Cirencester Town FC
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Match Report by Dave Pyzer
Cirencester put on a battling performance against 5th placed Merthyr Town and were unlucky to go in at the interval two goals down having had a decent penalty appeal rejected and a ‘goal’ ruled out for offside.
The first team to visit The Corinium Stadium in 2017 was Merthyr Town who sat in 5th place in the Premier Division table and 6th place in the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table having obtained 10 points in their last six matches – 3 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses. Within the ranks of Merthyr are two former Centurions – Glyn Garner and Gethin Jones who will always be welcome at The Corinium Stadium.
The home side had a new face for their supporters to view as 19 year old striker Ollie Mehew has joined on loan from Forest Green Rovers having already spent time at Salisbury and Mangotsfield in the South & West Division this season.
The starting line-up had the versatile Aidan Bennett at left back and Ollie Mehew up front alongside Alan Griffin with Tony Lee in a more roving support striker role.
The visitors kicked off playing towards The Shed end of the ground and within minutes Alan Griffin played the ball from the centre circle towards the right corner for Ollie Mehew to chase – winning a throw in the corner. Aidan Bennett’s long throw to the near post was headed back to Bennett and he was fouled as he shaped to cross presenting Cirencester with a free kick 10 yards back from the right front corner of the Merthyr penalty area. Dan Demkiv sent the kick towards the centre of the 6 yard box and it reached Ben Brown at the far post but his back heel flick was caught by Oliver Davies in the Merthyr goal.
A few minutes later Corey Jenkins sprinted down the left flank to the corner where he was fouled but the resulting free kick was defended with a long clearance releasing Tony Lee down the left channel - he too was fouled presenting Alan Griffin with a free kick that Davies gathered safely.
The game had started at a frantic ‘end-to-end’ pace and just before the mid-point of the half Adam Connolly intercepted a Merthyr pass and released Mehew down the right – as he cut into the penalty area he was brought down but Referee Neal Templey awarded a free kick outside the area. Demkiv sent the kick into the Merthyr penalty area and it was promptly booted out to be collected by Kieran Diaz-Benitez who committed a foul that earned him a Yellow Card as he tried to retain possession as he was closed down.
Both sides were defending with determination and countering quickly and moments after a Bennett strike fizzed over the Merthyr bar, and six minutes before the interval, a Cirencester clearance rebounded to RYAN PROSSER who instinctively despatched it to the bottom left corner before anyone could react. 0-1.
A few minutes later Cirencester had the ball in the back of the net after a measured strike from James Mortimer-Jones, left channel front edge of the penalty area, towards the right post was parried by Oliver Davies and Ollie Mehew reacted quickly to drive it into the net from a couple of yards. As Mehew turned to celebrate the Assistant Referee raised his flag to indicate ‘offside’.
To add to the home sides woes Merthyr scored again on the stroke of half time as Corey Jenkins crossed from the left and KAYNE McLAGGON darted to the edge of the 6 yard box to divert it into the net. 0-2.
Half Time: 0 – 2
During the early stages of the second half the two sides probed one another but just before the hour mark Mortimer-Jones sent the ball down the centre of the pitch resulting in a 1 v 1 between Mehew and ‘keeper Davies who rushed forward to the edge of his area to clear. His kick was hurried and landed at the feet of Adam Connolly who was goal-side of the centre circle and the midfielder instantly lobbed the ball back towards the empty goal but at the last moment it curled wide of the right post.
Merthyr had enjoyed much of the possession but Cirencester were dangerous on the break and just before the half hour mark Griffin was on the end of a couple of good opportunities as Lee crossed from the right corner for Griffin to head into the grateful arms of Davies and then Bennett sent a curling pass, with the outside of his right foot, from the left front corner of the box towards the front edge of the 6 yard box and into the path of Griffin who fired it over the bar but he was ruled to be ‘offside’ anyway.
Cirencester were defending with determination and countering quickly but were unable to break through a solid Merthyr backline.
Matt Liddiard won the ball in the home penalty area, brought it forward and played it up to Demkiv on the right flank who headed it on to Lee and he carried it to the right corner. He got past the first defender but a second was waiting to win it back for the visitors.
As the game entered the final five minutes Cirencester worked the ball from back to front with several players involved – Liddiard to Diaz-Benitez, inside to Connolly, back and right to Ben Brown, down the line to Demkiv, flick to Lee, flick inside to Griffin who fired a powerful shot at goal – blocked.
In response Merthyr countered down the right channel as Ian Traylor entered the box for a 1 v 1 with Raajan Gill that the ‘keeper won – diving at the Merthyr man’s feet to deflect the ball off his toe and then onto the loose ball.
In the dying minutes Cirencester mounted a couple more attacks but were unable to open their account.
Final Score: 0 - 2
This was a very entertaining game with plenty of effort and passing football.
Cirencester produced a positive display both in defence and attack and will undoubtedly feel disappointed not to have secured any points from ‘play-off’ chasing Merthyr who certainly knew they had been in a game.
Attendance: 170
Referee: Neal Templey
Cirencester Town:
1. Raajan Gill
2. Kieran Diaz-Benitez
3. Aidan Bennett
4. Matt Liddiard (C)
5. Ben Brown
6. Dan Demkiv
7. Adam Connolly
8. James Mortimer-Jones
9. Alan Griffin
10. Tony Lee
11. Ollie Mehew
12. Kalum Youngsam (Ollie Mehew-59mins)
14. Max Lloyd
15. Robbie James
17. Charlie Griffin
Merthyr Town:
1. Oliver Davies
2. Adam Davies
3. Scot Barrow
4. Ashley Evans (C)
5. Jarrad Wright
6. Scott Tancock
7. Ryan Prosser 39
8. Eliot Richards
9. Kayne McLaggon 45
10. Keyon Reffell
11. Corey Jenkins
12. Gethin Jones
13. Glyn Garner (GK)
14. Ben Watkins (Eliot Richards-66mins)
15. Kyle Copp (Ryan Prosser-66mins)
16. Ian Traylor (Corey Jenkins-66mins)