Cirencester Town FC
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Match Report by Dave Pyzer
Tony Lee, on loan from Eastleigh, scored two goals on his debut for The Centurions but it wasn’t enough as The Robins scored three first half goals and took the points.
This re-arranged midweek game was originally scheduled for 30th November but was postponed due to the Frome pitch being frozen. For this match the pitch was soft which made turning sharply a bit tricky.
‘The Robins’ defeated The Centurions at the Corinium Stadium 4-1 earlier in the season and they are currently in a good run of form, having lost only one of their last six matches - obtaining 11 points in the process - whilst Cirencester have only won one of theirs (4 points from the 18 available). They are in 6th place in both the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ and the Premier Division tables whilst Cirencester are 20th in both tables.
Cirencester included new recruit Tony Lee (a striker on loan from Eastleigh) in their starting eleven which also saw the return of James Mortimer-Jones in midfield (unavailable on Saturday against Cambridge).
Kieran Diaz-Benitez was scheduled to start at right back but had a ‘back spasm’ in the warm-up so Robbie James moved to that position with Ben Brown, Matt Liddiard and Henry Spalding completing the back four. The midfield consisted of Dan Demkiv and Aidan Bennett in the wide positions and Adam Connolly alongside ‘Jonah’ in the centre. Alan Griffin and Tony Lee were the strike force.
Cirencester kicked off proceedings and attacked down their right flank as James Mortimer-Jones fed Tony Lee in the corner. As the new recruit cut-in towards the area he was confronted by two home defenders and after a couple of challenges he was eventually awarded a free kick that Dan Demkiv took and was easily defended.
The visitors then worked their way down the left flank but once again Frome cleared the danger – mounting a counter attack down their right flank that eventually led to a clearance reaching Lee 10 yards inside the Frome half and he quickly turned, moved forward and shot from 35 yards bringing an early comfortable, low save from Kyle Phillips in the home goal. It was to prove to be a practice effort for his action ten minutes later.
A minute later Cirencester worked the ball down their right flank as Robbie James and Mortimer-Jones combined to set Demkiv free for a charge to the corner but his cross from the right side edge of the area was cut out.
Former Centurion Ollie Knight received the ball on the left flank and darted towards the corner where he crossed to the back post. The ball was partially cleared, landing at the feet of Jake Jackson, right channel front edge of the Cirencester penalty area, and he fired a powerful shot at the target. Raajan Gill parried the effort pushing it to his right, to the line of the left post, where MICHAEL BRYANT pounced to drive it into the roof of the net from 7 yards as he was closed-down. 1-0.
Five minutes later the home side doubled their lead after three corner kicks in succession, taken by Knight from their right flank, resulted in an opportunity for DEAN GRIFFITHS to shoot (from a similar position to the earlier Jackson strike) and he wasted no time in driving the ball through a cluster of players and into the back of the net. 2-0.
Virtually from the re-start Cirencester pulled a goal back as debutant TONY LEE received the ball on the Frome edge of the centre circle and his first touch caused the ball to go upwards but as it dropped and without hesitation he produced an impressive right footed volley from 40 yards that cleared ‘keeper Phillips to drop into the back of the home net. 2-1.
The home side regained their two-goal cushion as the mid-point of the half approached - following a free kick awarded for a foul against Ollie Knight. Connor Roberts floated the kick towards the far right post where MICHAEL BRYANT rose to head into the net. 3-1.
As the half hour mark approached the Frome pair of Jackson and Bryant exchanged passes as Jackson released Bryant on half way with a clever flick as he charged down the left flank. Bryant returned the ball to Jackson who made ground down the centre until Henry Spalding stopped his progress but the ball broke back to Jackson and his low shot was well saved by Gill. Two minutes later Bryant controlled the ball in the left channel and cut inside before sending a superb reverse pass into the path of Knight as he darted down the left flank to the corner. When he reached the by-line Knight pulled the ball back to the front edge of the 6 yard box, just inside the line of the left post, where Jackson turned sharply to avoid Gill and then managed to poke the ball wide of the right post with the goal gaping.
Shortly afterwards Cirencester were pressing in the right corner but the home side won the ball and countered as Jackson sent a terrific pass with the outside of his right foot into the path of Bryant who was charging down the centre. When he reached the front edge of the penalty area Bryant shot but Gill produced a tremendous save to thwart him.
As the half was drawing to a close Cirencester worked the ball down their left flank with Spalding, Mortimer-Jones, Spalding again, Demkiv and Alan Griffin involved. It was Griffin who slid the ball in behind the Frome back line for Bennett to chase but Phillips had spotted the danger and dashed from his area to clear.
