Cirencester Town FC
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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 returned to Paulton Rovers five weeks after their league success for this FA Trophy match and led twice before being held with an ‘added-time’ headed goal from ‘keeper Alhaji Sesay who is on loan from Bristol City.
The Cirencester starting eleven was unchanged from their mid-week victory at Cinderford Town. Mason Lewis returned from holiday to take a seat on the bench in place of Jordan Ricketts who was unavailable as he was required by Chippenham.
The visitors began confidently taking the game to their hosts and there was a period of ‘sparring’ as both sides worked their flanks.
The first direct shot at goal came after a driving run from Liam Monelle had resulted in a corner kick which reached Monelle who struck a weak shot at the target for Matt Wieczorek to collect at his left post.
Cirencester responded immediately as Aidan Bennett crossed from the left corner towards the penalty spot where Alhaji Sesay (who has already appeared against Cirencester twice this season for Bristol City U23’s) punched the ball clear off the top of Tommy Anderson’s head as he darted in from the right. James Mortimer-Jones collected the ball just outside the area but his shot was blocked by Dale Evans.
Five minutes later Cirencester opened the scoring after Henry Spalding intercepted a cross-field pass on the edge of the centre circle and raced down the centre of the pitch with BEN WHITEHEAD keeping pace alongside him to provide an option. As Spalding neared the home penalty area he drew the last defender before slipping the ball to his right for Whitehead to continue into the area, right of centre, and strike a firm right footed shot that Sesay managed to get a hand to but couldn’t prevent entering his net inside his left post. 0-1.
Cirencester pressed again down their right flank through Tommy Anderson who produced some excellent ‘quick feet’ to evade several would-be challenges as he cut in to the front edge of the penalty area, right channel, before firing a left footed shot narrowly wide of the right post.
The home side mounted a number of attacks as the half hour mark neared but without any real threat to the Cirencester defence due to sterling defensive work from Jordan Stoddart and Adam Connolly that also enabled counter attacks with Bennett cutting-in from the left and working his way along the front edge of the penalty area before shooting - Sesay saving low to his left.
Just after this point the game entered a ‘tetchy’ phase as three of the home side received Yellow Cards in a 6 minute period.
As the half entered the last five minutes David Sims produced a ‘mazy’ run as he cut in from the right and into the Cirencester area before shooting - forcing Wieczorek to make a low save at his left post.
In the last couple of minutes before the interval Spalding shot wide of the left post and a Sims cross was cut-out by Connolly on the edge of his 6 yard box.
Half Time: 0-1
Immediately from the re-start the home side attacked down their right flank with Camen Harvey heavily involved as he sent crosses towards the Cirencester box and in between the visitors worked the ball down their right flank as Jack Horrell and Will Christopher exchanged passes before moving the ball on to Whitehead in the corner where he was crowded out.
Seven minutes into the half Sims attempted to repeat his driving run of the first half but Connolly’s well timed tackle deflected the ball for Matt Jones to send to Bennett on half way and he made a driving run down the left flank to the front corner of the home area where he was confronted by a defender. Bennett went down the edge of the area and crossed with his left foot - blocked but he recovered the rebound to send a right footed cross that passed narrowly wide of the far right post.
A couple of minutes later Bennett supplied Spalding who exchanged passes with Anderson on the right before switching play to the left as he attempted to find Bennett but the pass was too long.
Cirencester were pressing hard at this stage and Spalding, on the right, slipped the ball to Mortimer-Jones and he found Bennett to his left. Bennett moved forward to draw defenders before slipping the ball left to an over-lapping Jones on a charge down the left side edge of the home area. Jones collected the ball and played it through the 6 yard box where an incoming Anderson was inches short of making contact.
On the hour both sides introduced substitutes with James Byrne replacing Sims and Michael Pook replacing a limping Bennett.
Within two minutes of the changes the home side equalised when Harvey slipped the ball to the right corner for the dangerous Josh Morgan-Williams to collect and cut along the by-line where he sent a low drive towards the near post. Jordan Stoddart was back pedalling to cover the cross and the ball struck him to rebound past Wieczorek and into the net for an OWN GOAL. 1-1.
A couple of minutes later Cirencester were awarded a corner kick from the right and Henry Spalding attempted another one of the ‘in-swingers’ that have brought him a goal in the last two matched but this time it landed on top of the net.
Just before the mid-point of the half Cirencester pressed again down their right flank as Spalding and Anderson exchanged passes enabling Spalding to send a well weighted ball down the right channel of the penalty area for BEN WHITEHEAD to collect and unleash a fierce right footed shot that flew inside the near right post to restore the lead. 1-2.
For the next few minutes both sides attacked down their right flanks but without success and as the game entered the final ten minutes there was a flash-point as Morgan-Williams flattened Mortimer-Jones with a late challenge leading to a melee that eventually resulted in Morgan-Williams and Connolly being awarded Yellow Cards.
A couple of minutes later a Horrell corner kick from the left passed through the home 6 yard box without contact.
Into the final 5 minutes and Paulton were increasing the pressure on the Cirencester defence and when they were awarded a corner kick from the left in ‘added-time’, ‘keeper ALHAJI SESAY advanced to the penalty area and it was he who powerfully headed into the net from right of the penalty spot to secure a replay at Cirencester. 2-2.
Full Time: 2-2
In the last two Saturday games Cirencester have been pegged back in the final minutes after generally solid team performances and will no doubt be disappointed not to have secured their place in the next round of the competition already.
Ben Whitehead will undoubtedly be delighted to have scored two terrific goals with his right foot to cap his hard working performance as the lone striker.
Attendance: 119 Referee: Stephen Graham
Paulton Rovers:
1. Aljaji Sesay 90+3
2. Camen Harvey
3. Josh Cann
4. Joe Chandler
5. Josh Ford (C)
6. Joe Guest
7. David Sims
8. Dale Evans
9. Jack Ball
10. Liam Monelle
11. Josh Morgan-Williams
12. James Byrne (David Sims-58mins)
14. Sam Hedges (Josh Ford-27mins)
15. Tyrone Tucker-Dixon
16. Joe Hillard
17. Mario Mateus (Liam Monelle-78mins)
Cirencester Town:
1. Matt Wieczorek
2. Will Christopher
3. Matt Jones
4. James Mortimer-Jones
5. Jordan Stoddart
6. Jack Horrell
7. Henry Spalding
8. Adam Connolly (C)
9. Aidan Bennett
10. Ben Whitehead 21, 66
11. Tommy Anderson
12. Michael Pook (Aidan Bennett-59mins)
14. Mason Lewis
16. Alan Griffin
17. Scott Rose (GK)