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
In their final home match of the season Cirencester offered a ‘pay what you want’ on entry to The Corinium Stadium as they welcomed Kidlington, former Centurions, Coaches and Managers - and they were rewarded with their biggest home attendance of the season.
The spectators that took advantage of the generous gesture were treated to an entertaining match as Cirencester had to come from behind twice before a firm strike in the 71st minute from Aidan Bennett gave his side the lead that they managed to retain until the final whistle.
Our highly successful Cirencester Town U7’s added to the occasion as Mascots for the game joining the First Team players for the pre-match handshakes and displaying their skills during the half-time interval with a few training routines. Aidan Bennett, a former Cirencester Junior himself, also joined them for a ‘kick about’. Well done boys... and Aidan.
‘The Greens’ came into the match in fairly good form having narrowly lost (by the odd goal) to Salisbury and Bideford before drawing with Swindon Supermarine in mid-week (Brad Hooper equalised for Supermarine from the penalty spot in the 91st minute).
Cirencester kicked off proceedings, playing towards the Arena end of the ground, and within three minutes they were a goal down as Kidlington attacked to the right corner where they won a corner kick. Cirencester defended the kick but the clearance was collected by the visitors and a quick exchange of passes between Lewis Gabbidon and DECLAN BENJAMIN provided the space for the latter to stroke the ball inside the right post from the edge of the penalty area. 0-1.
In response Cirencester pressed forward with Tommy Anderson heavily involved as he made several darting runs down the right flank resulting in a cross to the far post that was met by Henry Spalding but blocked and cleared, a ball through the visitors penalty area that deserved contact and a header that was gathered by custodian Sam Warrell at his left post.
Not to be outdone Henry Spalding sent a teasing cross from the left flank to Alan Griffin that the striker narrowly headed wide of the target.
The visitors were finding the 3G surface to their liking as they worked the ball down their left flank with Tommy Castle, Benjamin and Lewis Coyle exchanging passes before switching play to the right where Benjamin popped up again to cross from the corner – cut out.
With 15 minutes on the clock Ben Whitehead took the ball towards the left by-line where he was denied in a 1v1 with Warrell.
As the mid-point of the half approached Anaclet Odhiambo counter attacked to the right corner resulting in a corner kick from the left as Matt Wieczorek pushed the resulting cross over his bar. Duran Martin played it short to Coyle who returned it for Martin to fire just over the bar from the left front corner of the home penalty area.
The action was quickly at the other end as Whitehead’s shot from the left channel front edge of the Kidlington area was pushed out by Warrell into the path of Griffin who fired it into the empty net – to be denied by an ‘offside’ flag.
Cirencester continued to press and the break-through came when ALEX ALBERT powerfully headed, a Spalding corner kick from the right, home at the back post– his first goal for the Club. 1-1.
As the half entered the final 15 scheduled minutes Whitehead rode a couple of strong challenges on the left touchline, near half way, and switched play to the right with a raking 30 yard pass to Anderson who galloped down the right flank and sent another inviting ball through the Kidlington area.
Within minutes Jack Quainton countered to the right corner to cross for Anaclet Odhiambo to produce a glancing header past the left post and then Gabbidon supplied Benjamin, in space in the right channel of the Cirencester area, who shot wide of the far left post.
Kidlington were making a determined effort to regain the lead before the interval and a clever piece of footwork by Will Christopher (two sharp turns and pirouettes) in the Cirencester area denied the visitors an opening and enabled his wing-man, Anderson, to counter attack to the right corner where he too produced some tricky footwork along the by-line to win a free kick that was headed over the bar.
With a few minutes remaining Will Tunnicliff fed Spalding on the left and his subsequent cross was volleyed over the Kidlington bar by Griffin but the final action of the half came as Albert covered to take the ball off Benjamin’s toe as he shaped to shoot in the right channel of the home penalty area.
Half Time: 1-1
The first half had been played at a brisk pace with the central midfield areas for both sides busy as Kidlington had Eddie Odhiambo patrolling in front of his defence feeding Benjamin and Gabbidon to break forward with short pass and move play whilst Cirencester had Tommy Ouldridge and Mike Pook competing with them to feed the flanks.
