Cirencester Town FC
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Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
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Slimbridge 1 – 3 Cirencester Town
Click photo to view a slideshow of photos from the match
Courtesy of Steve Rolfe Photography
Match Report by Dave Pyzer
Cirencester made the short journey to near neighbours Slimbridge for their second fixture of the new season looking to bounce back from the opening day home defeat they suffered at the hands of Taunton Town.
In the equivalent fixture on Saturday their hosts had secured an away victory at Paulton Rovers and would no doubt be looking to continue in like manner.
Cirencester Manager Charlie Griffin made a couple of changes to the Cirencester starting eleven with Aidan Bennett and James Mortimer-Jones replacing Felipe Barcelos (working) and Louis Loader (bench). The formation remained as 3-5-2.
The visitors kicked-off proceedings on a superb, lush green surface but it was their hosts who mounted the first attack in the first minute as the diminutive, but lively, Marley Thomas switched play from the left to the right corner where Max Harper-Emerson cut-in to lose the ball to James Mortimer-Jones in the ensuing challenge – it was a sign of things to come.
A couple of minutes later a Henry Spalding free kick from the left flank reached Jordan Stoddart at the back post but he had to stretch to make contact and his half-volley was high over the bar.
For the next fifteen minutes it became the Marley Thomas show as he caused all sorts of problems for the ‘three-man’ Cirencester back line with his pace and control down the home sides left flank. During this period he chased and collected an Adam Mace ‘chip’ to the corner, ‘cut-in’ and crossed through the Cirencester 6 yard box, darted forward to win a corner kick, released Sam Turl for a 1v1 with Matt Wieczorek (‘keeper deflected for a corner kick) and had a 1v1 with Wieczorek himself (‘keeper blocked and collected at his right post).
Meanwhile Spalding anticipated a headed back-pass and intercepted it in the right corner before being crowded out as he worked his way along the by-line.
Somewhat against the run of play Cirencester opened the scoring as a break down their left flank and a switch of play to Jack Watts on the right led to a deep ball towards the far left post where Alan Griffin was charging in to get on the end of it. As he neared the ball he was knocked to the ground and a well positioned Referee immediately pointed to the penalty spot. ALAN GRIFFIN got to his feet and drove his kick into the bottom left corner with ‘keeper Ollie Hall guessing correctly but unable to reach it. 0-1.
Almost immediately Slimbridge were level and once again Thomas was the architect as he collected a ball over the top of the Cirencester back line near the left front corner of the penalty area, made ground to the side edge of the 6 yard box and crossed for JOE STOKES to finish from a few yards. 1-1.
As a result Charlie Griffin changed his formation to a ‘back-four’ by moving the versatile Aidan Bennett from his left wing-back role to right back to counter the threat posed by Thomas.
A minute later Thomas fired a shot wide of the left post as he capitalised on a mix-up as the new formation took their positions.
Just after the mid-point of the half Cirencester were awarded a free kick near the centre circle that Matt Coupe sent towards the left channel of the home area where Ellis Dunton darted forward to head towards the bottom left corner. Ollie Hall managed to push the effort round his right post to concede a corner kick that Spalding drove towards the penalty spot resulting in a firm header from Stoddart that just cleared the cross-bar.
As the half hour approached Matt Wieczorek pulled off a couple of good saves to deny the home side another goal as Harper-Emerson crossed from the right bye-line for Luke Payne to produce a solid close range header at the back post – Wieczorek pushed it round his post. Following a short corner Thomas sent the ball into the centre front edge of the 6 yard box where a defender sliced his kick but Wieczorek reacted well to flip the ball over his cross-bar.
During the last 15 minutes of the half Cirencester started to settle and worked the ball down their right flank for Watts to cross to the far post but Ben Whitehead was unable to control his header.
This was soon followed by Spalding crossing from the left to the far post where Slimbridge headed out for a lurking ADAM CONNOLLY to collect on the central front edge of their area. He was quickly closed down and forced to his left before firing an unstoppable left footed shot that flew inside the right post. 1-2.
Shortly before the interval Whitehead fed Watts who charged to the side edge of the penalty area before sending a low cross toward the penalty spot where a quickly arriving Griffin shot over the bar.
Half Time: 1-2
The home side came out in determined mood after the interval and within a few minutes Turl had advanced down their right flank and fired a low shot from the right front corner of the area that struck the bottom of the far left post and re-bounded out to be cleared.
Back came Slimbridge and Mace had a couple of crosses defended before launching a corner kick from the right into the ‘mix’ for Cirencester to produce some desperate defending to clear the danger.
As the hour mark approached Harper-Emerson intercepted a pass on half-way and charged to the right side edge of the Cirencester area where he crossed to Stokes, near the centre front edge of the 6 yard box. The resulting point blank header was saved by Wieczorek.
Whilst they were under pressure Cirencester were still dangerous on the counter and when Griffin fed Whitehead it took a solid block from Corey Pring to deny the hard working striker’s effort.
At the mid-point of the half Cirencester’s Ellis Dunton suffered a clash of heads as he challenged for a ball on the edge of the home area and left the field with a badly swollen left eye and cheek bone to be taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital for further treatment.
Slimbridge threw caution to the wind as they pressed for an equaliser bringing on all their substitutes and pushing forward but Cirencester stood firm and with the willing Whitehead always available to counter they had an outlet to relieve the pressure.
During this period Matt Coupe’s experience was called upon to organise the Cirencester defence to keep them at bay.
The game was finally put beyond ‘The Swans’ on the stroke of full-time when Connolly won the ball on half-way and fed BEN WHITEHEAD, right channel – 25 yards out, who was forced to his left but found space to confidently tuck his left footed shot inside the right post from the centre front edge of the home area. 1-3.
Full Time: 1-3
This was an extremely competitive game with Slimbridge pressing at every opportunity and Cirencester defending resolutely to keep them out.
After the disappointment of Saturday a real test of their character against a very lively Slimbridge team who will cause problems for many a side during the season.
A hard won 3 points to get us off the mark.
Attendance: 167
Referee: Scott Tallis
Slimbridge:
1. Ollie Hall
2. Sam Turl
3. Adam Mace
4. Korey Pring
5. Alex Hoyle (C)
6. Luke Payne
7. Jack Twyman
8. Dean Turner
9. Joe Stokes 18
10. Max Harper-Emerson
11. Marley Thomas
12. Nathan Payne (Dean Turner-60mins)
14. Joe Wilton (Joe Stokes-70mins)
15. Richard Thwaite (Marley Thomas-87mins)
16. Kieran Squires
17. Freddy Ward
Cirencester Town:
1. Matt Wieczorek
2. James Mortimer-Jones
3. Ellis Dunton
4. Jordan Stoddart
5. Matt Coupe
6. Aidan Bennett
7. Jack Watts
8. Adam Connolly 32
9. Alan Griffin (C) 16p
10. Ben Whitehead 90
11. Henry Spalding
12. Louis Loader (Adam Connolly-93mins)
14. Mason Lewis (Ellis Dunton-71mins)
15. Kieren Diaz-Benitez (Henry Spalding-67mins)
16. Max Arnold
17. Sam Walsh