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 Dave Pyzer
Cirencester made the short journey to Slimbridge for their latest pre-season friendly to play a team that has just been promoted to the Southern League Division 1 South & West after finishing 3rd in the Western League Premier Division last season.
The match was played in warm, dry weather on a brown pitch that was rock hard resulting in high uneven bounce that caused the players considerable problems. The strong diagonal wind also exacerbated the problems resulting in a match that was certainly not for the purists.
The home side kicked off with the wind nominally behind them and immediately attacked their visitors and within two minutes Sean Lawson chased after an under-hit back pass near the left front edge of the penalty area but fortunately Connor Thompson was alert and rushed towards the ball causing the forward to produce a heavy touch to round him resulting in a goal kick.
The home side were up for the challenge and during the next ten minutes put their visitors under pressure with Paul Fahy and Adam Mace having pots at goal as Cirencester struggled to cope with the wind.
The first sign of any football from Cirencester came when Josh Parsons collected a ball on the left flank and slipped it to Jordan Ricketts who exchanged passes with Brad Hooper. The latter fired a left footed cross from the left corner that skimmed the head of Charlie Griffin at the back post before reaching Ross Langworthy on the right side of the area – a high bounce resulted in his effort clearing the cross-bar.
Shortly afterwards Slimbridge were awarded a free kick, 25 yard out – left channel, that Mace struck towards the left post where ‘keeper Thompson dived full length to push out for a team-mate to clear.
The game then entered a ‘messy’ period as neither side could get any control of the ball but six minutes before the half time interval Cirencester mounted a good move down their left flank involving Ricketts, Ellis Dunton and Hooper that took them into the left corner where Parsons won a corner kick. Jordan Ricketts took the kick and when the home ‘keeper, Adam Thomas, punched the ball out it fell to Gethin Jones on the edge of the box but he shot over the bar.
Half Time: 0 - 0
Within a minute of the re-start Cirencester were awarded a free kick, near the right touchline – 10 yards inside their half, which Jones drove downfield towards the front edge of the penalty area. Charlie Griffin jumped but it cleared him and fell to Parsons, just behind him, who controlled it, turned, and slipped it in behind his marker as Griffin peeled round to collect in the right channel of the area. Griffin shot but it was parried by the home ‘keeper for a corner kick.
Five minutes into the half there was a mass change of personnel as six players were changed – 4 home and 2 away.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 56th minute when Thompson caught a cross from his right and threw the ball to Aidan Bennett on the left flank, just outside the penalty area, and he charged down the flank before moving the ball inside to a supporting Hooper and forward to Parsons who slipped it in behind a defender for ROSS LANGWORTHY to collect and shoot first time, from 20 yards - right channel, over Thomas and into the back of the net. 0 – 1.
Shortly afterward Brad Hooper nearly scored a sensational goal as following a throw-in on the Cirencester right flank the ball was launched high into the air by a defender and with great skill Hooper pulled it down and immediately shot towards the top left corner only to see his superb effort tipped over the bar by Thomas.
Just before the half hour point of the half Hooper was in action again, this time at right back, where he cleared a ball downfield to Parsons in the centre circle. Parsons rode a couple of challenges before releasing the ball to Dunton on his left. Dunton waited for Bennett to make a run before slipping the ball inside the fullback for him to collect and dart to the bye-line before crossing – blocked for a left wing corner kick that resulted in a corner kick on the right. Bennett drove the kick to the near post for Dunton to head but his effort was caught by Thomas under his bar.
The final goalmouth action came with four minutes remaining as a Bennett corner kick on the right found Mark Pritchett’s head and this time ‘keeper Thomas pushed the attempt over the bar for another corner kick.
Final Score: 0 - 1
This was certainly not a ‘classic’ as both teams struggled with the conditions but there was endeavour and as a workout it would be useful in preparing for the new season.
Slimbridge looked lively in the opening period but Cirencester stuck to their task and eventually produced a couple of moves worthy of mention.
SLIMBRIDGE AFC:
1. Adam Thomas
2. Sam Turl
3. Ryan Thwaite
4. Nathan Freeman
5. Ben Tunnicliff
6. Edward Ward
7. Dean Turner
8. Sam Blackie
9. Sean Lawson
10. Paul Fahy
11. Adam Mace
12. Jamie Martin
14. Alex Parrott
15. Jamie Hammond
16. Calum Brown
17. Jack Twyman
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Connor Thompson
2. Gethin Jones
3. Ellis Dunton
4. Mark Pritchett (C)
5. Brad Hooper
6. Ben Brown
7. Ross Langworthy 56mins
8. James Mortimer-Jones
9. Charlie Griffin
10. Josh Parsons
11. Jordan Ricketts
12. Aidan Bennett (Jordan Ricketts-50mins)
14. Callum Henry (Gethin Jones-50mins)