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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Click photo to view a slideshow of photos from the match
Courtesy of Steve Rolfe Photography
Match Report by Dave Pyzer
Cirencester suffered a major setback in their quest for survival in the Premier Division when they were defeated at home by fellow strugglers Cambridge City.
Prior to this match Cambridge sat one place below Cirencester in the Premier Division table with 34 points from 41 games compared to Cirencester’s 36 points from 42 games so the result of the match was crucial to the survival hopes of the either side. It certainly was the proverbial ‘6-pointer’.
In terms of current form Cambridge had obtained 4 points from their last 6 games to Cirencester’s 6 points so again not a lot between the two sides.
The Cirencester starting eleven had another enforced change, due to the dismissal of Ellis Dunton at Kettering Town in bizarre circumstances, to add to the absence of Aidan Bennett (suspended) and Gethin Jones (injury) and as a result Kieren Diaz-Benitez occupied the left back berth and Manager Charlie Griffin made a rare start alongside his brother Alan.
Cambridge kicked off proceedings playing towards The Shed end of the ground in perfect weather and playing conditions and immediately showed their intent as they attacked down the right flank to the corner obtaining the first corner kick after 3 minutes play. Lee Stevenson took the kick and Glyn Garner punched it away from his goal at the near post but it was collected by Salim Relizani who darted down the right side edge of the penalty area before laying it inside where a team-mate fired at goal – parried by Garner and cleared.
In response Ben Brown collected the ball near half-way and galloped down the right channel before shooting wide of the right post from 25 yards.
A couple of minutes later Norman Pitoula-Wabo chased a ball to the right by-line and squared towards the penalty spot where Oliver Snaith laid it back to the waiting DAN WALKER who placed his shot inside the left post from the centre front edge of the penalty area to give his side an early lead. 0-1.
The game became ‘end-to-end’ as Cirencester pressed and Cambridge counter attacked and during this period Pitoula-Wabo had an effort blocked and Kieren Diaz-Benitez sent a superb pass down the line to Kerry Morgan who worked it inside and across to the right. It was fed back into the centre where Adam Connolly fired over the Cambridge bar.
Around the mid-point of the half Cirencester increased the pressure as Matt Coupe lobbed the ball forward for Dan Demkiv to win a heading duel on the right flank and the ball to be worked towards the left front edge of the Cambridge penalty area to Morgan. Under challenge the ball broke loose to Charlie Griffin, left of the penalty spot, who fired his left footed shot just wide of the left post.
A minute later Cirencester won a corner kick on the left and that led to a number of efforts being blocked by the resolute visitors defence.
Back came Cirencester as Brown fed Demkiv who sped down the right wing and crossed, blocked, but collected by Charlie Griffin who crossed from near the by-line, blocked again for a corner kick that was wasted (too long).
On the half hour Cirencester won another corner kick from the left flank that was firmly met by the head of Brown and looked destined for the top left corner of the Cambridge goal until ‘keeper Dean Snedker intervened as he dived right and pushed it out at full stretch. The ball fell to Charlie Griffin, 5 yards out, who instinctively headed it back at the target but it struck the crossbar, rebounded out and was eventually cleared.
Both sides had periods of possession in the lead up to the interval but the defences held firm.
On the stroke of half time Morgan fired a right footed shot towards the bottom left corner but Snedker managed to push it round his post to keep his goal intact going in to the break.
Half Time: 0 – 1
Cirencester attacked down their left flank from the re-start and Demkiv’s cross into the box was blocked resulting in both Charlie and Alan Griffin involved with headers as they tried to create an opening.
The Cambridge reply was a tussle between the powerful Pitoula-Wabo and Matt Liddiard that resulted in the striker sending a rushed lob high over the bar.
During the next few minutes Pitoula-Wabo was involved again as he sent a curling right footed shot wide of the left post and a swift attack led to Lee Stevenson sending a dangerous cross from the left that passed through the front edge of the home 6 yard box without contact and out the other side.
Almost immediately Dan Demkiv collected the ball near half-way and made ground down the centre of the pitch and as he neared the left channel front edge of the Cambridge penalty area a strong challenge brought his progress to an abrupt end as he fell to ground but the well positioned Referee saw nothing untoward and play continued.
