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 returned to The Corinium Stadium for the first time in a month, after three successive away fixtures, and recovered from being a goal down within the first 30 minutes to finally record the victory their recent performances have warranted.
Barnstaple Town’s start to the season has been similar to that of their hosts as prior to this match they sat in 21st place in the West Division table – two places below Cirencester with 3 fewer points but having played one more game.
On the playing front there was one change to the starting eleven that performed so well at AFC Totton last Saturday, despite coming away with no points, as Thom Jonkerman completed his one month loan spell in that match and has now returned to Bristol Rovers. We wish Thom every success in his future career and thank him for his commitment to the Cirencester cause whilst on loan with us.
As a result of Thom’s departure Matt Wieczorek returned in goal having recovered from his injury and the rest of the starting eleven remained unchanged from last week.
The hosts kicked off on a very cold, overcast day towards the Arena end of the ground and immediately attacked down their left flank and pressed for the first few minutes. Somewhat against the run of play it was Barnstaple’s Luke Durham who fired the first shot at goal, from a central position 30 yards out, bringing a comfortable low save from Matt Wieczorek.
Back came Cirencester with Tommy Anderson carrying the ball to the right by-line before crossing towards the penalty spot – the ball was headed out but recovered by Michael Pook who slipped it to the left corner where Aidan Bennett, Ben Whitehead and Adam Connolly combined but were unable to break through.
The Cirencester left flank was particularly busy during these early exchanges and once the visitors had repelled their advances they countered down their right flank through the heavily left footed Lloyd Gardner who moved left from the right flank to send a low shot towards the far left post – once again Wieczorek made the save. It was to prove a practice for the opening goal.
Barnstaple had weathered the opening burst from Cirencester and leading up to the 15 minute mark were beginning to test the Cirencester defence with Durham having another shot deflected for the first corner kick of the match.
In response Bennett slipped the ball to Whitehead who moved into the left channel of the Barnstaple penalty area before shooting. His effort was blocked but collected by Tommy Ouldridge who immediately shot – saved by ‘keeper Grant Fisher.
Twenty minutes in and Cirencester worked another good opening as Whitehead slipped the ball to Ouldridge on the edge of the box and he in turn slipped it forward and right to Anderson. The winger shaped to collect but stepped over it for the ball to run to Pook, right channel of the area, who fired at the target but a well positioned Fisher blocked the effort.
Eight minutes later Barnstaple opened the scoring as Cirencester allowed too much room in the centre of the pitch enabling LLOYD GARDNER to reproduce his earlier move of cutting left from the right channel before placing his left footed shot from 25 yards inside the left post. 0-1.
This setback prompted a positive response from Cirencester as they attacked down their left flank on several occasions with Bennett, an overlapping Louis Spalding and Whitehead prominent but Barnstaple held firm. Cirencester tried the right flank as Spalding switched play to Will Christopher who sent a pass into the right channel of the visitor’s area but as Whitehead attempted to latch onto it he was adjudged to have fouled the defender and the threat was over.
Five minutes to the scheduled interval and once again Cirencester were pressing with an effort rebounding to Pook who struck a fierce drive from 22 yards that Fisher initially parried before picking it up before anyone could get to it.
In added time a Barnstaple free kick from their left flank into the Cirencester penalty area was headed wide of the right post much to the relief of the home support.
Half Time: 0-1
After all the pressure and positive play of the first half was this to be another solid performance that yielded nothing?
Once again the home side took to the pitch in positive mind as Bennett produced a driving run down the left touch-line and crossed to the near post where Nathan Cooper sliced the ball over his crossbar for a corner kick that was defended.
This was quickly followed by play being switched from left to right where Christopher moved forward and struck an accurate shot towards the top right corner but Fisher moved left to make the catch.
Eight minutes into the half and ELLIS DUNTON won the ball 15 yards inside his half and immediately moved forward, avoiding some challenges and riding more robust ones as he carried the ball into the Barnstaple half. When 25 yards out, right of centre, he looked up and spotting Fisher off his line he went for the chip. It looked like his effort was going to clear the bar but it dipped, struck the bar and rebounded onto the back of Fisher before finishing in the back of the net. 1-1.
A bit of luck that has not been going Cirencester’s way in recent matches.
Encouraged Anderson was released down the right touch-line, reaching the by-line he sent a low cross through the Barnstaple 6 yard box. It was collected by Bennett at the back post who sent it back towards goal – deflected high towards the right post where Anderson followed up to head goal-wards – blocked.
A couple of other attempts came to nothing and as the mid-point of the half approached Barnstaple began to counter with Gardner prominent as he first crossed into the home area and then collected a cross from Connor Clifford and brought a reflex save from Wieczorek that resulted in a corner kick. The kick was headed across the goal and Chris Ibbeson missed his chance from a yard at the left post.
Having survived this scare Cirencester again pushed forward with a Whitehead effort pushed wide, a Bennett cross through the penalty area to Anderson being fed to Pook and his shot cleared off the line – eventually leading to another corner kick and an overhead kick from Alexandru Albert that was blocked.
Barnstaple were certainly not out of the contest at this stage as they threatened with free kicks and long range shots but during the last ten minutes Cirencester tightened the screw leading to a superbly taken goal from BEN WHITEHEAD. Louis Spalding made an overlapping run to the left corner (one of several during the half) and crossed towards the penalty spot where Whitehead produced an acrobatic left footed volley over his right shoulder and inside the right post. 2-1.
As the game entered the last five minutes of normal time Alan Griffin slipped the ball into the path of Anderson as he darted down the right channel and into the penalty area where he sent a low ‘cross-come-shot’ towards the far left post. It passed narrowly wide with Whitehead desperately trying to reach it.
A few minutes later Griffin headed a Wieczorek punt down to Bennett, left channel – 30 yards out, who slid it to Anderson, right channel front edge of the Barnstaple area, and he flicked it towards the right side edge of the area where Griffin had continued his run to collect. Griffin looked up and placed an accurate low cross towards the far post where BEN WHITEHEAD darted forward to score his second from a few yards. 3-1.
On the stroke of the 90 minutes George Nancekivell struck a surprise shot from 35 yards that Wieczorek managed to get his finger-tips to as he pushed it over his bar and Cirencester survived the resulting corner kick to claim a much needed three points.
Full Time: 3-1
A superb all round team performance from Cirencester that finally obtained the three points they have been denied in their recent improved performances.
To their credit Barnstaple certainly played their part in an entertaining game of football.
Attendance: 100 Referee: Ivan Gelov
Cirencester Town:
1. Matt Wieczorek
2. Will Christopher
3. Louis Spalding
4. Michael Pook
5. Ellis Dunton 53
6. Alexandru Albert
7. Tommy Ouldridge
8. Adam Connolly (C)
9. Aidan Bennett
10. Ben Whitehead 83, 89
11. Tommy Anderson
12. Alan Griffin (Michael Pook-78mins)
14. Mason Lewis
15. Max Lloyd
16. James Mortimer-Jones (Aidan Bennett-91mins)
17. Scott Rose (GK)
Barnstaple Town:
1. Grant Fisher
2. Mike Humphreys
3. Connor Clifford
4. George Nancekivell
5. Chris Ibbeson
6. Nathan Cooper
7. Niall Heeney (C)
8. Luke Durham
17. Rob Holmes
10. Ethan Phillips
11. Lloyd Gardner 28
12. Harry Stephens (Ethan Phillips-59mins)
14. Jed Harper-Penman (Rob Holmes-59mins)
15. Tony Radford (Niall Heeney-45mins)
16. Archie Racey