Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division

Slough Town 1 – 2 Cirencester Town

Match Report by Dave Pyzer

The Centurions travelled to Beaconsfield to play ground-sharing Slough Town in a mid-week league fixture on a very cold, windy evening.

Slough were in 6th place in the ‘6 Match Form Guide’ having achieved 12 points from the 18 available whilst Cirencester have obtained 13 points and sit 3rd in the table so a tough match was anticipated.

Recent recruit Ian Herring made his first start, in midfield, with Matt Liddiard moving to right back in place of Kyle Pitts - who took a seat on the bench alongside Josh Parsons (who took a knock to his ankle in the match against Biggleswade), Ben Prictor, Jacob Davidge and Leigh Henry.

Slough kicked off and almost immediately opened the scoring as a low ‘cross-cum-shot’ from the left flank by ED SMITH travelled untouched across the 6 yard box and nestled inside the far post.  1 – 0. 

This was not the start the visitors wanted and the next few minutes were a little frantic as they attempted to wrestle the initiative from their hosts to get a foothold in the game.

Eight minutes into the match James Mortimer-Jones won the ball on half way and rode an incoming challenge before releasing Brad Hooper down the right channel. This led to a period of possession and a right wing corner kick and Ellis Dunton header, from just outside the right front edge of the 6 yard box, that Jake Somerville in the home goal saved.

Four minutes later Slough mounted an attack down their left flank but James Dobson’s centre was comfortably caught by Glyn Garner at the near post.

The Cirencester response was a move down their left flank as Mortimer-Jones fed Hooper who moved it on to Ed Williams on the touchline. Williams tempted his opponent before laying the ball back to a supporting Dunton who had cut inside him to the edge of the penalty area. Dunton moved the ball to his right and fired a shot towards the far right post that was deflected for a right wing corner. Williams took the kick and the ball reached Dunton on the left side of the penalty area, level with the penalty spot, and as he attempted to ‘dink’ it over an incoming challenge his opponent was adjudged to have handled it for a PENALTY to be awarded. Nat Jarvis sent the spot kick towards the left post where Somerville pulled off a good save but the ball was quickly recovered near the half way line and fed to NAT JARVIS on the left side of the penalty area. Jarvis turned sharply and drove a left footed shot inside the far post to level the scores.  1 – 1.

Slough fullback Sean Fraser made a positive run down the right flank and drove his cross towards the penalty spot where Matt Liddard headed it out. Leigh Rumbold  was hovering just outside the area and headed the ball back in for Garner to catch.

Just before the half hour mark Garner launched a ball to Bennett on the half way line, right of centre, and his onward header was collected by Jarvis who sped down the right channel into the penalty area but his shot was deflected for a right wing corner.

GETHIN JONES met the kick just outside the 6 yard box, right of centre, and powerfully headed into the back of the net.  1 – 2. 

Six minutes later Williams received a ball on the left and played it inside to Hooper who squared it across the front edge of the box to Jarvis on the right side of the area - Jarvis fired a shot past an advancing Somerville with the outside of his left foot but Reece Yorke was covering and cleared the attempt from within the 6 yard box.

The ball was once again recovered and re-cycled to the left flank where Dunton zipped a fierce cross-cum-shot along the edge of the 6 yard box.

With four minutes of normal time remaining Jarvis collected a ball on halfway, right of centre, turned, beat his marker and sped towards the penalty area. As he reached the box his route was blocked and he was forced across the front edge and when he reached the centre line he turned back and laid the ball off to Hooper, in the right channel, who shot over the bar.

A couple of minutes later Somerville took a free kick just inside his half, right flank, and launched the ball towards the far post where Scott Harris nearly latched on to it.

Half Time:   1 - 2

Cirencester began the second half strongly and seven minutes into the half Bennett flicked a ball on to a marauding Hooper who charged down the right and sent in a dangerous cross towards the penalty spot – the cross was blocked to Jarvis and his resultant shot went wide of the right post.

The busy Hooper was in the action again two minutes later when he won the ball on the right and drove forward - targeting the right post. When he was five yards outside the area he struck a fierce right footed shot that just cleared the top right corner of the goal.

Cirencester were dominating play and a quarter of an hour into the half Ian Herring – who was enjoying his midfield battles, winning plenty of possession for his new team – received a ball in the centre and sprayed a superb ball to Bennett on the right wing. Bennett made ground and sent a terrific cross into the penalty area that the home side did well to clear.

The pressure was soon back on as the home side could not retain possession for long and it was the turn of Williams who crossed from the left for Bennett to head over the bar from near the penalty spot.

Bennett then laid a ball back to Herring on the right – Herring clipped a clever ball into the right channel of the area with his left foot that Hooper collected on the run. Hooper turned back towards half way and laid the ball into the path of Bennett who fired a left footed shot over the bar.

Hooper was popping up everywhere and he collected a ball in the left channel of the area and laid it into the path of Williams who shot on the run from the edge of the area, left of centre, but straight into the arms of Somerville.

Cirencester mounted another attack down the left as Dunton took a throw-in to Mortimer-Jones, on to Williams – cross blocked but back to Dunton who crossed to Bennett who had his effort saved.

This pattern of attacks down both flanks continued for the remainder of the game but Cirencester were unable to convert the opportunities created. 

Final Score: 1 - 2

After the shock of going behind so early in the game the Centurions reacted well and showed their belief and total commitment to the cause.

They looked far more dangerous on the break after going behind in the first half and ended the half strongly.

The second half was a very one-sided affair as they dominated proceedings throughout – Glyn Garner was virtually a spectator.    

Brad Hooper covered every blade of grass going forward, popping up all over the pitch in support of his team-mates. His midfield cohorts enjoyed good games – James Mortimer-Jones tidying up as usual and Ian Herring a busy debut.

The defence was solid enabling Ellis Dunton to make many incursions into the home half and penalty area. 

Superb performance.

Attendance: 239                               

Referee:      John Hollier

SLOUGH TOWN:

1.   Jake Somerville
2.   Sean Fraser
3.   Ryan Parsons    (C)
4.   Guy Hollis
5.   Reece Yorke 
6.   Adrian Sear
7.   Luke Knight
8.   Leigh Rumbold
9.   Scott Harris
10.  Ed Smith
11.  James Dobson

12.  Billy Jeffreys   (Reece Yorke-83mins)
14.  Ben Edwards
15.  Jake Parsons   (Luke Knight-64mins)       
16.  Johnnie Dyer   (Scott Harris-54mins)

CIRENCESTER TOWN:

1.   Glyn Garner
2.   Ian Herring
3.   Ellis Dunton     
4.   Mark Pritchett          (C)
5.   Matt Liddiard
6.   Gethin Jones
7.   Brad Hooper            
8.   James Mortimer-Jones
9.   Nat Jarvis               
10.  Aidan Bennett
11.  Ed Williams

12.  Josh Parsons   (Nat Jarvis - 75mins)
14.  Ben Prictor
15.  Kyle Pitts
16.  Leigh Henry             
17.  Jacob Davidge