On the stroke of half time Cirencester again worked the ball down the left as James sent a cross-field pass from the right to Demkiv and he slipped it through to Spalding on an overlapping run to the corner. When Spalding reached the by-line he pulled it back towards the front edge of the area where Bennett and Mortimer-Jones in their eagerness got in one another’s way resulting in the shot from the latter going over the home cross-bar.
Half Time: 3-1
Cirencester made the perfect start to the second half as three minutes after the interval TONY LEE received the ball near the Frome penalty spot, controlled it and evaded a challenge from Phillips before calmly tapping it into the vacant goal to score his second on the night. 3-2.
The Frome response was a run from Knight to the left by-line and a cross to the front edge of the Cirencester penalty area, left channel, but Bryant sliced his shot to the right corner where Griffith collected and cut back left before crossing for Gill to make the catch.
Minutes later Demkiv was in defensive mode as he headed down-field for Lee to collect and charge down the right channel. As he neared the home area his progress was brought to a halt as he was adjudged to have committed a foul whilst attempting to retain the ball.
Cirencester had changed their formation since the interval with Spalding now playing a more central supportive role as they had changed to a back three and Bennett was working backwards and forwards to defend and attack. With 11 minutes gone of the half he made progress down the left flank and sent a fierce cross that flew through the home area without contact.
A couple of minutes later Matt Liddiard, who was covering all across the back-line, made an excursion forward to send the ball to Lee, just outside the home area, and he produced an acrobatic overhead kick that Phillips saved.
After Cirencester pressed down their left flank Frome won the ball to counter resulting in a corner kick from their right. Cirencester cleared the ball but it fell to a Frome player who instantly fired it back at the goal. Alan Griffin had been defending the corner kick and charged out to block and took the shot full in the face – such was his commitment to the cause.
As the mid-point of the half approached Liddiard had covered to the left back position and clipped the ball down the line where Lee flicked it further down the line for Griffin to chase to the corner – resulting in a throw to the visitors.
Minutes later Connor Roberts intercepted a pass and seeing plenty of space in front of him he charged forward, carrying the ball some 40 yards before sending it out to Griffiths on the right flank. Griffiths cut back and fired a left footed shot that deflected off Bryant en-route to pass wide of the right post.
Back came Cirencester as Kalum Youngsam, James and Lee combined to make progress down the right flank leading to a fierce Lee shot that looked destined for the top right corner until Phillips tipped it over his crossbar.
Cirencester were increasing the pressure on the home defence in search of the all-important equaliser but this left them vulnerable to quick counter attacks and with nine minutes remaining Jackson played the ball from the right touch-line into the path of Bryant as he ran down the centre. Bryant’s left footed shot was saved by Gill and a follow-up shot blocked by Liddiard to Griffiths who blazed over the bar.
Five minutes of normal time remained as Youngsam made progress down the right before sending the ball to the right of the penalty spot where Spalding had his shot blocked enabling Phillips to pick it up.
Into added time and Liddiard fed Lee who slipped it to Griffin - a right footed shot from the left channel, 25 yards out, saved low down by Phillips.
A minute later it was all over and Frome had survived to collect the three points in their quest for a ‘play-off’ position.
Final Score: 3-2.
A spirited performance from Cirencester - especially in the second half.
The Griffin/Lee partnership looked promising and if they can stop conceding early goals it will give them a chance to get some positive results.
Attendance: 218
Referee: Iain Parsons
Frome Town:
1. Kyle Phillips
2. Kriss Miller
3. Chris Gregan
4. Connor Roberts
5. Sam Teale (C)
6. Marcus Mapstone
7. Dean Griffiths 13
8. Clayton Green
9. Jake Jackson
10. Michael Bryant 8, 21
11. Ollie Knight
12. Martin Johnson (Dean Griffiths-82mins)
13. Carl Crabtree (GK)
14. Ben Cleverly
15. Tom Gollege
17. Dan Cleverly
Cirencester Town:
1. Raajan Gill
2. Ben Brown
3. Henry Spalding
4. Matt Liddiard (C)
5. Robbie James
6. Aidan Bennett
7. Adam Connolly
8. James Mortimer-Jones
9. Alan Griffin
10. Tony Lee 14, 48
11. Dan Demkiv
12. Sindri Scheving (Robbie James-78mins)
14. Ka’lum Youngsam (Dan Demkiv-70mins)
15. Max Lloyd
17. Alex Dinsmore (Aidan Bennett-82mins)