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
Two of the top four form sides in the Southern League West Division produced an enthralling match at The Corinium Stadium that was a credit to non-league football as both sides earned a point.
In the reverse fixture in November the sides fought out a 2-2 draw with Cirencester’s equaliser coming in the 86th minute and both teams are currently in good form as prior to this match ‘The Farm’ sit in 4th place in the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table and Cirencester 1st so there is not much to choose between them. In terms of league position the visitors are in 3rd place and Cirencester 9th.
The Cirencester starting eleven had one change as Aidan Bennett replaced Henry Spalding who took a seat on the bench. The back four, with three teenagers in it, remained unchanged for the 3rd game on the bounce as Adam Connolly was not yet ready to start a match but was able to return to the squad.
Playing towards ‘The Arena’ end of the ground Cirencester started well with Will Tunnicliff overlapping to the left corner to win a corner kick within the first couple of minutes. The kick was played short by Mike Pook to Tommy Ouldridge who returned it for Pook to send it into mix in front of the goal but it was just too high for Alan Griffin to make contact.
Within minutes the visitors responded as Troy Simpson showed tremendous pace to counter attack down the left channel to the home by-line where he squared the ball back and through the penalty area as there was no-one near enough to support him.
Cirencester continued to press and neat play involving several players worked the ball down the right flank for the cross to be defended and a minute later Ben Whitehead fired wide of the left post.
The home side had the bit between their teeth as demonstrated by Tommy Ouldridge as he made a strong run down the right channel, avoiding several tackles as he travelled 20 yards, before being brought to the ground.
Once again the response for the visitors came through the pace of Troy Simpson as he chased after a ball over the Cirencester back line, down the right channel. Matt Wieczorek raced from his line to clear but the striker got there first but had to hurry to chip the ball over the advancing ‘keeper and as a result did not get enough power to his effort enabling a covering Will Christopher to clear the danger.
Around the mid-point of the half there was action in both penalty areas as a Whitehead burst was brought to an end when ‘keeper Ashley Clark dived at his feet to block and at the home end Troy Simpson supplied Dean Stamp, right of the penalty spot, but his effort was also blocked.
A few minutes later a quick counter attack by the visitors released Troy Simpson down the right channel for a 1v1 with Wieczorek that the ‘keeper blocked with his foot.
Despite this ‘scare’ Cirencester continued to push forward and Aidan Bennett headed wide at the back post before Tommy Anderson’s shot, from the right channel of the area, was blocked on the line after he latched onto a clearance.
As the half was drawing to a close ‘The Farm’ began to press the home defence, probing the front edge of their penalty area, in search of an opening and they were rewarded just before the interval when Troy Simpson ‘pinched’ the ball on the left by-line as a defender looked to shield it out of play. Without hesitating he squared the ball across the 6 yard box where brother CORY SIMPSON arrived to smash it home from a couple of yards. 0-1.
Half Time: 0-1
After the break Bristol Manor Farm immediately went on the offensive, buoyed by their late goal, and put the home defence under a lot of pressure for fifteen minutes - Stamp held off a challenge in the home area to feed Jordan Metters who fired over the bar and Jack Durrant did likewise from 25 yards.
A neat back-heel from Stamp released Metters again but this time his effort was blocked and when Wieczorek parried a Metters free kick Stamp headed over the open goal.
Around the hour mark Wieczorek was called into action twice as the visitors searched for a second goal as he won a 1v1 duel with Stamp and followed this up by ‘taking’ the ball off Troy Simpson’s toe as he burst into the area.
The only effort from Cirencester during this period had been a move down their left flank as Bennett fed Ouldridge who switched play to the right for Anderson to return the favour for Ouldridge to shoot wide of the left post.
Cirencester had survived the onslaught with some determined defending and they began to work the ball forward themselves with Bennett firing over the bar and Griffin sending an effort narrowly wide of the right post.
Encouraged they continued to press as the ball was switched from left to right for Christopher to advance and cross towards the penalty spot where Griffin’s shot was blocked on the line by Clark – although the Assistant Referee had raised his flag for offside.
With 15 scheduled minutes remaining the diminutive Anderson popped up in the Cirencester box to win a tackle against a much bigger opponent before sending the ball down the right flank for Griffin to collect and feed Whitehead, out to Henry Spalding on the left flank, forward to Bennett as he overlapped to the corner – a cross into the visitors box but too long.
This was soon followed by a Whitehead cross that led to a corner kick and a deep cross from Christopher that the visitors defence eventually cleared.
Whilst Cirencester had come into the game more Bristol Manor Farm were still dangerous on the counter attack through Troy Simpson and he won a corner kick that Steve Kingdon headed over from left of the penalty spot.
Into the final five minutes and Cirencester were pressing earnestly - with fluid movement and passing - switching play from left to right it was the turn of the visitors to defend resolutely.
With ‘added-time’ rapidly approaching Spalding collected the ball, near half way – left channel, and moved it on to BEN WHITEHEAD 15 yards inside the visitors half. The striker turned and charged towards the front left corner of their penalty area, avoiding a couple of challenges en-route, once there he cut left to avoid another, then rode a couple more to stay on his feet before unleashing a fierce, low drive inside the far right corner. A sensational goal. 1-1.
With a minimum four minutes added Cirencester continued to press and they nearly snatched all 3 points when a Griffin effort in the final moments was blocked by Clark near the line.
Full Time: 1-1
This was a terrific game of football with two ‘in-form’ sides really testing one another.
Cirencester played very well in the first half but conceded a very late goal that encouraged their visitors who created several chances after the interval but the home side showed good character to bounce back as the half progressed, finishing very strongly to earn their equaliser.
Attendance: 183 Referee: Craig Simpson
Cirencester Town:
1. Matt Wieczorek
2. Will Christopher
3. Will Tunnicliff
4. Michael Pook
5. Alex Albert
6. Mason Lewis
7. Tommy Anderson
8. Tommy Ouldridge
9. Alan Griffin (C)
10. Ben Whitehead 88
11. Aidan Bennett
12. Henry Spalding (Will Tunnicliff-70mins)
14. Max Arnold
15. Sam Walsh
16. Adam Connolly (Mason Lewis-65mins)
17. James Mortimer-Jones
Bristol Manor Farm:
1. Ashley Clark
2. Stuart Tovey
3. Aron Robbins
4. Jamie Turner
5. Steve Kingdon
6. Jay Adams
7. Troy Simpson
8. Jack Durrant
9. Dean Stamp
10. Jordan Metters (C)
11. Cory Simpson 44
12. Kye Holly (Dean Stamp-69mins)
14. Lloyd Mills (Jordan Metters-82mins)
15. Rex Manning
16. Matt Groves
17. Iain Harvey