Southern League – Premier Division

2015-16

Cirencester Town   3 – 0   Chesham United   

Match Report by Dave Pyzer  

Cirencester returned to league action following their recent cup exploits against Dorchester Town and Bristol Rovers in the last three matches.

The Centurions opponents, Chesham United, are in 13^th position in the Premier Division League Table but on current form – based on the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ - they would be 6^th whilst Cirencester would be 10^th.  In their last league match they defeated Merthyr Town 2-1.

The Cirencester starting eleven had one change from the team that took to the field against Dorchester Town in mid-week as Ian Herring was injured in the closing minutes and had not recovered. As a result Zack Kotwica, who had an excellent game when he came on, took the number 7 shirt. Josh Parsons also started with Aidan Bennett dropping to the bench.

Chesham kicked off playing towards the Arena end of the ground in good conditions for football and immediately attacked down their left flank. The move resulted in a left wing corner kick that was cleared by the home defence.

Six minutes into the match Chesham lost the services of the vastly experienced and much travelled Barry Hayles, their new Player/Coach, after he took a knock and was unable to continue.

The visitors started strongly but Cirencester were working their way into the game and with 13 minutes on the clock Glyn Garner launched a half volley downfield to Zack Kotwica on the right flank who sent a low cross into the penalty area for Ross Langworthy to collect, left of the penalty spot, but his touch was heavy enabling Shane Gore in the visitors goal to gather.

A minute later Brad Hooper released Kotwica down the right flank and he carried the ball to the corner and won a corner kick that he sent to the back post where Ben Brown rose to powerfully head goal-wards but Gore managed to parry the effort back to Brown. His second header didn’t have the power of the first and once again Gore blocked it. Mark Pritchett, who had come forward for the corner kick, had a stab at the loose ball but again not enough contact and Gore was able to drop on the ball.

Chesham then enjoyed a period of pressure that resulted in a corner kick on the right. The kick was quickly played back to Ashley Smith, on the burst from right back, and he sent a deep cross to the back post where Matt Taylor headed wide of the left post.  

A little later ‘The Generals’ produced a sequence of passes down the left before switching play to the right where Ryan Blake attempted a cross from the corner but it was cut out and cleared.

As the half hour mark was approaching Josh Parsons received the ball and carried it to the left corner before crossing into the penalty area. When Curtis Utah intercepted the ball it flew off his outstretched leg high into the air – dropping inside his 6 yard box forcing Gore to punch it clear under pressure. The ball dropped to Kotwica who instantly struck a right footed volley over the bar from the right channel of the penalty area.

A minute later Parsons, on the left side edge of the area, received a pass from Langworthy and cut back to his right before firing over the bar.

With ten minutes of the half remaining Gethin Jones played the ball down the right for Charlie Griffin to head on to Parsons as he darted down the right side of the penalty area. Parsons looked up and played a low ball to the far side of the area for an incoming James Mortimer-Jones to strike towards the right post. His effort was blocked and rebounded to a supporting Langworthy who headed over the bar.

Half Time:       0 – 0

As in the cup-tie on Tuesday against Dorchester the home side started in positive fashion and were rewarded with a goal within two minutes as they won a corner kick on the left.  Kotwica drove the kick towards the penalty spot where LEIGH HENRY produced a well directed header into the top left corner of the goal.  1-0.

Four minutes later Hooper received a ball on half way, left flank, looked up and sent a terrific 50 yard pass to Kotwica in the right corner. The winger’s cross was headed behind at the near post for a corner kick that was defended.

Kotwica was in the action again shortly afterwards, following a throw-in on the left flank, when he latched onto a rebound and blazed a left footed effort over the bar from the left front edge of the area.

The visitors Toby Little then carried the ball down their left flank and crossed the ball towards the far post towards an incoming Blake but Garner had seen the threat and came out to catch the ball above Blake’s head.

It was not long before the action was at the Chesham end and Kotwica won a corner kick in the right corner when faced by two visiting opponents. Kotwica drove the kick into the 6 yard box and the attempted clearance fell to BEN BROWN, in the left channel of the penalty area, and without pausing he struck a fierce left footed half-volley into the roof of the net, left of centre. 2-0.

Cirencester were dominating proceedings but Chesham were still dangerous on the counter and just past the hour mark the industrious Sam Youngs struck a shot wide of the home left post from the left channel of the penalty area.

Cirencester increased their lead when Langworthy sent a superb pass from inside his half, left flank, to Kotwica in the right channel. Kotwica spotting that BRAD HOOPER was darting down the centre played the ball into the midfielder as he entered the box. Hooper displayed quick feet to evade a couple of challenges and calmly tucked the ball inside the left post from near the penalty spot. 3-0.

Aidan Bennett replaced Leigh Henry a few minutes later and was almost immediately in the action as he received a ball on the right, cut back, and crossed to the back post for Griffin to head back towards the edge of the 6 yard box. Langworthy closed on the ball but was unable to gather near the right post as his opponent conceded a corner kick to prevent him reaching it. Mark Pritchett headed the corner kick wide of the right post.

In the final ten minutes there were a couple of tetchy fouls that resulted in Yellow Cards for the visitors but the last action of the match on the stroke of full-time was an exchange of passes on the left between Kotwica, Ollie Knight and Griffin that created an opening for Kotwica who shot over the bar from the left front edge of the box.

Final Score:     3 - 0

After weathering the initial threat of Chesham, with some determined defending, Cirencester worked their way into the game before dominating the second half.

There were a number of good performances but the home supporters awarded the ‘Four Pillars Man-of-the-Match’ accolade to BRAD HOOPER for his tireless running in support of his team-mates and well taken goal.

Attendance:     137

Referee:          Neil Radford

Cirencester Town:

1.   Glyn Garner

2.   Gethin Jones

3.   Mark Pritchett

4.   Ben Brown                                    60

5.   Brad Hooper                                  70

6.   Leigh Henry     (C)                          47  

7.   Zack Kotwica                   

8.   James Mortimer-Jones

9.   Charlie Griffin                              

10.  Ross Langworthy 

11.  Josh Parsons                     

12.  Aidan Bennett                    (Leigh Henry-71mins)

14.  Ollie Knight                        (Ross Langworthy-76mins)       

15.  Sam Farr               

16.  Charlie Buse                       (Josh Parsons- 85mins)

17.  Josh Langley  (GK)

Chesham United:

1.   Shane Gore