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
Cirencester travelled to fellow Southern League side Winchester City for this FA Cup Third Round Qualifying fixture and were soundly beaten 3-0 to exit the competition.
Prior to the game it was expected that this would be a terrific battle between two teams of similar ability – given that Winchester were 9th in the Division One South table and Cirencester 8th. Both sides have played less league fixtures than the sides above them in the table (as a result of the cup runs) but have still managed to accumulate 10 points each – although Cirencester have played one game more than Winchester.
Both teams played mid-week matches – Winchester an FA Trophy replay against Slimbridge (losing on penalties) and Cirencester a League Cup fixture at Swindon Supermarine (winning 3-1).
Cirencester Manager, Charlie Griffin, took the opportunity to rest some players for the Swindon Supermarine match whilst giving other squad members some game time.
Cirencester kicked off proceedings on a firm, wet pitch due to the earlier rain and immediately attacked the right flank but two minutes into the match conceded a free kick some 30 yards out, right channel, that Danny King delivered to left of the penalty spot where ‘keeper Matt Wieczorek attempted to punch clear. The ‘punch’ was blocked resulting in the ball dropping towards the right post where ROB CARR pounced to finish from a couple of yards. 1-0.
Encouraged by the early break-through Winchester pressed forward down their flanks whilst Cirencester tried to get a foothold in the game and as the 15 minute mark approached they were beginning to keep the ball better and the game became end-to-end.
A cross-field pass from the home side reached the busy Carr, near the left channel front edge of the Cirencester penalty area and he ‘chested’ it into the path of Tyrell Mitford as he burst forward but Ellis Dunton had covered the run and managed to clear it off the striker’s toe as he shaped to shoot.
Cirencester responded as Alan Griffin and Ben Whitehead combined for Whitehead to attempt to slip the ball through to Tommy Anderson as he charged down the right flank. The pass clipped the heels of another defender and ran back to Whitehead but he was quickly surrounded to prevent further progress.
With the game now looking a bit more balanced the home side doubled their lead as the mid-point of the half approached when a clever overhead kick cleared the Cirencester back line for SIMBA MLAMBO to collect and advance for a 1v1 with Wieczorek and as the ‘keeper came forward he calmly tucked the ball inside the left post. 2-0.
A few minutes later Cirencester had their first shot at goal as a frustrated Whitehead (who was given no room all match) turned and fired high over the bar from 35 yards.
With a two-goal cushion and confidence high the home side produced a couple of neat moves to press their visitors who had to rely on counter attacks but such was the intensity of the Winchester performance Cirencester were unable to retain the ball for long.
As the half entered the final five minutes a long ball down the right channel appeared to be covered by Adam Connolly but just as he was about to collect a nudge from Mlambo knocked him off balance enabling the forward to collect the ball and advance into the area, drawing Dunton across to cover and in the process create space for Mitford, who blazed his effort over the bar.
Despite being ‘on the rack’ for most of the half Cirencester finished positively as they worked an opening for Aidan Bennett who shot wide of the right post and an exchange of passes on the left flank resulted in Whitehead attempting an overhead effort that also passed wide of the same post.
Half Time: 2-0
After the interval ‘The Citizens’ came out of the blocks very quickly for the Cirencester defence to be tested a couple of times in the first few minutes - as Mitford looked to latch onto a through ball behind the Cirencester defence Dunton managed to recover to pull off a well-timed tackle at full stretch to deny the striker, and Reece Rusher attacked the right flank.
Ten minutes into the half Cirencester worked the ball down their left flank to the corner where the attempted cross resulted in a corner kick. The kick was played short to Whitehead on the by-line, near the side edge of the area, and he produced an audacious ‘scoop’ shot that was deflected onto the top of the cross bar for a corner kick on the other side. Whitehead moved across to take the kick himself and curled it to the far post where Griffin’s contact passed the wrong side of the post.
A couple of minutes later Cirencester were reduced to ten men as Mike Pook’s low, sliding tackle from a yard sent Joe Cook tumbling. The home side surrounded Referee, Tom Danaher, demanding a Red Card and he duly obliged.
