Cirencester Town FC
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Click photo to view a slideshow of photos from the match
Courtesy of Steve Rolfe Photography
Match Report by Dave Pyzer
Cirencester were finally on the winning side of a 2-1 score-line after a superb all-round performance against an ‘in-form’ St. Neots Town at The Corinium Stadium and as a result keep their hopes of playing their football in the Premier Division next season alive.
St. Neots are also at the ‘wrong’ end of the Premier Division table (19th place) but in a good run of form as they have secured 10 of their 38 points in their last 6 games to place them 7th in the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table. Cirencester were 23rd in the division table and 24th in the form guide.
The reverse fixture in December resulted in a 1-1 draw after a delayed kick-off following a 4½ hour journey.
The starting eleven for Cirencester saw the return of Glyn Garner in goal and Ben Brown at right back enabling Aidan Bennett to move alongside Alan Griffin in a twin striker role. Henry Spalding took a seat on the bench to accommodate the changes.
The visitors kicked-off towards The Shed end of the ground but it was their hosts who seized the initiative and pressed down their right flank to the corner to show their intent in this ‘must-win’ game.
In the first ten minutes Kerry Morgan provided crosses for Alan Griffin and Aidan Bennett headers – Griffin over the bar and Bennett narrowly wide of the right post.
In response Declan Rogers released James Tricks down their right flank to the corner resulting in a throw-in that Cirencester defended.
A minute later Morgan played a quick, short free kick on the left flank to Dan Demkiv as he burst into the St Neots penalty area. Demkiv fell to ground under challenge but appeals for a Penalty Kick were ignored by the well positioned Referee, Simon Shaw.
St. Neots immediately launched the ball down their right flank where the ball was headed on for Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson to collect and carry to the corner. When he reached the by-line he cut-in and squared the ball back and through the Cirencester penalty area. It was collected on their left flank and the subsequent cross resulted in a throw-in that was defended by Cirencester.
Three minutes later Cirencester were awarded a free kick on half-way that Ben Brown accurately sent to the left side edge of the visitor’s penalty area for Morgan to control, cut right and shoot. His low shot was saved by Alex Archer at his right post.
Against the run of play it was St. Neots who opened the scoring as Lee Clarke sent the ball forward from the centre circle. It rebounded off the home defence and ran loose to JEVANI BROWN , left channel front edge of the Cirencester penalty area, and without hesitation he produced a clinical, low precision finish with his left foot that entered the net inside the far right post. 0-1.
Cirencester responded immediately from the re-start as Demkiv moved from right to left along the front edge of the visitor’s penalty area before shooting over the bar with his left foot as he reached the centre.
It was not long until the home side equalised – four minutes. A long throw from Ellis Dunton, left flank, reached Bennett, back to Adam Connolly – right to Demkiv who shot from the right channel of the penalty area. Blocked – collected by Demkiv as he moved down the right side edge of the 6 yard box. Despite the temptation to shoot again he calmly clipped the ball to the centre front edge of the 6 yard box where ALAN GRIFFIN produced a right footed volley, on the turn, waste high, into the back of the net. 1-1.
Encouraged Cirencester pressed forward and an advanced James Mortimer-Jones battled for the ball just outside the St. Neots penalty area and once won he exchanged passes with Bennett and sent a rasping drive that Archer did well to tip over his cross-bar.
Just after the half hour mark Ben Brown sent a long ball to the far post where Matt Liddiard popped up to head back to Bennett and he struck a fierce left footed volley, on the turn, narrowly wide of the left post.
When St. Neots sent the goal kick down the pitch it was quickly won back by Cirencester and fed to Bennett who moved forward before passing to the right for Demkiv to collect and shoot - deflected for a corner kick. Kerry Morgan drove the kick towards the penalty spot where ELLIS DUNTON made a darting run forward to produce a ‘bullet’ header that flew inside the right post. 2-1.
With four minutes of normal time remaining Connolly intercepted a pass inside the visitors half and fed Bennett who shot just over the bar.
As the interval approached St. Neots worked the ball down their left flank as Clarke fed Jonny Herd who played it forward to Jevani Brown, back to Herd who crossed but it was defended by the home side.
St. Neots pressed again down their left flank to the corner as the Referee’s whistle announced the end of the half.
Half Time: 2 – 1
Immediately from the re-start Cirencester pressed and were rewarded with a corner kick from their right flank – caught by Archer.
