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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Match Report by Dave Pyzer
Cirencester made the journey to Hampshire for this re-arranged fixture knowing that victory was essential to maintain their push for a 'play-off' place and were put to the sword by their hosts for most of the game but still managed to come away with the points.
In terms of current form Winchester were in 13th position in the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table having secured 8 points from the 18 available with wins against Yate Town and North Leigh and creditable away draws at Salisbury and Swindon Supermarine. Cirencester were in 2nd place.
The Evo-Stik Southern League – West Division table has ‘The Citizens’ in 11th place and ‘The Centurions’ in 7th but there is only 6 points between them from 40 games played. The reverse fixture was a narrow 1-0 win to Cirencester.
The Cirencester starting eleven had one change as Aidan Bennett, who scored the winning goal on Saturday, replaced Henry Spalding who took a seat on the bench.
In conditions that made free flowing football impossible - strong wind, rain and a hard bumpy pitch – Cirencester kicked off proceedings with the strong wind behind them and after working the ball down the left took a throw from the right that Alan Griffin headed wide of the near post.
The early stages were cut & thrust as both sides attacked down the flanks – Dan Willamson was forced wide on the right by Will Tunnicliff eventually leading to a low shot that Matt Wieczorek saved at his left post and then Tunnicliff overlapped down the left until stopped near the home area with no free kick awarded despite the protestations of the young full-back.
It continued in this vein until Oli Bailey released Rob Carr down the left and as he cut in a Will Christopher tackle brought him to the ground and a PENALTY KICK was awarded. Adam Tomasso struck his kick low and hard towards the bottom right post where Wieczorek dived left to push it around his post.
Cirencester were finding it hard to judge the weight of pass due to the strong wind and the hard bumpy pitch also made it difficult to control the high bouncing ball and this latter feature nearly caught out ‘keeper Ryan Pryce as he advanced to the edge of his box and had to stretch to maximum height to take a high bounce from a lobbed pass down the centre by Christopher.
A minute later the home side opened the scoring as Bailey leapt to block a Wieczorek clearance punt it struck him on the back and rebounded towards the left channel of the penalty area. Bailey got there first and fired at the gaping goal but struck the left post with the ball rebounding towards the penalty spot where SIMBA MLAMBO followed up to send into the vacant net. 1-0.
Whilst Cirencester were settling from this setback Carr volleyed over the bar from a Bailey pass and then the action moved to the other end as Aidan Bennett had an effort cleared over the bar by Tomasso leading to a series of corners.
Cirencester were really pressing for a goal at this stage and Bennett was involved a couple of times as he headed a cross from Christopher over the bar and then latched onto a ball on the edge of the box with Pryce stranded but it was bouncing awkwardly on the hard surface and cover got back.
‘The Citizens’ responded as a long ball was clipped behind the advanced Centurions rearguard for the speedy Bailey to chase but he was forced right by Wieczorek and struck the side netting.
This was the cue for the home side to press as the half entered the final 10 scheduled minutes but in ‘added-time’ it was Cirencester who scored. A throw-in from the left flank reached Griffin and he headed it on to BEN WHITEHEAD, centre front edge of the penalty area, who turned and fired inside the right post. 1-1.
Half Time: 1-1
After the break Cirencester expected to be playing into a strong wind but instead they were greeted by driving rain and taking full advantage the home side pressed for the opening 10 minutes with Williamson shooting wide after a dangerous run into the Cirencester penalty area and Mlambo having an effort blocked.
Just before the hour mark a Cirencester counter attack led to a corner kick that reached Aidan Bennett on the right and he promptly chipped it to Whitehead. The striker’s effort was blocked near the line but ALEX ALBERT pounced to drive it into the roof of the net. 1-2.
Back came Winchester with Jamie Barron prompting from midfield and as a result Cirencester relied on counter attacks as Tommy Anderson burst down the right flank several times, ably supported by Christopher, and often supplied by the hardworking Griffin.
Into the final 15 scheduled minutes and Bennett launched a clearance down the centre of the pitch for Whitehead to chase. It became a foot-race between the striker and Pryce that the striker won to chip over the advancing ‘keeper and it took an age for the ball to drop narrowly over the bar.
A minute later Cirencester made several blocks inside their penalty area, as if their lives depended on it, until the Referee awarded a penalty kick. This time Jamie Barron stepped forward to send his kick down the middle. Matt Wieczorek saved his kick and also the follow-up shot that was subsequently cleared.
For the next few minutes Cirencester were put under severe pressure and one clearance resulted in Danny King having a snap shot from 40 yards that was just over the bar.
Cirencester were still dangerous on the counter as Tunnicliff combined with Bennett in the left corner resulting in a corner kick and then a period of possession in the same corner with several involved led to a clever back-heel from Ouldridge and a cross from the by-line by Tunnicliff that passed through the penalty area.
The final penalty area action of the game fell to Winchester as Ben Surley headed on to Bailey, right of the penalty spot, but in his eagerness the striker missed his kick enabling Wieczorek to collect.
Full Time: 1-2
It was not the most entertaining game in terms of flowing football but the players from both sides should be congratulated for their commitment and effort in such adverse conditions to produce an enthralling encounter that kept supporters on the edge of their seats to the very end.
Cirencester rode their luck at times but put everything on the line as they battled for the three vital points that keep their ‘play-off’ ambitions alive.
Attendance: 138 Referee: Mr Martin Bloor
WINCHESTER CITY:
1. Ryan Pryce
2. Joe Hayward
3. Danny King
4. Adam Tomasso
5. Joe Cook
6. Craig Davis
7. Dan Williamson
8. Simba Mlambo 19
9. Oli Bailey
10. Jamie Barron (C)
11. Rob Carr
12. I.K. Hill (Rob Carr-35mins)
14. Harvey Clark
15. Ben Sunley (Craig Davis-87mins)
16. Josh Corner (Simba Mlambo-88mins)
17. Gareth Byres
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Matt Wieczorek
2. Will Christopher
3. Will Tunicliff
4. Michael Pook
5. Alex Albert 58
6. Tommy Ouldridge
7. Tommy Anderson
8. Adam Connolly
9. Alan Griffin (C)
10. Ben Whitehead 45+1
11. Aidan Bennett
12. Henry Spalding
14. James Mortimer-Jones
15. Mason Lewis
16. Scott Rose (GK)