Cirencester had already re-organised their defence as Bennett had moved to left back when Louis Spalding, who was suffering the after-effects of a challenge in the first half, was replaced by Jordan Morris and for a few minutes they continued with that formation but it wasn’t long before they changed to ’three at the back’ with Bennett moving to the centre of midfield.
Despite being a man down Cirencester began to work their flank more productively as they took the game to Winchester but they had to be mindful of breaks from their hosts – Mlambo latched onto a ball down the right channel but Connolly produced a great cover tackle to concede a corner kick that Wieczorek punched clear.
Shortly afterwards Cirencester worked the ball from right to left – from defence, through midfield to Morris who clipped his cross from the left flank just over the top right corner of the goal. This was quickly followed by a move down the right that reached Whitehead who sent a fierce low shot towards the near post where Ryan Pryce parried for Josh Harfield to complete the clearance.
Cirencester were enjoying a ‘purple patch’ and another move started on the right by Will Christopher released Anderson for a charge across field to the centre circle before moving the ball on to Morris who fired narrowly over the top left corner from 30 yards.
Four minutes later Bennett and Connolly combined for the latter to cross towards the penalty spot where Whitehead produced an acrobatic, overhead, bicycle kick that passed wide of the left post.
The response from Winchester was another darting run down the right flank from Rusher and a pass to the right channel of the area where Mitford blasted high over the bar.
Almost immediately Mitford was in action again as he burst down the right to cut into the area and shoot but his effort was deflected onto the post by Dunton for a corner kick that Morris comfortably cleared at the near post.
Into the final few minutes and Cirencester sent in crosses from their flanks – one past the far left post and one blocked – as they finished with a flurry.
Young Owen Windsor rode two tackles on the right to cut in and fire a low left footed shot towards the near post that Pryce saved.
Into added-time and Winchester were able to relax as a ball down their right flank was chased by Oli Bailey to collect and cut into the penalty area where he cleverly moved across a recovering Connolly to be clipped resulting in a penalty kick.
JOE HAYWARD stepped forward to smash the spot kick inside the left post and complete the scoring and take his team into the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. 3-0.
There was still time for one last attack from Cirencester as a cross-shot from Griffin reached Windsor who promptly drove it at the target – striking the bottom of the near right post and rebounding back onto the ‘keeper and out for a corner kick.
Full Time: 3-0
A disappointing performance from Cirencester who were never allowed to get into their stride in the first half by a quicker, livelier and more determined home side.
The second half was better but there was too much ground to make up, especially with ten men.
Good Luck to Winchester City who deservedly advance to the Fourth Round Qualifying draw of the FA Cup.
Attendance: 302 Referee: Tom Danaher
WINCHESTER CITY:
1. Ryan Pryce
2. Joe Hayward 92p
3. Danny King (C)
4. Bead Gale
5. Sam Roberts
6. Josh Harfield
7. Reece Rusher
8. Joe Cook
9. Tyrell Mitford
10. Simba Mlambo 21
11. Rob Carr 2
12. Oli Bailey (Tyrell Mitford-81mins)
13. Josh Tombs (GK)
14. Josh Corner
15. Harvey Clark
16. Liam Gilbert (Rob Carr-74mins)
17. Brett Cunningham (Reece Rusher-86mins)
18. Craig Davis
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Matt Wieczorek
2. Will Christopher
3. Louis Spalding
4. Mike Pook
5. Ellis Dunton
6. Antonio Gerrish
7. Tommy Anderson
8. Adam Connolly
9. Alan Griffin (C)
10. Ben Whitehead
11. Aidan Bennett
12. James Mortimer-Jones
14. Max Arnold)
15. Henry Spalding (Antonio Gerrish-70mins)
16. Owen Windsor (Tommy Anderson-76mins)
17. Jack Freeman
18. Jordan Morris (Louis Spalding-52mins)
20. Scott Rose (GK)