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
As a result of three successive defeats and a mounting injury list (Ian Herring, Ellis Dunton, Gethin Jones, Josh Parsons, Ben Brown) Manager Brian Hughes had been busy in mid-week recruiting players to bolster his side and his efforts saw the return of former Captain Shayne Anson from Paulton Rovers, together with the signings of Adam Connolly (Gloucester City) and Jamal Lawrence (Cheltenham Town).
Shayne is well known to the supporters of The Centurions whilst Adam is an experienced midfield campaigner who has played at Football League level for Cheltenham Town and played alongside Gethin Jones, Glyn Garner and Charlie Griffin at Bath City before joining Gloucester City. Jamal is an up-and-coming 18 year old striker who has recently been on loan at Oxford City.
Prior to the match St. Neots sat 6th in the ‘6-match Form Guide’ and 11th in the league table to Cirencester’s 11th and 7th respectively. In the fixture last season The Centurions had arrived late due to road works and had been soundly beaten 4-0 so a tough match was anticipated for the team and new recruits.
Shayne Ansom came into the starting eleven at right back and Adam Connolly replaced Brad Hooper in midfield whilst Jamal Lawrence took a seat on the bench alongside him.
An effort from the home side’s Ryan Hawkins brought the first save of the match from Glyn Garner, at his near post, as his side started well but an under-hit back pass on 12 minutes nearly proved costly as it enabled Charlie Griffin to close on goal but he struck his shot wide of the target.
The Saints enjoyed a period of early possession during which Nathan Frater attempted an ambitious long distance volley that sailed high over the bar and Tom Meechan and Hawkins failed to capitalise on other opportunities that were created but Cirencester were dangerous on the break and home ‘keeper Andy Wilton did well to parry a fierce shot from Ross Langworthy after the latter had latched on to an awkwardly bouncing ball.
With half time approaching the home side opened the scoring as Isaac Galliford got past his marker and pulled the ball back to Meechan who saw his shot on the turn blocked by Garner but it rebounded to RYAN HAWKINS who tucked it into the net. 1-0.
With a couple of minutes left in the half Cirencester were presented with a chance to level the score as ‘keeper Wilton collided with a Cirencester forward leaving an open goal but Jamie Anton managed to scramble back to clear the ball off the line.
Half Time: 1 – 0.
Within four minutes of the re-start Cirencester did level the score-line as Aidan Bennett began a quick counter-attack following a home corner kick and moved the ball on to Griffin. The very aware Griffin spotted the speedy ZACK KOTWICA on a charge and played a perfectly weighted ball over the home back-line for Kotwica to collect and lob the advancing Wilton. 1-1.
St. Neots nearly regained their lead shortly afterwards as Shane Blackett struck a shot against a post from close range following a corner kick but Cirencester were encouraged by their opener and the experienced Griffin broke clear to shoot narrowly wide of the post.
As the game was about to enter the final quarter hour Cirencester took the lead when substitute Jamal Lawrence received the ball on the right and won a free kick. The initial kick was cleared but it was quickly fed back in to CHARLIE GRIFFIN who scored from close range. 1-2.
The home side then made a change, bringing on the speedy Luis Vieira on the right, and were awarded a free kick just outside the box that Frater sent over the bar.
In the final minutes St. Neots pushed forward to get the goal back and Cirencester had to withstand some pressure but managed to stand firm and bring back the three points.
Final Score: 1 - 2.
Given the circumstances leading up to the game a terrific result.
Attendance: 306
Referee: Sean Feerick
St. Neots Town:
1. Andy Wilton
2. Jamie Anton
3. Jack Wilkinson
4. Connor Hall
5. Tom Ward (C)
6. Shane Blackett
7. Nathan Frater
8. Brett Longden
9. Tom Meechan
10. Ryan Hawkins 40
11. Isaac Galliford
12. Adam Tann
14. Josh Beech (Luis Vieira-90mins)
15. Luis Vieira (Ryan Hawkins-76mins)
16. Ryan Horne
17. Lee Clarke (Jack Wilkinson-83mins)
Cirencester Town:
1. Glyn Garner
2. Shayne Anson
3. Aidan Bennett
4. Mark Pritchett
5. Adam Connolly
6. Leigh Henry (C)
7. Zack Kotwica 49
8. James Mortimer-Jones
9. Charlie Griffin 73
10. Ollie Knight
11. Ross Langworthy
12. Brad Hooper (Zack Kotwica-84mins)
14. Jamal Lawrence (Ollie Knight-63mins)
15. Sam Farr
16. Max Lloyd
17. Jody Bevan