Cirencester Town FC
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Match Report by Dave Pyzer
Banbury United visited The Corinium Stadium for the second time this season but this time for a league match. The two sides have already met twice in cup competitions and Banbury have won both, albeit on a ‘penalty shoot-out’ in their last encounter at Banbury.
Prior to this match Banbury were in 6th place in the Premier Division table and current form places them 7th in the ‘6 match form guide’ table whilst Cirencester are in 18th and 12th places respectively.
Cirencester had obtained 7 points from the 9 available in their last three league matches so there was an air of anticipation amongst the home support.
The lead up to the game had seen the departure of Sindri Scheving (returned to Reading FC at the end of his loan period), Elijah Chilekwa (returned to Worcester City), Andy Elcock (released) and James Difford (serious injury sustained whilst training with his parent club Bristol City – Best Wishes James on a full and speedy recovery).
Jason Milhench (formerly of Fairford Town) and Sam Hunt (transferred from Cinderford Town) have joined the Club and appear in the squad for today’s game which has something of a different look about it as a result of the movements listed above.
Cirencester kicked-off playing towards the Shed End of the ground, into the cold breeze coming from the north, with a 3-5-2 formation. Sam Hunt came into the starting line-up for his debut in a ‘left wing back’ role and was involved in the action straight away as Adam Connolly slipped the ball to him near half way and he played it down the line for Aidan Bennett to collect in the corner. Bennett took it to the by-line before returning it to a supporting Hunt who crossed into the Banbury area but it was headed clear.
A couple of minutes later Alfie Kilgour drilled a superb pass from the right flank touchline to Hunt on the left flank, just inside the Banbury half, for the latter to advance to the left side edge of the penalty area before crossing – unfortunately it went behind the goal but Cirencester were certainly involving the newcomer.
The home side had started positively and another neat piece of play enabled them to advance down the left flank as Robbie James fed James Mortimer-Jones, back to James, forward to Ross Langworthy who carried the ball down the left channel towards the front edge of the visitor’s penalty area. As he approached and looked to be lining up a strike he was tripped, free kick from 20 yards. Langworthy took the kick himself but struck it into the visitor’s defensive wall.
Minutes later Matt Liddiard brought the ball to the left, avoiding three challenges en-route with some clever footwork, and slipped the ball to Hunt on the touchline and he in turn played it down the line where the move petered out.
With eleven minutes on the clock Banbury were awarded a free kick as they advanced down their left flank. Marvin Martin launched the kick to the back post where a defensive header resulted in a corner kick from the right for them. Zac McEachran sent the kick to the front edge of the 6 yard box where Harvey Rivers punched it out. The ball landed in the left channel of the home penalty area (from a Banbury perspective) and was headed back into the mix. DARIUS BROWNE darted forward to head home from 8 yards and gave his side an unexpected lead – based on play to this point. 0-1.
Two minutes later the home side went into self destruct mode as a misunderstanding between Ben Brown and Harvey Rivers resulted in the ‘keeper having to turn and chase an intended ‘back-pass’ towards his goal in a foot race with CONOR McDONAGH that the Banbury man won – tapping the ball over the line from a yard out. 0-2.
Encouraged by their two quick goals Banbury took the game to Cirencester and within minutes Conor McDonagh was put through again for a 1 v 1 with Rivers but this time the ‘keeper won their duel and saved as he advanced and spread himself to block near his penalty spot.
The striker was not to be denied however as McEachran played the ball across from the right channel to Eddie Odhiambo in the left channel and he slipped the ball into the path of CONOR McDONAGH as he rushed forward into the penalty area to finish from 8 yards. 0-3.
Despite being ‘shell-shocked’ after conceding 3 goals in 7 minutes the home side rallied and Langworthy received the ball 30 yards from the Banbury goal, turned and drove forward. As he approached their area he shot with his right – blocked, back to him for another effort with his left – wide of the right post.
Kieran Diaz-Benitez then emulated the earlier pass from Alfie Kilgour as he produced a similar 40 yard pass from right to left that reached Hunt on the left touchline – it didn’t result in any pressure on the Banbury defence but the accuracy of the two passes were worthy of mention.
Before the half hour mark was reached Cirencester had to make a substitution as Kalum Youngsam replaced the limping Aidan Bennett who had sustained a ‘dead-leg’ in a challenge a couple of minutes earlier.
The substitute was soon in the action as Diaz-Benitez played a pass for him to collect in the right channel of the Banbury area and he immediately fired a low shot towards the far left post that Jack Harding dived to his right to save.
The home defence were still struggling with their ‘3 at the back formation’ and the mobility and speed of the Banbury attacks.
