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 were involved in another high tempo, entertaining match of passing football when they entertained second placed Salisbury but an 87h minute goal secured the three points for the visitors.
The visitors are in a good run of form having won their previous 4 matches - scoring ten goals and conceding only one in the process but Cirencester are also playing well of late having won three of their last four games with the only defeat a narrow one at leaders Taunton Town by the odd goal in three - so an entertaining match was in prospect.
The starting eleven for Cirencester was virtually unchanged from the last match with Alexandru Albert returning (having been on the bench in the previous game due to traffic problems).
Salisbury started very positively, dominating the early play, as they moved the ball from one side of the pitch to the other probing the home defence but it took until the 7th minute for their first shot as George Colson overlapped on the right flank before firing towards the near post where Matt Wieczorek made a comfortable catch.
The home side mounted a couple of counter attacks and from one of these Salisbury countered down their right channel for Owen Howe to switch play to the left flank where DANIEL YOUNG cut right on the side edge of the home area and fired a low ‘cross-cum-shot’ across the 6 yard box that found its’ way inside the far post to open the scoring. 0-1.
The response from Cirencester was a powerful 30 yarder from Michael Pook that fizzed wide of the left post but normal service was soon resumed as Salisbury pressed again with Elliot Wheeler bringing a catch out of Wieczorek at his left post.
At the mid-point of the half Cirencester began to work their way into the game as they too started to string a few passes together using both flanks and their effort was rewarded when play was switched from right to left and forward down the flank with Ben Whitehead and Louis Spalding combining to release HENRY SPALDING who moved right along the front edge of the Salisbury penalty area before calmly placing a right footed shot inside the right post. 1-1.
Encouraged by this success Cirencester pressed forward and the game became more balanced as both sides worked the ball with flowing football searching for openings and then countered when the ball was won.
In the final moments of the half a Cirencester appeal for offside was ignored enabling Salisbury to cross from the right – Wieczorek pushed the ball away as his defence regrouped and it was cleared.
Half Time: 1-1
The home side had finished the half positively but as in the first half it was the visitors who started strongly and pressed Cirencester immediately as Aaron Dawson fired over the bar from 25 yards.
Five minutes into the half Howe produced an instinctive shot on the turn from 25 yards that brought a finger tip save from Wieczorek who then punched the resultant corner kick out of his area but it was quickly recovered for another two corner kicks that Cirencester defended.
A couple of minute later Salisbury regained the lead with another instant strike from OWEN HOWE when the ball dropped into his path, following a blocked Cirencester pass in the centre circle, and he volleyed it into the top right corner with Wieczorek helpless.
As before Cirencester reacted positively although Josh Sommerton’s cross from the left reached Claudio Herbert at the far post but his header was caught by Wieczorek.
Just after the hour mark Cirencester were unlucky not to level as Louis Spalding drove to the left by-line before crossing to Aidan Bennett who collected on the right side edge of the Salisbury penalty area and struck a fierce shot towards the target. A covering defender made a partial block and the ball looped over Searle and struck the inside of the far post but instead of entering the net it rebounded into the grateful ‘keepers arms.
At the mid-point of the half there was a contentious incident as Searle waited for the ball to reach him near the edge of his area enabling Whitehead to nip in to challenge. Whitehead dragged the ball away as it wasn’t yet under the control of the ‘keeper as Searle got his hands to it and moved right to finish but was pulled back by the Referee’s whistle.
A minute later Henry Spalding fired wide of the right post from 25 yards before being replaced by Tommy Anderson.
The Salisbury response was a Stuart Green pass that released Ollie Mehew into the left channel of the home area but Wieczorek came out to smother at his feet.
A few minutes later Anderson collected the ball near half way and produced a sensational exhibition of wing play as he drove down the right flank, evaded several challenges, to reach the by-line where he pulled the ball back towards the front edge of the Salisbury area. AIDAN BENNETT had followed up in support and from the left channel front edge of the area he produced a controlled finish that flew inside the right post to level the score again. 2-2.
Cirencester were now in buoyant mood and seeing plenty of the ball as they pressed forward testing the Salisbury defence. One of these exploits released Whitehead to the right channel of the visitor’s area where Searle saved the resulting shot at his left post.
Inevitably this enabled Salisbury to exploit gaps and Green headed on to Mehew who headed wide when well placed. This was quickly followed as the same players combined for Mehew to be 1v1 with Wieczorek but the keeper won the duel to concede a corner kick that was defended.
With three minutes of scheduled time remaining Salisbury’s impressive Tom Whelan sent the ball to the right channel of the home area where CLAUDIO HERBERT collected and slipped it past the advancing Wieczorek to secure victory for his side. 2-3.
Full Time: 2-3
The watching supporters were treated to another entertaining game of fluid, flowing football as both teams moved the ball around the pitch searching for openings – a credit to Non-League football.
Once again Cirencester have tested a top side but lost by the odd goal.
Attendance: 253 Referee: Edward Turner (Oxford)
Cirencester Town:
1. Matt Wieczorek
2. Will Christopher
3. Louis Spalding
4. Michael Pook
5. Alexandru Albert
6. Ellis Dunton
7. Tommy Ouldridge
8. Adam Connolly (C)
9. Aidan Bennett 74
10. Ben Whitehead
11. Henry Spalding 27
12. Alan Griffin (Adam Connolly-67mins)
14. Tommy Anderson (Henry Spalding-70mins)
15. Mason Lewis
16. Max Lloyd
17. James Mortimer-Jones
Salisbury:
1. Charlie Searle
2. George Colson
3. Joshua Sommerton
4. Thomas Whelan
16. Jacob Wannell
6. Elliot Wheeler (C)
7. Lewis Benson
8. Aaron Dawson
9. Owen Howe 52
10. Stuart Green
11. Daniel Young 14
12. Claudio Herbert (Lewis Benson-46mins) 87
14. Oliver Mehew (Owen Howe-67mins)
15. Charlie Rayfield
13. Tom Roberts