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 were once again on their travels - for their seventh successive away match – as they visited Thatcham Town for a Preliminary Round fixture in the The Buildbase FA Trophy and suffered a 2-0 defeat to exit a second competition in a week.
Thatcham Town enjoyed a particularly successful season last term when they won the FA Vase, were Runners-Up in two other cup competitions (Hellenic League Challenge Cup & Hellenic League Floodlit Cup) whilst finishing as Champions of the Hellenic Premier Division to regain their place in the Southern League after a fairly short absence.
The home side’s current league form, based on their last 6 matches, sees them in 4th place whilst Cirencester are 6th.
The Cirencester starting eleven had a couple of changes due to the absence of Mike Pook (suspended) and Antionio Gerrish (injured) and as a result James Mortimer-Jones started his first league match this season and Henry Spalding took the position alongside him in central midfield with Jordan Morris coming into the starting eleven in place of Tommy Anderson who took a seat on the bench as he has a slight injury.
The home side kicked off and immediately launched the ball to the left corner but within minutes it was Cirencester who were awarded the first corner kick of the match as they also attacked down their left flank.
During the early exchanges neither side seemed able to keep the ball for long and the game was very scrappy but Thatcham began to look the more dangerous as the tricky Lewis Coyle produced a couple of crosses from the left corner that tested Louis Spalding at the back post as George Jeacock looked to collect.
At this stage Cirencester had to rely on the occasional counter attack through long balls launched to the corners – one of which resulted in a corner kick from the right that ‘keeper Chris Rackley did well to catch under pressure from Alan Griffin.
Just after the mid-point of the half it was no surprise when Thatcham opened their account after a long throw from their left flank reached the edge of the 6 yard box where a defensive header directed the ball across the goal-mouth towards the right of the penalty spot. SHANE COOPER-CLARK was lurking and quickly pounced to finish inside the left post. 1-0.
Within three minutes Cirencester created their best chance so far as Jordan Morris and Henry Spalding combined near the right front corner of the home penalty area for Spalding to cross towards the far post where Aidan Bennett darted forward to head narrowly over the bar.
Thatcham replied with a long ball over the Cirencester backline for Cooper-Clark to enter a foot-race with ‘keeper Matt Wieczorek who was quickly out to clear the danger. This action was soon followed by the sight of Lewis Gabbidon driving down the right channel to shoot from 30 yards – Wieczorek parried his effort.
During the final 10 minutes of the half Cooper-Clark struck the side-netting and Bennett released Ben Whitehead down the left channel into the penalty area where Gareth Thomas came across to clear the danger.
The final goal-mouth action of the half came after Bennett, on half-way, played a pass with the outside of his right foot inside Jordy Ngathe for Louis Spalding to collect and slip to a supporting Griffin. The striker managed to slip his marker and charge towards the left corner where he was unceremoniously dumped to the ground by the recovering full-back - resulting in a free kick. James Mortimer-Jones delivered the kick to the centre front edge of the 6 yard box where Griffin challenged and somehow the ball was blocked near the goal-line and cleared.
Half Time: 1-0
Cirencester started the second half positively as within the first few minutes they worked the ball forward from defence, through midfield to Jordan Morris on the edge of the home area where he was quickly crowded out.
Two further attacks, as both Louis Spalding and Will Christopher charged down their flanks, also failed to produce any real threat to the home goal.
As the hour mark was reached Cirencester were awarded a rare free kick, 30 yards out – left channel, that Mortimer-Jones slid to Whitehead who had his shot blocked to be collected by Louis Spalding on the left side edge of the penalty area. The full back chipped the ball to the area in front of the home 6 yard box where Griffin fired at the target – blocked on the line and deflected onto the left post for Whitehead to have another go – blocked again.
To add insult to injury Thatcham then launched the ball downfield where it cleared the last defender for SHANE COOPER-CLARK to chase, collect and drive into the Cirencester area where he dummied right before moving left to confidently finish inside the left post as Matt Wieczorek advanced. 2-0.
A couple of minutes later the striker could have completed his hat-trick as he received the ball just outside the Cirencester area, left channel, cut right and fired towards the far right post to see Wieczorek pull off a fine save to deny him.
Leading up to the mid-point of the half Jeacock produced some trickery in the right corner before crossing to the far post where Cooper-Clark headed wide of the left post.
In response Cirencester pressed down their left flank with a neat move involving the Spalding brothers and Griffin who slipped the ball to Whitehead as he darted forward but once again his shot was blocked.
Within a minute the ball was at the other end of the pitch as Thatcham switched from the left corner to the right flank for Ngathe to carry to the by-line and pull back to Gabbidon who drove a low shot towards the right post where Wieczorek parried.
Into the final ten minutes and Cirencester worked the ball down their right flank before crossing to the far post where the ball was collected by Owen Windsor and he sent it to the back post where Tommy Anderson pulled it back into the mix – blocked and cleared to a lurking Mortimer-Jones who shot but his effort was also blocked.
The home side finished the game strongly as Cooper-Clark collected another ball ‘over the top’ to round Wieczorek but he delayed his shot long enough for Ellis Dunton to get back and take it off his toe.
This was soon followed by Gabbidon winning the ball on the edge of the Cirencester area before feeding Josh Helmore, to his right - who had a clear view of the target, but Wieczorek adjusted his position to save.
In ‘added-time’ Gabbidon had a crack at the target himself from the right channel of the area but Wieczorek parried the initial shot and blocked his follow-up effort to collect.
Full Time: 2-0
A disappointing performance from Cirencester who never looked comfortable and struggled to produce any of the football they are capable of as they were hounded by a more determined home side.
Good Luck to THATCHAM TOWN who deservedly advance to the next round of the competition.
Attendance: ??? Referee: Mike Desborough
THATCHAM TOWN:
1. Chris Rackley
2. Jordy Ngathe
3. Curtis Angell
4. Tom Melledew (C)
5. Gareth Thomas
6. Michael Miller
7. Lewis Coyle
8. Lewis Gabbidon
9. Shane Cooper-Clark 25, 61
10. Scott Rees
11. George Jeacock
12. Ekow Elliott (Lewis Coyle-86mins)
14. Josh Helmore (George Jeacock-81mins)
15. Mark Hughes
16. Jahson Downes (Scott Rees-84mins)
17. James Tennant
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Matt Wieczorek
2. Will Christopher
3. Louis Spalding
4. James Mortimer-Jones
5. Ellis Dunton
6. Henry Spalding
7. Aidan Bennett
8. Adam Connolly
9. Alan Griffin (C)
10. Ben Whitehead
11. Jordan Morris
12. Tommy Anderson (Jordan Morris-56mins)
14. Jack Freeman
15. Owen Windsor (Will Christopher-73mins)
16. Scott Rose (GK)