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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Click photo to view a slideshow of photos from the match
Courtesy of Steve Rolfe Photography
Match Report by Dave Pyzer
After a fairly evenly contested first half Cirencester took a solitary one goal lead to the interval but added four more in the second period for a comfortable 5-0 victory.
Prior to this match Cirencester sat in 6th place in the League table with 30 points whilst their opponents had played one game less to secure their 22 points and were 15th.
In the ‘reverse’ fixture on the opening day of the season Cirencester won 4-1 but current form suggested a tight contest was in prospect as ‘The Portwaymen’ were 11th in the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table (8points) to Cirencester’s 10th (9points).
There were some changes to the Cirencester starting eleven as Mat Wieczorek returned in goal due to Luke Merchant being unavailable (illness), Adam Connolly started in place of Baboucarr Jarra (dislocated shoulder) and Jack Freeman replaced Tommy Ouldridge.
The game started at quite a brisk pace as both teams searched for openings and it was the visitors who had the first chance when Jordan Lam collected a pass in the right channel of the Cirencester penalty area but shot wide of the right post as ‘keeper Mat Wieczorek charged towards him.
In response Cirencester pressed down both flanks and after 19 minutes they opened the scoring when Ben Whitehead reached the left side edge of the visitors penalty area and laid the ball back to Alan Griffin, left channel front edge of the area, who worked his way right along the area before slipping it through to JACK FREEMAN, right of the penalty spot. The midfielder showed good composure to evade a challenge as he moved left to strike a firm shot towards the top left corner where the outstretched hand of ‘keeper Ben John partially blocked it - but not enough to keep it out of his net. 1-0.
Around the mid-point of the half Jamie Adams produced a dangerous cross from the right flank that Will Christopher did well to defend, and Jamie Bird clipped the back left stanchion with a cross from the right. In between these Whitehead had a couple of shots at the target – one over the bar and the other into the grateful arms of John.
As the half developed Cirencester were moving the ball quickly and looking dangerous – Whitehead made a driving run down the right before moving the ball on to Griffin who slipped it into the path of Freeman as he burst down the centre to shoot from 25 yards – parried by John.
This was soon to be followed by a flowing move involving Tommy Anderson and Christopher who delivered a terrific cross from the right corner that was met by the head of Griffin at the back post - the ‘keeper was in position to make the save.
Tommy Anderson then popped up in the left corner as he and Aidan Bennett worked the ball to the corner leading to a couple of corner kicks that the visitors survived.
Into the final ten minutes and another move to the left corner resulted in a low Bennett cross that Freeman clipped against the left post as he darted left to meet it near the front edge of the 6 yard box.
During the 15 minutes or so leading up to the break the visitors had kept possession, looking for openings, but had found it difficult to penetrate the Cirencester rearguard, resulting in a couple of ‘snap’ shots from Bird that were wide of the left post.
Just before the interval Anderson carried the ball down the right flank and Christopher overlapped him, drawing the defenders across in the process, enabling Anderson to dart left instead to supply Freeman who produced another fierce shot that John parried and gathered before Whitehead could latch onto it.
Half Time: 1-0
Cirencester made the perfect start after the interval with a goal within the first minute as Griffin released Tommy Anderson down the right and he laid the ball into the path of the prolific BEN WHITEHEAD as he burst into the right channel of the area to complete a flowing move with a fine finish inside the left post. 2-0.
This goal seemed to knock ‘The Portwaymen’ out of their stride for a while whilst encouraging Cirencester to press forward and produce another flowing 4-man move down the left flank that resulted in a covering defender ‘chesting’ the ball to his grateful ‘keeper.
Back came Ciren as a Whitehead strike on the turn was blocked and the tenacious Anderson robbed an opponent to break into the box for a 1v1 with John who advanced to partially block and then gather the loose ball.
In reply the visitors worked the ball down their right flank as Jordan Metters and Jordan Lam linked up with some neat play to win a corner kick and after it was defended Christopher made 40 yards down the home sides right channel before slipping the ball to Anderson who cut left on the edge of the box – his shot was blocked and rebounded to Griffin who also had his shot blocked.