As the half was about to enter the final ten minutes a long ball from the left to the right corner was chased down by Odhiambo who pulled it back to Jack Self on the right channel front edge of the Cirencester area. Self attempted a shot at goal but miscued with the ball moving towards the left channel of the area, in line with the left post, where DARIUS BROWNE was arriving at pace and he drove it, first time, onto the underside of the crossbar and down for his second goal of the game. 0-4.
With nine minutes remaining Browne produced a dangerous cross from the left flank that James did well to cut-out at full stretch at the near post to concede a corner kick. The kick produced a corner kick from the right and a firm header from Luke Carnell that Diaz-Benitez headed off the line for yet another corner kick but Cirencester survived.
With a four goal deficit, and 7 minutes to the interval, Cirencester changed to four at the back and introduced Jason Milhench for his debut, at the expense of Adam Connolly, and he was immediately involved in some neat build-up play on the left flank.
Half Time: 0 – 4
After the break Cirencester continued with a back four, Sam Hunt having dropped to left back and Robbie James moved across to right back, and six minutes into the half Youngsam, on the right, played the ball across the pitch to Milhench, in the left channel, who slipped it wide to Hunt as he supported on the flank. Hunt crossed into the box where Liddiard charged forward to head towards the top right corner. Harding managed to leap and push the ball round his post for a corner kick. Sam Hunt came across from the left to take the kick with his left foot and when it was cleared it reached James who immediately sent it towards the far left post. Langworthy collected and sent it back into the 6 yard box where Harding caught the ball.
A positive start from the home side and three minutes later Diaz-Benitez struck a fierce left footed shot from 25 yards towards the target that had Harding diving across his goal to push out. Langworthy collected near the right side edge of the visitor’s area and crossed towards the far post but too long for any of his team-mates to reach.
Two minutes later Cirencester were back again as they worked the ball down their left flank to earn a corner kick followed by one from the right. In an effort to convert this one Cirencester were adjudged to have committed a foul and a free kick was awarded against the home side and the danger over.
Banbury had survived the initial pressure from Cirencester and around the hour mark began to control possession for a few minutes.
Midway into the half substitute George Jeacock was released into the right channel of the home penalty area but his resulting right footed shot passed the far left post.
Cirencester were showing some character and moving the ball from left to right and back to front with conviction as they have been encouraged to do by the Management Team and with nothing to lose pushed forward and as the game entered the final fifteen minutes Kilgour played the ball up to an advanced Diaz-Benitez and he ‘chested’ it into the path of Milhench as he darted towards the right side edge of the Banbury penalty area. Once there Milhench fired a right footed shot at the target that Harding failed to hold but managed to clear as Diaz-Benitez followed up.
Shortly afterwards Cirencester were awarded a free kick on their left flank that Hunt sent to the left of the penalty spot where James produced a powerful header that struck the outside of the left post.
Into the last five minutes of normal time and Cirencester worked the ball forward and down the left flank resulting in a corner kick. Milhench took the kick and it yielded another one. This time his kick was caught by Harding.
Two minutes remaining and Liddiard played the ball out to Diaz-Benitez, who had appeared on the left flank, and he crossed toward the penalty spot where JASON MILHENCH attacked the ball to produce a firm header that flew inside the left post for his first goal for the Club on his debut. 1-4.
On the stroke of full time Banbury sent a long ball to Jeacock on their right flank and he won a corner kick in the right corner that James headed clear to mount a counter attack and a corner kick for the home side on their left flank but it was defended and soon after the game came to an end.
Final Score: 1 - 4
Cirencester had started the game well following their recent run of good performances but did not look as comfortable as in previous matches playing a back three. With Banbury matching this formation it did not yield the benefits previously experienced.
Banbury were very lively and well organised and took full advantage of the uncertainty shown in the first half by the home defence.
After the interval Cirencester performed with more conviction and balance and now have a break to work on the issues exposed in the first half.
Attendance: 154
Referee: Rob Cockle
Cirencester Town:
1. Harvey Rivers
2. Kieran Diaz-Benitez
3. Sam Hunt
4. Alfie Kilgour
5. Ben Brown
6. Robbie James
7. James Mortimer-Jones
8. Adam Connolly
9. Aidan Bennett
10. Ross Langworthy
11. Matt Liddiard (C)
12. Kalum Youngsam (Aidan Bennett-28mins)
14. Ollie Knight (Ross Langworthy-63mins)
16. Jason Milhench (Adam Connolly-38mins) 88
Banbury United:
1. Jack Harding
2. Jack Westbrook
3. Marvin Martin
4. George Nash
5. Eddie Odhiambo
6. Luke Carnell
7. Zac McEachran
8. Jack Self
9. Ricky Johnson (C)
10. Conor McDonagh 14, 19
11. Darius Browne 12, 38
12. Mark Bell (Zac McEachran-78mins)
14. Callum White (George Nash-77mins)
15. Jacob Blackstock
16. George Jeacock (Conor McDonagh-65mins)
17. Andy Gunn