Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
Match Report by Dave Pyzer
Cirencester made an early start for the long journey to Devon to face Bideford and despite arriving in plenty of time to prepare conceded two goals in the first five minutes to put them on the back foot - a position they never recovered from as a buoyant Bideford side pressed their advantage home.
Prior to the game Bideford were in 15th position in the West Division table - one place above Cirencester, but in terms of form they were 9th to Cirencester's 18th (based on the '6-Match Form Guide).
The Cirencester starting eleven had one change to that which defeated Evesham United in The Buildbase FA trophy last weekend as former Centurion Jordan Ricketts had since been added to the squad on a dual registration basis with Chippenham Town and he took the place of James Mortimer-Jones. Ricketts took a position up front alongside Ben Whitehead as Cirencester started in a 4-4-2 formation.
Cirencester kicked off on a cool, overcast day and launched the ball down their right flank but it was soon in the possession of Bideford and fed to BILLY TUCKER who turned and fired a sensational left footed drive from 30 yards, right channel, that flew into the top right corner giving ‘keeper Matt Wieczorek no chance. 1-0.
Before Cirencester had time to recover from the shock the Referee (Stuart Kane) - some 30 yards behind play - awarded Bideford a dubious penalty as Tucker went to ground very easily with minimal contact from a Cirencester defender. RYAN TURNER stepped up to smash the kick into the bottom left corner. 2-0.
Around the mid-point of the half Cirencester began to string a few passes together to advance down the flanks and from one of these Jordan Ricketts made a strong run into the home penalty area but his resulting shot, from right of the penalty spot, was deflected wide.
Shortly afterwards home Custodian Steve Oliver produced a superb diving save to push a Matt Jones free kick around his left post.
Ten minutes before the interval Cirencester replaced Will Christopher with Matt Coupe and changed the formation to 3-5-2.
Cirencester were making a determined effort to reduce the deficit but on the stroke of half time conceded a third when a cross from the home side's right flank was met by two defenders and Bideford's CRAIG ALLEN and it was Allen who got the last touch to prod the ball into the net to give his side a 3-0 lead at the interval. 3-0.
Half Time: 3-0
During the second period Cirencester produced glimpses of the football they are capable of but Bideford were in confident mood with a 3 goal lead and their defence solid.
To add further to The Centurions woes just after the hour the home side launched the ball down their right channel for Turner to chase. Wieczorek had judged where it would land and charged from his area for a foot race with Turner but the two collided as the 'keeper cleared the ball and the striker fell to ground. The Referee awarded a foul against Wieczorek and adjudged that he was the last man and issued a straight Red Card.
Henry Spalding was forfeited to enable Scot Rose to take over in goal.
Despite being a man down Cirencester pressed forward bringing a couple of saves from Oliver and obtaining a number of corner kicks but they were unable to break through and Bideford comfortably took the 3 points.
Full Time: 3-0
‘Not a good day at the office’ as Cirencester were two down very early to give the home side confidence and with two ‘hard to take’ decisions against them from a Referee who was being assessed it just was not their day.
Attendance: 237 Referee: Stuart Kane
Bideford:
1. Steve Oliver
2. Ian Sampson
3. Ben Wood
4. James Mayne
5. Craig Allen 45+3
6. Scott Beattie
7. Matty Bye (C)
8. Louis Roberts
9. Ryan Turner 5p
10. Ben Seymour
11. Billy Tucker 2
12. Kevin Squire (Ryan Turner-85mins)
14. Dan Harrison
15. Craig Veal (Ben Seymour-75mins)
16. Craig Duff
17. Dan Western (Matty Bye-79mins)
Cirencester Town:
1. Matt Wieczorek
2. Will Christopher
3. Matt Jones
4. Jack Horrell
5. Jordan Stoddart
6. Mason Lewis
7. Jordan Ricketts
8. Adam Connolly (C)
9. Ben Whitehead
10. Aidan Bennett
11. Henry Spalding
12. Matt Coupe (Will Christopher-37mins)
14. Alan Griffin
15. James Mortimer-Jones (Jordan Ricketts-70mins)
16. Scott Rose (GK) (Henry Spalding-63mins)