A minute later Bennett cut out a pass on half-way, played it forward to Griffin, down the centre for a breaking Demkiv, out to Morgan on the right flank. Demkiv had continued his run and Morgan slipped the ball to him as he moved down the right channel of the penalty area. At the by-line he attempted to square the ball – blocked for a corner kick that was sent to the back post. A Bennett header resulted in another corner kick (this time from the left) that Archer punched away from his goal.
Two minutes later a Cirencester free kick from the right channel produced another corner kick – but again no end product.
Nine minutes into the half Morgan sent a terrific pass from the right channel, half way, into space in the left corner where Demkiv collected and crossed to the near post. Griffin burst forward towards the cross and produced a glancing header that narrowly passed outside the far right post.
Shortly afterwards Cirencester pressed and were awarded another corner kick but once again it was defended.
Despite being under severe pressure St. Neots managed a break down their right channel as Jevani Brown carried the ball forward and won a corner kick that cleared the Cirencester penalty area to go out for a throw-in on the other side of the pitch.
Back came Cirencester as Ben Brown launched a throw-in into the visitors penalty area – Griffin and Demkiv combined before sending the ball out to Morgan, left front corner of the 6 yard box, where he was forced wide before crossing – Archer parried and Jacob Partridge cleared.
Just after the mid-point of the half Henry Spalding replaced the busy Dan Demkiv and he was immediately involved in the action as Bennett sent a left footed cross from the right corner to the back post for Morgan to shoot – parried by Archer. Griffin challenged for the loose ball and it broke to Spading who shot over the bar with his first touch - a minute after entering the game.
A minute later St. Neots won a corner kick on their left flank that Griffin headed out. Declan Rodgers collected the ball and crossed it back in but it was partially blocked en-route enabling Glyn Garner to pick it up.
The Cirencester pressure continued unabated for the next ten minutes with more corner kicks but still no end product as - Henry Spalding showed his quick feet as he dribbled past three opponents on the right flank but hurriedly fired over the bar, Ellis Dunton headed a corner kick back towards the penalty spot but it was not collected, Morgan fired just over the bar from 40 yards when he spotted Archer off his line. Another corner kick and a Dunton header cleared from near the goal line.
As the game entered the final minutes St. Neots mounted a couple of attacks – Tricks crossed from the left for Garner to make the catch above the head of Shane Hill, followed by Archer punching clear and a counter attack that switched play from right to left before being lost.
On the stroke of full time Kieren Diaz-Benitez chased a ball to the left corner before laying it back to Dunton who crossed towards the centre front edge of the 6 yard box – caught by Archer but soon back as Griffin shot narrowly wide of the ‘keeper’s left post.
One last attack from St. Neots, as they threw caution to the wind in the hope of salvaging a point, and with Jevani Brown poised to shoot Matt Liddiard came across to make a terrific tackle that yielded a corner kick that Garner punched clear.
Cirencester had survived the very late pressure from St. Neots and secured the much needed 3 points available.
Final Score: 2 - 1
As a result of Cirencester not obtaining the ‘two–goal cushion’ their play deserved it made the final minutes very tense for the home support – but a tremendous team effort from all involved.
Attendance: 91
Referee: Simon Shaw
Cirencester Town:
1. Glyn Garner
2. Ben Brown
3. Ellis Dunton 35
4. James Mortimer-Jones
5. Matt Coupe
6. Matt Liddiard (C)
7. Dan Demkiv
8. Adam Connolly
9. Alan Griffin 27
10. Aidan Bennett
11. Kerry Morgan
12. Henry Spalding (Dan Demkiv-69mins)
14. Charlie Griffin
15. Kieran Diaz-Benitez (Kerry Morgan-82mins)
16. Lewis Thompson
17. Ryan Elliott
St. Neots Town:
1. Alex Archer
2. Jacob Partridge
3. Jonny Herd
17. Lee Clarke
5. Tom Wood
6. Taylor Parr
7. Bradley Fortnam-Tomlinson
8. Declan Rogers
9. James Tricks
10. Micky Hyem (C)
11. Jevani Brown 23
12. Fernando Bell-Toxtle (James Tricks-88mins)
14. Harry Norman
15. Jonny Butler
16. Shane Hill (Lee Clarke-59mins)
20. Tom Knowles (Bradley F-Tomlinson-42mins)