Cirencester Town FC
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Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
Click photo to view a slideshow of photos from the match
Courtesy of Steve Rolfe Photography
Match Report by Dave Pyzer
In a truly pulsating game, played at a furious pace throughout, Cirencester came from a goal down to record a superb 4-2 victory against Winchester City - the side that dumped them out of The Emirates FA Cup 10 days ago.
Despite having an FA Cup tie against Torquay United on Saturday the visitors had come to get a result and contributed in no mean measure to this exhilarating match – watched by Torquay Manager Gary Johnson.
A week after their defeat at Winchester the home side were also knocked out of the FA Trophy at Thatcham Town – in their 7th away match on the bounce – and as a result they were determined to restore some pride and put in a performance on their long awaited return to The Corinium Stadium - and so it proved.
As a result of the disappointing performance at Thatcham, and the continued absence of Mike Pook (suspension) and Antonio Gerrish (injured) Cirencester Town Manager, Charlie Griffin, had managed to recruit Tommy Ouldridge - one of last season’s successes – on a month’s loan from Hungerford Town and he took a place in central midfield alongside James Mortimer-Jones with Henry Spalding moving to the left flank.
The build-up to the match was encouraging for those in attendance as Winchester would be keen to continue their good form leading up to their FA Cup tie at Torquay whilst Cirencester would be eager to put in a performance and get back on track - as a result both sides gave everything to produce a thoroughly captivating game that you didn’t dare take your eyes off for fear of missing something.
Straight from the kick-off the two sides attacked one another and as early as the 2nd minute Cirencester worked the ball from the centre circle to the left side edge of the visitor’s penalty area - via Adam Connolly, Tommy Ouldridge and Louis Spalding to Ben Whitehead who produced a neat turn and flashed the ball through the 6 yard box.
Winchester responded immediately as Reece Rusher collected a ball down the centre on the burst to the front edge of the home area where Connolly managed to stop his progress with a well-timed tackle.
Minutes later they were back again as a quickly taken throw-in on the right flank reached Simba Mlambo who took it to the corner before being stopped in his tracks for a free kick to be awarded. Rusher sent the kick to the back post where Matt Wieczorek managed to gather at the second attempt.
In this match of ‘end-to-end’ football Cirencester then worked the right flank as Aidan Bennett and Will Christopher combined to release Whitehead into the right channel of the Winchester area and without hesitating he fired a right footed shot at the target that a well positioned Ryan Pryce caught at his left post.
Almost immediately the action was at the other end as Oli Bailey charged down the right flank to cross to the edge of the 6 yard box where a covering Christopher cleared over his cross-bar as Rusher closed in behind him.
Moments later Christopher was involve at the Winchester end as he sent a deep cross from the right flank to the back post where Henry Spalding struck a sweet left footed volley into the side netting.
At the mid-point of the half Connolly intercepted a Winchester pass on half-way, side-stepped an incoming challenge, and slipped the ball left to Louis Spalding who went on a rampaging run down the left flank before moving the ball on to Alan Griffin who created space to shoot from the centre front edge of the area but his effort struck Whitehead as he moved across the box to create room.
After 25 minutes the dead-lock was finally broken as Winchester opened their account with a goal of simplicity – won in the centre circle, played right to Joe Hayward and through the middle for OLI BAILEY to burst in behind the back-line to collect, draw Wieczorek, and calmly tuck inside the left post. 0-1.
When the visitors pressed again James Mortimer-Jones recovered the ball to supply Christopher who sent it to Griffin and he in turn slipped it forward for Whitehead who wasted no time in firing wide of the left post from the right front corner of the Winchester area.
Ben Whitehead supplied Henry Spalding, on the left touch-line, who crossed towards the penalty spot where it was cleared and recycled down the right flank for Christopher to send another deep cross to the back post where Mlambo ‘chested’ it out of play as Henry Spalding closed in.
Cirencester were really pressing for the equaliser but had to be wary as Winchester were very quick to counter and this they did, when a ball from the left reached Jamie Barron as he darted down the centre to shoot wide of the right post.
As the half was drawing to a close Cirencester attacked down both flanks but the visitors held firm with one series of shots blocked, leading to a corner kick from the left that Ellis Dunton headed wide of the left post.
Minutes before the interval the pressure finally told as another Henry Spalding corner kick, from the right, reached Bennett who had his header from near the penalty spot blocked. Griffin collected the ball and withstood a couple of challenges before laying it back to TOMMY OULDRIDGE on the centre front edge of the box. The returning Ouldridge moved it right and placed a measured shot inside the right post to level the score going into the break. 1-1.
