area and he rounded a tackle before shooting towards the left post but his effort was cleared.

The tempo of the second half was much higher than the first with both sides striving to take the lead and Chitty did well to hold onto a deep cross from his right when under pressure from Bennett.

Midway through the half a free kick 35 yards out, left flank, was headed across the box by Dunton for Jones who headed it wide of the right post.

The deadlock was broken in the 73rd minute following a Dunton long throw-in from the right flank that reached Liddiard at the near post and he headed it on into the 6 yard box where GETHIN JONES headed home from 2 yards.  2 – 1.

The Cirencester ranks were reduced five minutes later when Bennett was shown his second Yellow Card for a tackle on the touchline but it did not deter Cirencester from pushing forward.

With a minute of normal time remaining Liddiard sent a through ball down the centre line of the pitch for Parsons to collect on the edge of the penalty area. Parsons turned and carried the ball into the area with a couple of defenders snapping at his heels. He managed to keep the ball under severe pressure and work his way towards the penalty spot where Chitty also joined in. Eventually the attention from the combination of defenders resulted in him going to ground for a penalty kick to be awarded.  JOSH PARSONS stepped up to take the kick himself and placed it low inside the right post with Chitty diving in the opposite direction.  3 – 1.  

Final Score: 3 - 1

Cirencester started quickly but Frome worked their way into the game with the prolific Lewis Haldane always dangerous.

The second half was played at a much quicker pace with both sides going for it but the all round strength of Cirencester teamwork eventually carried the day.

The lively Josh Parsons was a constant threat with his mobility and close control and would no doubt be pleased to have opened his account for the Centurions.

Attendance: 100                                

Referee:      Neil Davies