Cirencester Town FC
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Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
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Cirencester Town 0 – 2 Taunton Town
Match Report by Dave Pyzer
Following relegation from the Southern League Premier Division at the end of last season Cirencester opened their ‘West Division’ campaign with a home fixture against Taunton Town who have been in the Division ‘play-offs’ for the last three seasons.
During the close season ‘The Peacocks’ have recruited a number of new faces with four players from Truro City (National League South) joining the fold in a bid to finally achieve promotion to the Premier Division.
This match was also the first to be played on the newly installed 3G pitch that was only handed over to the Football Club earlier in the week and as a result, prior to this match, the Cirencester squad had only had two training sessions on the new surface.
Charlie Griffin’s selection had one change from the starting eleven that faced Bristol City U23’s in the recent Gloucestershire FA Senior Challenge Cup Final 2016-17 as Louis Loader replaced an injured Jack Horrell in midfield. As in the Pre-Season friendly matches the side lined up in a 3-5-2 formation.
The home side kicked off proceedings but it was Taunton who had the first pot at goal within the first minute as they started very positively – not allowing their hosts to settle.
A neat Taunton move after seven minutes - as Brett Trowbridge, and Shane White combined to create a shooting chance for Matt Wright – resulted in the first corner kick of the game that Matt Wieczorek punched clear.
A few minutes later White, right channel front edge of the home penalty area, was involved again as he clipped the ball to the left of the penalty spot where LEWIS POWELL darted forward to collect and calmly finish inside the left post in a 1v1 with Wieczorek as the ‘keeper advanced. 0-1.
Cirencester responded to the early setback with a couple of promising attacks down their flanks but the Taunton defence dealt with the threat and countered as Powell fired over the home cross-bar.
Just after the mid-point of the half Cirencester came close to levelling as Ben Whitehead took a quick throw on the right flank to Henry Spalding, collected the return, cut left, and moved the ball on to Alan Griffin, right of centre – 25 yards out, who turned and fired a right footed shot that struck the outside of the left post.
During the latter stages of the half Cirencester mounted a couple of attacks down their flanks as first Spalding overlapped to collect a Felipe Barcelos pass in the left corner before slipping it inside to Whitehead who was crowded out. This was followed a few minutes later with a Jordan Stoddart pass down the right flank to Whitehead (on halfway) – on to Louis Loader as he charged down the touchline and a cross towards the penalty spot that was caught by Lloyd Irish as Griffin closed.
Taunton also had a couple of efforts wide of the target as Ross Staley and Powell were put under pressure as they shaped to shoot by Ellis Dunton and Stoddart respectively.
The final penalty area action of the half came as Spalding sent a free kick from the left to the front edge of the Taunton area and Dunton’s header was collected by Barcelos who slipped it to Whitehead as he burst into the area, left channel, before firing a fierce shot over the bar.
Half Time: 0-1
Almost immediately from the re-start Whitehead won the ball and slipped it to Spalding who fired over from 30 yards.
A few minutes later Taunton crossed from the left and it was headed into the path of Wright, right channel of the penalty area, but Dunton was quickly across to win the ball and start a counter attack as Cirencester worked the ball down the left flank with Spalding, Whitehead, Spalding, Barcelos and Whitehead involved but the final cross from the by-line was too long for the incoming support.
Six minutes into the half and Taunton were working their right flank and as the ball entered the home penalty area two players collided and fell to ground but the well positioned Referee rejected any appeals for a penalty as the ball broke to Pierce Mitchell who fired over the crossbar.
Mitchell was in the action again six minutes later as he took a quick free kick to White who, seeing Wieczorek off his line, attempted an audacious chip but the ‘keeper made the catch comfortably.
At this stage the action was ‘end-to-end’ and just after the mid-point of the half Cirencester had a good chance to equalise but ‘keeper Irish pulled off two amazing saves to keep them at bay. Ellis Dunton collected the ball just outside the left channel front edge of the Taunton area, cut right and bent a right footed shot towards the inside of the far right post with Irish’s view restricted by his defence. Incredibly he managed to dive full length to push the ball out but Whitehead was lurking and pounced on the loose ball to fire toward goal as Irish was regaining his feet and the ‘keeper pulled off another sensational block.
The double save proved to be very important as six minutes later Taunton increased their lead as a free kick from within their half entered the home penalty area and after a couple of blocks reached LEWIS POWELL who fired home despite the best efforts of Stoddart on the line to keep it out. 0-2.
Despite this setback Cirencester responded as Aidan Bennett carried the ball for 15 yards down the centre before firing a powerful left footed shot from 30 yards that Irish saved low to his left.
Shortly afterwards Bennett was shown a straight Red Card - after the Referee consulted with his Assistant - following a free kick award and a melee in the centre circle.
With the extra man advantage Taunton were able to control the final phase of the game.
Full Time: 0-2
The visitors displayed why they have been consistently at the top end of the table with a solid performance of organisation, power and lively forward play whilst restricting their hosts.
Attendance: 212
Referee: Andrew Sheppard
Cirencester Town:
1. Matt Wieczorek
2. Louis Loader
3. Ellis Dunton
4. Jordan Stoddart
5. Matt Coupe
6. Henry Spalding
7. Felipe Barcelos
8. Adam Connolly
9. Alan Griffin (C)
10. Ben Whitehead
11. Jack Watts
12. Aidan Bennett (Felipe Barcelos-56mins)
14. Mason Lewis (Jack Watts-68mins)
15. James Mortimer-Jones (Louis Loader-53mins)
16. Kieren Diaz-Benitez
17. Sam Walsh
Taunton Town:
1. Lloyd Irish
2. Pierce Mitchell
3. Ryan Brett
4. Owen Irish
5. Arran Pugh
6. Ben Adelsbury
7. Shane White
8. Brett Trowbridge
9. Matt Wright (C)
10. Lewis Powell 12, 75
11. Ross Staley
12. Ollie Chamberlain (Ross Staley-72mins)
14. Les Afful (Pierce Mitchell-89mins)
15. Joe Charles (Lewis Powell-89mins)
16. Matt Villis
17. Craig Duff