Half Time: 1-1
The second half started as the first half had finished with Cirencester on the attack down the left flank where they were awarded a free kick. Tommy Ouldridge delivered the kick to the back post where ALAN GRIFFIN rose to head inside the top right corner to give his side the perfect start. 2-1.
A minute later they could have scored again when Christopher clipped the ball down the right flank for Griffin to head on to Whitehead as he darted forward. The Assistant Referee raised his flag indicating ‘offside’ and the players paused but when the Referee waved ‘play–on’ Whitehead suddenly burst into action again but his touch was heavy enabling Pryce to drop on the ball.
Relieved Winchester were soon awarded a free kick, 25 yards out – centrally, that Barron drove goal-wards for Wieczorek to push round his left post.
The dangerous Whitehead was soon in action again as he collected a defensive header in the right corner, cut left and fired wide of the left post.
Cirencester then worked the left flank as Louis Spalding reached the bye-line before pulling the ball back to Griffin who had his shot blocked.
The visitors pressed down the right channel and Mortimer-Jones had to time his tackle perfectly to stop them before Mlambo had a couple of pots at goal – one blocked, the other ‘skimmed’ past the face of the bar from the narrowest of angles.
The hard-working Whitehead charged down the centre on a 40 yard run before slipping the ball left to Griffin who had his shot blocked to rebound to a supporting Ouldridge, again blocked.
It looked like Cirencester might regret missing the chances they had created as on the hour Winchester equalised when Rusher’s shot from the right channel was stopped by Wieczorek’s feet to be rifled home by JAMIE BARRON. 2-2.
Back came Cirencester as a Griffin effort was cleared off the line to Bennett who struck a fierce low drive towards the right post where a recovering Pryce managed to block.
Will Christopher combined with Whitehead to release Henry Spalding to the left channel of the Winchester area – his shot was parried by Pryce behind the incoming Cirencester players for the danger to be cleared.
In this frantic game, where neither side was willing to surrender, Winchester pressed around the mid-point of the half as Rusher was denied by Wieczorek, Josh Harfield headed wide of the left post and Barron drove into the arms of the ‘keeper.
Cirencester responded as Bennett had two efforts clear the bar – the first deflected by a defender.
The home side were finishing strongly and when Griffin blocked a clearance it was collected by Whitehead but his firm strike hit the base of the right post to rebound clear to be recovered by Dunton who exchanged passes with Bennett before charging forward down the right channel to supply Henry Spalding, left channel of the area, who had his shot saved by Pryce.
Cirencester appeared to be running out of time as they approached the last five minutes until substitute Jack Freeman won the ball on the left to send it towards the penalty spot where BEN WHITEHEAD and Pryce met in a challenge - the ball ran free for Whitehead to recover to his feet to tap it home from a couple of yards. 3-2.
Winchester still would not surrender and pressed forward to win a free kick that Barron drove goal-wards – headed out for a corner kick. The pressure was transferred to the left corner – free kick to Cirencester and relief.
In ‘added-time’ Dunton lobbed the ball to the right corner where the indefatigable BEN WHITEHEAD chased it down to cut left and send a curling shot from the edge of the box inside the far left post to finally put the game to bed. 4-2.
Full Time: 4-2
This was truly an absolutely incredible game of football that had everything – goal-mouth incidents, flowing football played at pace for the full 90 minutes, hard work and commitment from two excellent sides that were a credit to the Southern League – no quarter was asked or given.
Attendance: 108 Referee: Andy Genders
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Matt Wieczorek
2. Will Christopher
3. Louis Spalding
4. James Mortimer-Jones
5. Ellis Dunton
6. Tommy Ouldridge 43
7. Aidan Bennett
8. Adam Connolly
9. Alan Griffin 47
10. Ben Whitehead 85, 92
11. Henry Spalding
12. Tommy Anderson (Henry Spalding-88mins)
14. Jack Freeman (James M-Jones-83mins)
15. Owen Windsor (Alan Griffin-93mins)
16. Jordan Morris
17. Scott Rose (GK)
WINCHESTER CITY:
1. Ryan Pryce
2. Joe Hayward
3. Danny King
4. Brad Gale
5. Connor Cocklin
6. Josh Harfield
7. Reece Rusher
8. Jamie Barron (C) 60
9. Oli Bailey 25
10. Joe Cook
11. Simba Mlambo
12. Brett Cunningham
14. Josh Corner
15. Matt Benham (Reece Rusher-69mins)
16. Ollie Griggs (Brad Gale-63mins)
17. Jake Rawkins