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
The final Pre-Season Friendly Match in preparation for the upcoming season saw local rivals Swindon Supermarine visit The Corinium Stadium.
At the end of last season ‘Marine’ were promoted to the Premier Division South via the ‘play-offs’ – beating Evesham United and then drawing with Wimborne Town in the final (winning the resulting penalty shoot-out to secure promotion). Manager Lee Spalding has been busy recruiting in preparation for the higher level and today’s match will be a test of their progress.
Straight from the kick-off the visitors showed their intent as they immediately attacked down the centre to win a corner kick on their left flank and a few minutes later Josh Parsons found Conor McDonagh in space, to the left of the penalty spot, and after rounding Matt Wieczorek he slid the ball under the ‘keeper but struck the far post – enabling Wieczorek to recover.
Cirencester responded with a move down their right flank – Tommy Anderson back to Will Christopher, forward to Alan Griffin, out to Anderson, inside to Henry Spalding and a switch to the left flank where Jordan Morris sent a low cross towards the penalty spot where former Centurion Matt Coupe intercepted at full stretch for ‘keeper Josh Hill to pick up.
Back came ‘Marine’ as McDonagh broke forward to be stopped by a well timed tackle from Ellis Dunton who then started a counter attack with a curling, left footed pass down the right flank for Anderson to collect and cross – blocked for a Cirencester throw-in.
Shortly afterwards Cirencester opened the scoring with a flowing move from defence (Ellis Dunton to Will Christopher), through midfield (Ben Whitehead) and out to Morris on the left who crossed for ALAN GRIFFIN to slide in to finish at the back post. 1-0.
Two goals in two minutes from CONOR MCDONAGH put the visitors in front as he collected a ‘pull-back’ from the right by-line to fire home from just outside the 6 yard box and then battled to regain the rebound of his own shot to finish from a similar position. 1-2.
The two quick goals took the wind out of Cirencester for a while and enabled Supermarine to press and work across the pitch with McDonagh shooting wide of the right post.
Just after the half hour point Dunton played the ball down the right channel to Whitehead, advanced to collect the return (just outside the visitors penalty area) and then slipped it back to Whitehead who turned and shot and despite being partially blocked it still took a diving save from Hill to keep it out.
During the last five minutes of the half ‘Marine’ pressed forward with Joe Selman and Joe Shepherd having shots blocked and McDonagh having the ball taken from him by Mason Lewis as he burst into the home penalty area.
Half Time: 1-2
After the interval it was Cirencester who were quickly out of the blocks as they attacked down their right flank through Anderson who was awarded a free kick as he cut inside. It was quickly taken and allowed to run by Griffin for Whitehead to slip left to Henry Spalding, just outside the centre front edged of the area, but his shot went into the grateful arms of the ‘keeper.
Back came Cirencester as another move from defence through midfield was played inside right back Dan Williamson by Henry Spalding for Aidan Bennett to collect but his cross was cut-out.
Cirencester were enjoying a ‘purple patch’ at this stage and made it count after an Anderson shot was blocked and rebounded to BEN WHITEHEAD and without hesitation last season’s top scorer turned and drove an unstoppable shot from the right front corner of the visitors penalty area into the top left corner of the goal. 2-2.
During the next couple of minutes Parsons sent a clever through ball into the home area but Fleetwood miss-controlled enabling Wieczorek to gather and Bennett crossed from the left by-line for Hill to collect at the feet of Whitehead as he darted forward.
Around the hour mark Supermarine began to dominate possession with Fleetwood having a couple of shots wide of the target and Brad Gray one caught by Wieczorek but despite this there was an element of fortune leading up to their third goal as a ‘back-tracking’ Cirencester defender inadvertently diverted a pass inside into the path of STUART FLEETWOOD as he charged forward down the right channel in anticipation of an earlier pass from one of his team-mates. Never-the-less he accepted his good fortune and made ground into the home penalty area where he struck a fierce shot that Wieczorek got a hand to but not enough to stop it entering his net inside the far left post. 2-3.
As the game entered the final quarter Dunton volleyed the ball to Griffin, out to Owen Windsor, back to Griffin who fired over the bar from 25 yards, right channel.
Louis Spalding sent a ‘chip’ pass over the ‘Marine’ back line as Whitehead darted from right to left but Hill had spotted the danger and dashed from his line to clear.
With 15 minutes remaining CONOR MCDONAGH completed his hat-trick as he collected a pass inside the right channel of the penalty area where he was forced wide by the advancing Wieczorek but still managed to slip it past the ‘keeper and in off the far post. 2-4.
Into the last five minutes and a neat move started by Coupe, who sent his pass down the left channel, reached McDonagh (front edge of the area) who moved it left to Ryan Beckinsale and collected the return a little more centrally where he shot – but Wieczorek was in position to make the save.
As the game was drawing to a close Cirencester were working their right flank.
Full Time: 2-4
A useful ‘work-out’ for the teams in very hot conditions – with no drinks breaks!
Attendance: 92 Referee: Graham Pearce
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
Matt Wieczorek, Will Christopher, Louis Spalding, Mike Pook, Ellis Dunton, Mason Lewis (Mason Hathaway 62), Tommy Anderson (Owen Windsor 62), Henry Spalding (Jack Freeman 62), Alan Griffin, Ben Whitehead, Jordan Morris (Aidan Bennett 45).
SWINDON SUPERMARINE:
Josh Hill, Dan Williamson (Jon Else 58), Dave Bampton (Joe Shepherd 11), Matt Coupe, Zak Westlake (C), Joe Selman (Brad Gray 58), Sam Morris (Ryan Beckinsale 58), Stuart Fleetwood, Josh Parsons (Aaron Woodley 58), Conor McDonagh.
Michael Hopkins & Harrison Bennett – Unused