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 made the short journey to near neighbours Slimbridge and after falling behind within two minutes recovered to take the lead but a terrific individual goal levelled the score and honours remained even to the final whistle.
Earlier in the season the two teams shared six goals as they produced a pulsating match of ‘end-to-end’ football at The Corinium Stadium and whilst the sides occupy the same league positions as they did in the earlier match – Slimbridge 17th and Cirencester 5th – another closely contested match was anticipated.
Charlie Griffin (Cirencester Manager) with a full squad to choose from - Alan Griffin having served his one-match suspension whilst Will Christopher and Babz Jarra return following injury – would undoubtedly be keen to take some points following 3-2 defeats in the last two matches.
Slimbridge kicked off on an excellent playing surface - due to the efforts of their ground-staff who had done well to overcome the effects of the heavy rain the previous day – and almost immediately were awarded a free kick, 25 yards out – right channel, that Liam Smith delivered towards the far left post. The initial kick was headed away from goal but as it dropped just inside the front edge of the penalty area WILL HAWES was lurking to volley it into the top right corner to give his side an early lead. 1-0.
A few minutes later Smith fired wide of the left post as Slimbridge continued their positive opening but Cirencester were beginning to link some passes together as they worked the ball forward down both flanks with both full backs, Will Christopher and Louis Spalding, overlapping regularly.
During the early exchanges ‘keeper Lewis Adams produced a fine save to parry an effort from Tommy Anderson as he cut in from the right, and Slimbridge responded with a shot from Smith that was wide of the right post followed by a cross from Hawes from the left corner that reached an unmarked Danny King as he came in from the right flank to head wide of the left post.
By the mid-point of the half Cirencester were pressing regularly and when Aidan Bennett crossed from the left side edge of the home area an incoming Anderson produced a firm header that Adams pushed wide of the top right corner to concede a corner kick.
As the half entered the final ten minutes Cirencester made the breakthrough they had been searching for when Babz Jarra played the ball from left to right for Christopher to carry forward before slipping it left to BEN WHITEHEAD, left channel – 30 yards out, who in an instant turned and shot to deceive a surprised Adams who got a hand to it as it swerved and bounced before him en route to the back of the net inside the left post. 1-1.
A couple of minutes later Slimbridge had another solid chance when Mat Wieczorek advanced some 30 yards from his line to head the ball clear and when it was collected by a Slimbridge player he chose to move it on to a team-mate rather than have a pot at the vacant goal.
Half Time: 1-1
Within minutes of the resumption Slimbridge worked an opening as King played the ball into the path of an incoming Jackson but Wieczorek was able to collect his effort and a minute later the action was at the other end as Alex Albert headed a corner kick over the bar from the edge of the 6 yard box.
A long punt from Wieczorek landed just outside the home penalty area and Anderson was quick to chase it down forcing a partial save from Adams enabling Whitehead to gather but the home side survived to clear the danger before conceding a free kick, 25 yards out – right channel, a similar position to the one that resulted in the opening goal. JACK FREEMAN stepped up and delivered a curling left footed kick towards the far left post and it evaded everyone to finish in the back of the net. 1-2.
Two minutes later Freeman had the chance to repeat his kick from a similar position but this time it was too close to Adams who caught the ball under his crossbar.
With the bit between their teeth Cirencester were increasing the pressure on the home defence leading up to the mid-point of the half as Spalding reached the by-line to cross towards an incoming Alan Griffin but just too high, followed by a snap shot from Anderson as he collected an Adams clearance 30 yards out and a series of corner kicks – one of which Adams pushed onto his left post for another corner kick. But Slimbridge dug-in to survive.
Shortly afterwards Slimbridge responded as Dean Turner was released into the right channel of the Cirencester penalty area and his subsequent shot was diverted by the out-stretched right hand of Wieczorek behind an incoming Hawes only to be recycled to LIAM SMITH who worked his way to a position left of the penalty spot, with a mixture of clever footwork, body swerves and tentative challenges, before placing his shot inside the far right post. 2-2.
Cirencester reacted positively to the setback and pressed again to win more corner kicks and as the game entered the final ten minutes one from the right reached Ellis Dunton at the back post and his header struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced down but claims that it crossed the line were instantly dismissed and it was recycled to the left flank and crossed to Whitehead, right channel front edge of the area, who had his shot pushed over by Adams for another corner kick.
As the game drew to a close Christopher carried the ball down the right flank before sending a 40 yard pass to Bennett on the left flank who slid it down the line for an over-lapping Spalding to cross to Anderson at the back post and he laid it into the path of Freeman who fired at goal but Adams was in position to make the save.
Despite the pressure the home side survived and it was not to be Cirencester’s day.
Full Time: 2-2
Cirencester recovered from the early setback to work their way into the game and take the lead but despite dominating possession in the second period they were unable to deny a resilient Slimbridge who stuck to their task and scored a terrific goal to share the points.
Attendance: 152
Referee: Ollie Williams
SLIMBRIDGE:
1. Lewis Adams
2. Archie Brennan
3. Joeseph Noakes
4. Ioan Richards
5. Steven Jackson
6. Christien Turner
7. Dean Turner
8. Liam Smith 72
9. Mark Magee
10. William Hawes 02
11. Danny King
12. Ewen Dunbar (William Hawes-85mins)
14. Jamie Martin (Mark Magee-68mins)
15. Myron Turner (Liam Smith-88mins)
16. Finleigh Brown
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Mateusz Wieczorek
2. Will Christopher
3. Louis Spalding
4. Mike Pook
5. Alex Albert
6. Baboucarr Jarra
7. Tommy Anderson
8. Jack Freeman 56
9. Alan Griffin (C)
10. Ben Whitehead 36
11. Aidan Bennett
12. James Mortimer-Jones
14. Adam Connolly
15. Jordan Morris (Aidan Bennett-90mins)
16. Ellis Dunton (Alex Albert-70mins)
17. Scott Rose (GK)