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
Bristol Rovers, who won promotion to Division 1 of the Football League at the end of last season, made the trip to The Corinium Stadium for their annual Pre-Season Friendly with ‘The Centurions’.
‘The Pirates’ squad was primarily their current U18’s together with a few players who are further down their development path (some of whom have represented the Club in Cup competitions).
The Cirencester side had a different look about it with regular striker Charlie Griffin playing at centre back alongside midfielder Matt Liddiard. Scott Bevan and Lee Smith returned following illness and injury respectively.
The visitors kicked off proceedings playing towards the Arena end of the ground and in the first minute had won a free kick on the left side edge of the home penalty area. Unlike the previous match against Cheltenham the home side managed to repel the threat.
A few minutes later Chris Taylor spotted Aidan Bennett on a charge down the right flank and with his customary precision found his man as he entered the Rovers penalty area. The resulting cross was cut-out by ‘keeper Charlie Phillips.
The visitors replied with a strong run on the left flank from Dan Lammiman but Matt Liddiard had read the threat and moved across to produce a superb tackle that won the ball cleanly before sending it down the line to initiate a counter attack.
A couple of minutes later Ollie Knight popped up on the right flank and carried the ball to the bye-line before crossing to the back post where Lee Smith was darting forward to support. As the striker leapt he was challenged and his header cleared the cross-bar.
During the next ten minutes Cirencester played some very neat passing football as they moved the ball across the back line, through mid-field and forward but with no end result other than a shot from Lee Smith that was comfortably saved by Phillips.
Connor Jones picked out Lammiman on the burst with a superb cross-field pass, from the right channel to the left flank, but the winger sliced his shot wide of the left post as he entered the home penalty area.
Chris Taylor then launched a 40 yard pass down the left channel that landed behind the Rovers back line forcing Danny Greenslade to turn with Ross Langworthy rapidly closing to put him under pressure - resulting in a throw-in to Cirencester in the left corner.
Just after the mid-point of the half Charlie Griffin sent the ball into the visitor’s penalty area and the clearance header was collected by Langworthy, 25 yards out - left of centre, but his right footed shot cleared the bar.
As the half entered the last ten minutes Scott Bevan sent a long cross-field pass from left to right for Aidan Bennett to control, cut left and cross into the box where Phillips made the catch.
As the half was drawing to a close both sides saw headed chances go wide of the target but in the final minute Lammiman made a driving run from the left channel to the right and as he reached the front edge of the penalty area he struck a right footed shot that rebounded off the cross-bar.
Half Time: 0 - 0
Cirencester began the second half confidently and pushed forward from the kick off as almost immediately Bennett fed Langworthy who crossed from the right touchline but it was too high for Smith who had made a run to the penalty spot in anticipation.
Within minutes Smith was in the action again as he received a pass in the left channel of the visitors penalty area, after a sharp exchange of passes between Taylor and James Mortimer-Jones that created space for the latter to slip the ball through. Smith crossed into the goal-mouth and saw his effort ‘flipped’ wide by Phillips.
During the next few minutes Cirencester had other opportunities but on the hour mark of the match Matt Liddiard sent a 40 yard pass from the left to Bennett on the right flank, half way. Bennett played a ‘cushioned volley’ back to Jon Else who carried it forward before returning it to Bennett who was now in the right corner. Bennett crossed to the back post to Ollie Knight who slipped it forward to Langworthy who had his back to goal. Langworthy held off the incoming challenge and laid the ball into the path of Knight who struck a fierce left footed shot at the target but Phillips pushed it over the bar.
Shortly afterwards Mortimer-Jones released Langworthy down the left channel with a clever volley that put the ball behind ‘Rovers’ back line but Langworthy’s touch was heavy enabling an advancing Phillips to close him down and bring an end to his progress.
Twenty minutes into the half Cirencester opened the scoring when a move similar to one in the first half brought positive results in the second. Scott Bevan played a long ball from his own half, left flank, to AIDAN BENNETT, right of the penalty spot and Bennett sent a lopping header over Phillips and under the bar. 1-0.
During the next ten minutes Kalum Youngsam, who had replaced Lee Smith, had a couple of opportunities as Bennett released him down the right channel – but his shot was wide of the left post - and then his pace enabled him to latch on to a through ball from Else – but his attempted lob from the front edge of the area was caught by Phillips.
Bristol Rovers nearly levelled the scoring when Tyron Tucker Dickson produced a strong run down the left channel that took him into the home penalty area. As he was forced wider he managed to get his shot away and it struck Griffin’s chest (inside the 6 yard box) and rebounded against Harvey Rivers near the left post (Rovers viewpoint) and back to Griffin who cleared the danger.
As the game entered the last ten minutes Taylor played a superb ball through the Rovers back line for Elliott Green to collect near the left side edge of the penalty area. Green’s attempted cross was deflected into the arms of Phillips.
Bristol responded with a run from Lewis Ellington on the right and a cross to Tucker Dickson near the penalty spot who headed the ball back to Lammiman and he volleyed it wide of the target.
With four minutes remaining the Bristol side were given an opportunity to equalise when Ellington and Angus Brereton challenged for the ball on the right side of the home penalty area (Rovers viewpoint). Both players fell to the ground and after some delay the referee eventually awarded a penalty kick to Bristol Rovers. JAMIE LUCAS stepped up and promptly drove the ball into the net to level the score. 1-1.
Just before the end of the match Lucas had a pot at goal from 25 yards but it was wide of the right post.
Final Score: 1 - 1
An encouraging performance from the home side as they approach the new season.
Scott Bevan settled in well in only his second game for Cirencester and provided an indication of what he brings down the left flank.
Chris Taylor and James Mortimer-Jones have struck an instant understanding in the middle of the park and linked very well.
Matt Liddiard was magnificent at the heart of the defence – reading everything, calm, quick and strong when required and using his midfield passing ability to launch counter attacks.
The teamwork and effort was there for all to see and looks very promising.
Referee: Rob Cockle
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Harley Rivers
2. Jon Else
3. Scott Bevan
4. Chris Taylor
5. Matt Liddiard (C)
6. Charlie Griffin
7. Aidan Bennett 65
8. James Mortimer-Jones
9. Ross Langworthy
10. Lee Smith
11. Ollie Knight
12. Elliott Green (Ollie Knight-79mins)
14. Kalum Youngsam (Lee Smith-64mins)
15. Angus Brereton (Scott Bevan-79mins)
16. Sam Farr (James M-Jones-79mins)
17. Lee Worgan (Jon Else-79mins)
BRISTOL ROVERS:
1. Charlie Phillips
2. Sam Blake
3. Sam Iles
4. Alfie Kilgour
5. Danny Greenslade (C)
6. Connor Jones
7. Lewis Ellington
8. Ryan Broom
9. Jamie Lucas 86p
10. Tyron Tucker Dickson
11. Dan Lammiman
12. Liam Armstrong
14. Sam Hedges (Ryan Broom-46mins)
15. Toby Rennie (Alfie Kilgour-46mins)
16. Lewis Gilschrist (Danny Greenslade-46mins)