Cirencester Town FC
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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 snatched a late equaliser to return from The Forest of Dean with a point after a competitive encounter with Cinderford Town.
In the second game of the season ‘The Foresters’ took the 3 points at The Corinium Stadium when they scored the only goal of the game 5 minutes into ‘added-time’.
The current league positions for the two teams before this match were Cinderford 7th (33 points from 20 games) and Cirencester 4th (39 points from 21 games) whilst a review of the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table reveals that Cinderford are 9th place with 10 points from their last 6 matches whilst Cirencester are 3rd with 15 points - so another difficult afternoon was anticipated for ‘The Centurions’.
Following the 4-0 victory over Melksham Town last weekend Charlie Griffin named an unchanged starting eleven for this fixture.
Cirencester kicked off in a biting wind and took the game to their hosts with Ben Whitehead attempting a shot on the turn that was blocked, and a cross for Alan Griffin to produce a firm header that led to a corner kick within the first 5 minutes.
The home side replied with a shot from Richard Greaves, 20 yards - left channel, that passed over the Cirencester bar.
Back came Cirencester as they worked the left flank to the corner but the resultant cross was cut-out by ‘keeper Alex Harris at his right post.
It had certainly been a busy opening ten minutes and it continued in this manner as five minutes later Cirencester worked the ball to the left corner again for Jack Freeman to dart to the side edge of the home area and cross towards the near post. Alan Griffin collected the ball just short of the post, near the by-line, and worked his way back to turn and square towards the penalty spot where it was blocked and partially cleared enabling Cirencester to recycle down the right flank for Will Christopher to cross from the corner – defended and cleared.
A few minutes later a Cinderford free kick was delivered into the Cirencester penalty area for Greaves to head towards goal but Ellis Dunton was in position to head clear and start a counter attack.
As the mid-point of the half approached Cinderford worked the ball from left to right as Lewis Binns produced some clever footwork on half way before switching play to the right leading to a cross from the by-line by Craig Norman that was intercepted and cleared.
Leading up to the half-hour mark Cirencester tested both flanks again as Louis Spalding and Freeman combined on the left for Whitehead to cross and Tommy Anderson attacked the right flank but the home side survived to counter with Binns supplying Norman who headed goal-wards (caught by Wieczorek) – plenty of effort but no end result.
Shortly afterwards Cinderford worked the ball forward to half-way where a cross-field pass was intercepted by Spalding and quickly fed to Aidan Bennett who fired over from 30 yards.
The home side were soon back again and a combination of Albert and Dunton denied them further progress before starting an attack down their right flank as Anderson crossed for Bennett to back-head towards the left channel of the area where Griffin chased, collected and worked his way back towards the front edge of the home area before turning and shooting towards the bottom left post for Harris to make the required save.
Cirencester were really pressing now and a Whitehead cross from the left resulted in a corner kick from the right that Harris punched clear to be recycled. Once again the home defence stood firm to counter but Spalding recovered to work to the left corner.
With 3 minutes to the interval Mike Pook fed Griffin who slipped the ball to Freeman, on to Anderson, back to Griffin – corner kick from the right towards Dunton who had his header blocked for another corner kick from the right. This time Freeman’s kick reached Bennett at the back post but he fired over the bar.
In the final two minutes of the half Cinderford mounted a break down their right channel as Norman fed Dan MacDonald who moved it on to Greaves, near the right front corner of the Cirencester penalty area, and he wasted no time in striking a firm, low volley goal-wards that Wieczorek saved at his right post.
The final shot at goal was a Binns effort from 30 yards that was wide of the right post.
Half Time: 0-0
Cirencester had had plenty of possession during the first period and pressed but had been unable to make it count and within 3 minutes of the re-start the home side showed they were up for the challenge as they worked the left channel as Binns supplied Greaves who switched to Sam Turl on the right flank. The cross was defended but recovered for Dan MacDonald to attempt a shot, from 25 yards - right channel, that was wide of the right post.