A couple of minutes later Demkiv was back again as he received the ball in a central position and moved it on to Alan Griffin to his right. Griffin slipped it out to Morgan in the right corner and he took it to the by-line before cutting left and firing towards goal but his effort was deflected narrowly over the crossbar.
As the hour mark approached Cambridge did get the ball in the back of the Cirencester net following a free kick from their left flank but the Assistant Referee had his flag raised and it was disallowed.
During this action Diaz-Benitez clattered into the post and left the pitch on a stretcher.
Henry Spalding came on as his replacement and took a more forward position resulting in the home side changing to a 3-5-2 formation.
Around the mid-point of the half Cambridge pressed and saw an effort cleared from near the home goal-line – resulting in a corner kick that was defended.
As the game entered the final quarter of an hour Morgan launched a throw-in from the right that reached the near post where Snedker was able to gather at the second attempt unimpeded.
Two minutes later Cambridge increased their lead following a neat move on the right as Pitoula-Wabo received the ball, in their right channel - 22 yards out, and slipped it behind the home defender and down the right side edge of the penalty area for Relizani to collect and send a low cross to the back post where OLIVER SNAITH arrived for a ‘tap-in’ from 4 yards. 0-2.
In reply Cirencester won a corner kick on their right flank that Brown headed goal-wards but Snedker was able to gather on the centre front edge of his 6 yard box before a closing Danny Gudger could get to it.
With nine minutes of normal time remaining the match was out of Cirencester’s reach as NORMAN PITOULA-WABO completed the scoring from close range. A free kick from their left flank reached the back post and was headed back across goal and the striker was quickly on to the ball to tuck it under Garner from 5 yards as the ‘keeper moved across to cover his right post. 0-3.
A couple of minutes later Walker was released for a 1v1 with Garner that the ‘keeper won – conceding a corner kick in the process.
As the game entered the final five minutes Jordan Williams was penalised and was awarded a Yellow Card and at the prompting of the home crowd who reminded the Referee that it was in fact his second Yellow Card a Red Card followed. Williams was not best pleased and knocked the proffered Red Card from the Referee’s hand before departing.
Cirencester had brought on Robbie James just before this incident and moved Matt Liddiard forward in an effort to get on the score-sheet but it was the visitors who looked more likely as Garner blocked another Walker effort and Stevenson struck the left post.
Three minutes into added-time a Robbie James glancing header from a corner kick from the right just passed the wrong side of the left post from a Cirencester viewpoint.
Final Score: 0 - 3
With a lot at stake for both sides the match was unlikely to be one of flowing football and so it proved.
Cambridge looked solid at the back, lively up front and ‘up for the challenge’ whilst Cirencester rarely looked like scoring in a disappointing performance (despite the above observations) – given what was at stake.
Cirencester were unable to profit from the extra man for the last ten minutes and Cambridge secured a vital three points.
Attendance: 331
Referee: Daniel Lamport
Cirencester Town:
1. Glyn Garner
2. Ben Brown
3. Kieran Diaz-Benitez
4. James Mortimer-Jones
5. Matt Liddiard (C)
6. Matt Coupe
7. Dan Demkiv
8. Adam Connolly
9. Alan Griffin
10. Charlie Griffin
11. Kerry Morgan
12. Henry Spalding (Kieren Diaz-Benitez-61mins)
14. Robbie James (Kerry Morgan-84mins)
15. Danny Gudger (Dan Demkiv-72mins)
16. Ryan Elliott
17. Lewis Thompson
Cambridge City:
1. Dean Snedker
2. Ben Robinson
3. Paul Cooper
4. Ross Paterson (C)
5. Jordan Gent
6. Jordan Williams
7. Salim Relizani
8. Lee Stevenson
9. Dan Walker 8
10. Norman Pitoula-Wabo 81
11. Oliver Snaith 77
12. Charlie Woolfe
14. Emmanuel Osei (Norman Pitoula-Wabo-87mins)
15. Harry Norman (Salim Relizani-87mins)
16. Darren Foxley (Oliver Snaith-82mins)
17. Buster Harradine