Immediately from the re-start Cirencester attacked down the left flank as Spalding fed Whitehead and he crossed towards the right post where Griffin headed against the bar.
Somewhat against the run of play at this point in the half DURAN MARTIN played a one-two on the edge of the home box, left channel, that put him in space to score off the inside of the right post. 1-2.
Undeterred Cirencester produced a flowing move as Anderson exchanged passes with Griffin before moving the ball on to Ouldridge, out to Spalding and a cross into the box for Griffin’s over-head effort to be deflected past the left post. A couple of corner kicks followed but the ball eventually ended up in the hands of Warrell.
Whilst Cirencester were not having much luck in front of goal Kidlington also failed to convert when Darius Browne crossed from left to right for Coyle to slip Anaclet Odhiambo into the right channel but the striker chipped over the bar as Matt Wieczorek charged towards him.
Just after the hour Cirencester were again denied by an ‘offside’ flag as a delicate, glancing header from Ben Whitehead sneaked inside the right post.
As Cirencester pushed forward the game opened up and at the mid-point of the half Aidan Bennett won the ball inside his half and quickly played it forward for BEN WHITEHEAD to collect further down the left channel. The striker latched onto the pass and charged into the penalty area before calmly tucking the ball inside the right post as Warrell advanced. 2-2.
Four minutes later AIDAN BENNETT battled for the ball, 25 yards out – left channel, won it, cut right and fired a powerful, low shot inside the left post to give his side the lead. 3-2.
At this point there was a short ‘Drinks Break’ due to the temperature and when the game restarted Martin found Benjamin, to the left of the penalty spot, and his snap shot was blocked by the quick reactions of Wieczorek for Tunnicliff to complete the clearance.
A few minutes later another flowing move resulted in a Bennett shot that led to a counter attack as Benjamin fed Connor McDonagh but Adam Connolly covered to win the ball and supply Bennett.
As the game was drawing to a close Anderson made a surging 30 yard run down the right channel and into the penalty area for a 1v1 with Warrell. The ‘keeper saved his first shot but the ball rebounded to the winger who slipped it left to Whitehead – blocked, rebounded to Ouldridge, just outside the area, right foot shot blocked by Warrell and cleared.
On the stroke of the scheduled 90 minutes Tunnicliff supplied Bennett who crossed from the left by-line towards Whitehead but the ball was intercepted and fed to McDonagh who charged down the right channel to the edge of the Cirencester area where Adam Connolly used his experience to good effect with a timely tackle that resulted in a corner kick that came to nought.
Full Time: 3-2
Yet another entertaining game of football at The Corinium Stadium with both sides playing a full part.
Kidlington were comfortable on the ball and moved it around well to twice take the lead but Cirencester stuck to their task and showed good character to eventually win the contest.
Congratulations to ALEX ALBERT on his first goal for the Club after several ‘near-misses’ in recent matches.
Attendance: 280 Referee: Michael Halford (Bristol)
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Matt Wieczorek
2. Will Christopher
3. Will Tunnicliff
4. Michael Pook
5. Alex Albert 30
6. Tommy Ouldridge
7. Tommy Anderson (18)
8. Adam Connolly
9. Alan Griffin (C)
10. Ben Whitehead 67
11. Henry Spalding
12. Aidan Bennett (Henry Spalding-63mins) 71
14. James Mortimer-Jones (Alan Griffin-84mins)
15. Max Arnold
16. Mason Lewis
17. Scott Rose (GK)
KIDLINGTON:
1. Sam Warrell
2. Jack Quainton
3. Tommy Castle
4. Ben Brown
5. James Organ
6. Eddie Odhiambo
7. Declan Benjamin 3
8. Lewis Gabbidon (C)
9. Anaclet Odhiambo
10. Lewis Coyle
11. Duran Martin 51
12. Lance Williams
14. Elliott Osborne-Ricketts (Eddie Odhiambo-74mins)
15. Darius Browne (Ben Brown-28mins)
16. Connor McDonagh (Lewis Coyle-63mins)