By the time ten minutes had been reached in the half Albert, Christopher and Dunton had all blocked or headed incoming crosses away as the home side pressed and shortly afterwards Dunton had to time his tackle/block to perfection as his opponent broke into the area to shoot – leading to a corner kick that Wieczorek punched clear.
In amongst this action Whitehead reached the left by-line to send a low cross through the home area and out the other side.
As the pressure increased on the Cirencester defence Pook was required to display his defensive abilities as he sorted out another Cinderford attack with some good footwork before sending the ball down the left flank for Freeman to counter.
A minute later Albert managed to deflect another cross at full stretch with the ball passing narrowly wide of his left post for a corner kick that Wieczorek punched clear.
By the mid-point of the half Cirencester were beginning to produce some forward momentum, having been under the cosh thus far, and when Wieczorek launched a free kick down the left channel Griffin headed on for Whitehead to collect and drive to the front edge of the area but he was crowded out before he could get his shot away.
When one side attacked the other countered as the game became end-to-end.
Alex Albert defended a couple of crosses, Wieczorek made a catch under his bar as Greaves closed at one end and at the other a corner kick was defended for Christopher to repel the counter.
As the final 15 minutes approached Whitehead had two attempts at goal with Harris producing a terrific save to deny his second fierce shot from the left front corner of the 6 yard box – the ball deflecting up and onto the net at the back post. Harris then caught the resulting corner kick.
Into the last 15 minutes Greaves latched onto a sliced clearance to shoot wide of the right post and then Bennett intercepted on half-way to supply Griffin, down the left channel for Whitehead on the burst to shoot. The outstretched foot of Harris deflected the effort wide of the target to be cleared.
Within minutes a free kick was awarded to Cinderford in their box and when Harris launched it downfield Greaves managed to head it on at the second attempt towards the Cirencester box for JAMES HARDING to dart forward to collect and round the advancing Wieczorek before slotting into the vacant net. 1-0.
Despite the setback Cirencester pressed as Griffin headed a cross on to Bennett at the left post but he was quickly covered.
Cinderford countered for Greaves to collect a loose ball, move right and shoot from 25 yards forcing a diving save from Wieczorek who then recovered to chase and pick up.
Into the final minute of ‘normal’ time Christopher defended a cross and then sent the ball down the right flank to Whitehead who collected in the corner, cut-back, moved left and delivered towards the centre front edge of the 6 yard box where his strike partner, ALAN GRIFFIN, was waiting to send a deft header inside the left post. 1-1.
As the game drew to a close Cinderford had a couple of corner kicks but they were defended to deny them victory.
Full Time: 1-1
A typical encounter between the two sides with no quarter asked or given to produce a highly competitive match.
Based on the full 90 minutes probably a fair result.
Attendance: 164
Referee: A. Genoers
CINDERFORD TOWN:
1. Alex Harris (C)
2. Sam Turl
3. Lewis Binns
4. Ben Watkins
5. Jack Alderdice
6. Andy Lewis
7. Craig Norman
8. Dan MacDonald
9. Richard Greaves
10. Josh Hunt
11. Matt MacDonald
12. Will Peck
14. Blaine Waugh
15. Lorcan Sheehan (Richard Greaves-85mins)
16. Lewis Collins (Josh Hunt-72mins)
17. James Harding (Craig Norman-80mins) 82
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Mateusz Wieczorek
2. Will Christopher
3. Louis Spalding
4. Mike Pook
5. Alex Albert
6. Ellis Dunton
7. Tommy Anderson
8. Jack Freeman
9. Alan Griffin (C) 89
10. Ben Whitehead
11. Aidan Bennett
12. Jordan Morris (Louis Spalding-86mins)
14. James Mortimer-Jones
15. Adam Connolly
16. Antonio Gerrish
17. Scott Rose (GK)