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
Cirencester made the long journey to Northamptonshire to face 9th placed Kettering Town full of optimism as a result of their run of three successive victories.
Whilst ‘The Poppies’ convincingly defeated ‘The Centurions’ 6–1 at The Corinium Stadium in December there was room for this optimism as current form – Cirencester have obtained 9 points from their last 6 matches and Kettering 8 points – suggested the two sides could be well matched but two penalties and a dismissal ended any chance of bringing points back to Gloucestershire.
The Cirencester starting eleven had one enforced change from the team that faced Redditch United due to Aidan Bennett being suspended following his dismissal in that game. Kerry Morgan returned having recovered from his recent injury.
Cirencester kicked off in perfect weather conditions for football on a firm, bumpy pitch that made control and accurate passing difficult and immediately attacked down their left flank.
The positive start led to an early goal for the visitors as they were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal, left channel. KERRY MORGAN lined up the kick and struck a low shot that beat the protective wall and ‘keeper Paul White at his right post as he appeared to see it late. 0-1.
After Cirencester’s initial pressure Kettering began to get into the game and pressed their visitors with Adam Connolly called upon to make a superbly timed tackle on James Hall as he burst into the Cirencester penalty area. A minute later Kettering’s Aaron O’Connor clipped the top left corner of the Cirencester crossbar.
During this period of pressure from Kettering Ellis Dunton was presented with a Yellow Card for a trip on Jorrin Jon which was to cost him dear later in the match.
Just after the mid-point of the half Cirencester produced a period of neat passing as they worked the ball down their left flank and when the ball was crossed into the box, towards Alan Griffin, the striker was flattened by White as he rushed out to punch the ball clear. The referee surprisingly awarded a free kick to the home side – it could so easily have been a penalty to Cirencester.
Three minutes later a Dunton volley from left of the penalty spot, following a corner kick, bounced over the bar.
A moment of non-communication on the half hour mark resulted in White and Gary Mulligan colliding, 30 yards from the home goal, but fortunately for Kettering White managed to get enough on the ball to clear the danger.
As the half entered the final ten minutes Kettering were awarded a penalty kick when O’Connor darted into the box and collided with Matt Coupe. NATHAN HICKS stepped up and aimed his kick towards the bottom left corner where Glyn Garner saved but the ball broke loose and Hicks reacted quickly to finish from 2 yards. 1-1.
Encouraged by the goal the home side pressed during the last few minutes and had a good chance to go ahead just before the interval but Gary Mulligan sent his shot wide of the left post.
Half Time: 1-1
The first few minutes after the interval produced action in both goalmouths and a rampaging 40 yard run from Matt Liddiard that took him past a number of opponents before he played the ball to the right flank.
In this end to end start to the half a long ball into the Cirencester penalty area rebounded off a defender on the front edge of his 6 yard box and O’Connor quickly darted forward to head towards goal. Garner produced a superb reflex save to push the close range effort over his cross-bar.
Almost immediately Morgan latched onto a home clearance, 10 yards outside the penalty area, and lobbed the ball over an advanced White who could only watch helplessly as it struck the bottom of his right post.
Cirencester continued to press but on the hour Liam Canavan unleashed a fierce left footed strike from 25 yards, left channel, towards the top right corner. Garner tipped the effort over his cross-bar.
As the mid-point of the half approached Cirencester won a series of corner kicks that ended when White caught the ball. What followed changed the game as a contest as the ‘keeper punted the ball into the back of Dunton as he retreated to his position and appealed. The referee responded to the shout, as he was not looking at the incident, and surprisingly decided to award a second Yellow Card to Dunton followed by the customary Red Card. A bizarre decision that resulted in many of the home support sympathetically applauding Dunton as he left the pitch.
Kieren Diaz-Benitez immediately replaced Kerry Morgan to cover for the loss of Dunton.
As Cirencester settled into the new formation Kettering pushed forward and Garner was again called upon to save another 30 yard strike from Canavan.
With five minutes of normal time remaining Cirencester pressed down their left flank until Canavan intervened and launched the ball over the visitor’s high defensive back line for AARON O'CONNOR to chase. As the striker reached the front left corner of the 6 yard box he managed to squeeze the ball past the advancing Garner despite the attention of Ben Brown and inside the far right post. 2-1.
There was still time for another incident as on the stroke of 90 minutes Kettering pressed in the left corner to the front corner of the Cirencester penalty area. The ball was moved right towards the centre, just inside the box, for Canavan and as he looked to collect Coupe challenged for the ball with the home player falling over the defenders outstretched leg. The referee instantly pointed to the penalty spot and subsequently presented a Yellow Card to Coupe. JAMES HALL calmly placed his kick inside the right post as Garner dived to his right. 3-1.
The game ended four minutes later with Kettering pressing in the Cirencester penalty area.
Full Time: 3-1
As expected Cirencester competed well against their higher placed opponents and the game was fairly even until the dismissal of Dunton. After that Cirencester defended resolutely but weight of numbers told in the end.
A disappointing result despite the effort and with other results going against Cirencester the home match against Cambridge assumes greater significance in the fight for survival in the Premier Division.
Attendance: 507
Referee: Matthew Smith
Kettering Town:
1. Paul White
2. Liam Bateman
3. Jack Kelly
4. Liam Canavan
5. Dominic Langdon
6. Gary Mulligan (C)
7. Nathan Hicks 36
8. Aaron O’Connor 85
9. James Hall 90p
10. Jorrin Jon
11. James Brighton
12. Ben Baker (Jorrin Jon-67mins)
14. James Haran (Nathan Hicks-88mins)
15. Lewis Hornby
16. Jack O’Connor
17. Bret Solkhon
Cirencester Town:
1. Glyn Garner
2. Ben Brown
3. Ellis Dunton
4. James Mortimer-Jones
5. Matt Liddiard (C)
6. Matt Coupe
7. Dan Demkiv
8. Adam Connolly
9. Alan Griffin
10. Henry Spalding
11. Kerry Morgan 9
12. Charlie Griffin (Henry Spalding-88mins)
15. Kieran Diaz-Benitez (Kerry Morgan-67mins)
16. Ryan Elliott
17. Lewis Thompson