Just before the hour mark ‘The Portwaymen’ worked the ball forward as Metters, Lam and Jamie Adams combined to cross from the right corner to the front edge of the home 6 yard box where Christopher was on hand to clear the danger.
Shortly afterwards Troy Simpson rattled the cross-bar when he found space on the edge of the Cirencester box.
The narrow miss reminded Cirencester they still had a game on and it wasn’t long before Whitehead carried the ball to the right corner, laid it back to Freeman who crossed to the back post where Bennett headed back across the 6 yard box for Whitehead as he followed up. John managed to turn and charge the striker who fired wide of the right post.
Cirencester were rampant at this stage and the busy John pulled off another fine save, low at his left post, to deny Anderson who had collected a Freeman pass to the right channel of the area.
A couple of minutes later Whitehead broke into the box, rounded John, but in so doing was forced wide to the by-line where he turned to shoot – once again John made the save.
Just after the mid-point of the half the pressure finally told as Bennett won the ball on half-way, slipped it to Louis Spalding who moved it on to Whitehead to take into the left channel of the area, seeing his way blocked by the advancing John he played the ball across the box to the far post where his co-striker, ALAN GRIFFIN, was arriving to bundle it over the line under pressure from recovering defenders. 3-0.
Within a few minutes Cirencester were awarded a Penalty Kick - following a corner kick – that Whitehead drove towards the bottom right corner where John produced a sensational save to push it around his left post.
As the game entered the final 15 minutes Whitehead received the ball in the centre circle surrounded by four opponents and with great skill and determination he managed to evade and ride the challenges to escape and drive to the left channel of the penalty area – once there he attempted to square the ball but it was cut out en-route and cleared downfield.
Alex Albert collected the clearance 15 yards inside his half, right channel, and immediately launched a 40 yard cross-field pass to Bennett, left front corner of the visitors area, who took it towards the by-line before producing a delicate ‘chip’ towards the back post where ALAN GRIFFIN made sure it crossed the line. 4-0.
Cirencester made a double substitution and re-arranged as Bennett moved up top for Jordan Morris to take his place on the left wing and within a few minutes the change added a 5th goal as Bennett slid the ball behind the visitors back line for Morris to chase, take to the by-line and send a low cross towards the near post where BEN WHITEHEAD was arriving to produce a clever flick that entered the net inside the far right post. 5-0.
That was the end of the scoring but there was still time for Adams to shoot over the Cirencester bar and Owen Windsor and Morris to display some of their dribbling skill before the final whistle.
Full Time: 5-0
A solid victory for the home side with everyone playing their part – some wonderful, fast, flowing football and some well worked goals.
To their credit Bristol Manor Farm competed until the end and their Captain and goal-keeper, Ben John, deserves special mention as he had an absolute ‘blinder’ making numerous saves – particularly the penalty save - but Cirencester were too strong on the day.
Attendance: 157
Referee: Tom Bowkett
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Mat Wieczorek
2. Will Christopher
3. Louis Spalding
4. Michael Pook
5. Alexandru Albert
6. Jack Freeman 19
7. Tommy Anderson
8. Adam Connolly
9. Alan Griffin (C) 69, 78
10. Ben Whitehead 46, 83
11. Aidan Bennett
12. Ellis Dunton
14. James Mortimer-Jones
15. Owen Windsor (Tommy Anderson-73mins)
16. Jordan Morris (Alan Griffin-79mins)
17. Tommy Ouldridge (Jack Freeman-79mins)
BRISTOL MANOR FARM:
1. Ben John (C)
2. Jamie Adams
3. Aron Robbins
4. John Lock
5. Lloyd Mills
6. Jordan Lam
7. Ashley Kington
8. Jack Durrant
9. Jamie Bird
10. Jordan Metters
11. Troy Simpson
12. Tommy Lacey (Jordan Metters-75mins)
14. Stuart Tovey (Jack Durrant-79mins)
15. Alex Russell (Jordan Lam-60mins)
16. Kai Fisher
17. Steve Kingdon