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 produced a clinical display of finishing as they scored eight against Bideford – avenging their 4-0 defeat earlier in the season in the process.
Going into this match ‘The Centurions’ were eager to get back to winning ways to maintain their hopes of a ‘play-off’ place at the end of the season – having only gained two points from their last four games – but no one could have anticipated that they would score eight against such capable opponents.
In terms of current form, based on the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table, Bideford were placed 5th with 12 points whilst Cirencester were 7th with 8 points.
The league positions for the teams were Cirencester 5th with 41 points from 25 matches and Bideford 11th with 37 points from the same number of matches.
Cirencester Manager, Charlie Griffin, shuffled his pack for this match with Ellis Dunton, Adam Connolly and Jordan Morris replacing Will Christopher, Alex Albert and Tommy Anderson in the starting eleven.
The match started at a furious pace as the sides searched for an opening but for a change it was Cirencester that made the early breakthrough when Ben Whitehead squared the ball from the right side edge of the Bideford penalty area for ALAN GRIFFIN to finish at the back post from close range. 1-0.
Six minutes later it was all square as SEAN DOWNING darted from right to left to produce a glancing header from near the penalty spot that ended up inside the right post. 1-1.
In this frantic start to the match Cirencester soon regained the lead when a move down their left flank enabled Jordan Morris to slip the ball into the path of JACK FREEMAN who evaded a couple of challenges as he burst into the box to smash the ball into the top left corner. 2-1.
At the mid-point of the half Ben Whitehead worked hard to retain the ball on the left side edge of the visitor’s area before sending a low cross from near the by-line that was partially blocked at full stretch by a defender enabling ALAN GRIFFIN to nip in to finish from the edge of the 6 yard box. 3-1.
With a two-goal cushion Cirencester began to produce some flowing football in the lead-up to the interval as they created chances for Whitehead and Freeman – the latter being denied by the ‘keeper’s legs.
Bideford were dangerous on the counter and after sending a corner kick into the penalty area they came close as a couple of efforts were blocked by determined defenders as the ball ricocheted around in front of the goal but on the stroke of half time they did reduce the deficit when a clearance was charged down and quickly fed to RYAN TURNER as he darted behind the home sides back line to collect near the penalty spot before slipping it inside the right post. 3-2.
Half Time: 3-2
As the saying goes ‘the next goal is vital’ and it was Cirencester that scored it 4 minutes after the break when Babz Jarra, left of the penalty spot, headed a corner kick back across goal to the line of the right post for a lurking ELLIS DUNTON to volley inside the right post from 10 yards. 4-2.
Bideford reacted positively to the setback and for the next five minutes pressed Cirencester who were forced into a number of desperate blocks before countering for Whitehead to see an effort stopped by ‘keeper Joe Moore at full stretch before he clipped the top of the bar with a cross-cum-shot from the right touchline.
On the hour Cirencester added to their tally when Whitehead received the ball, left channel – 40 yards out, turned and drove to the left side edge of the visitor’s penalty area before sending a low, sumptuous cross to the back post for ALAN GRIFFIN to complete his hat-trick with another tap-in. 5-2.
Three minutes later Griffin returned the favour as he slipped the ball through for BEN WHITEHEAD to carry to the front edge of the area before tucking it past Moore and inside the right post. 6-2.
As the mid-point of the half approached Mike Pook launched the ball from inside the Cirencester half, right flank, to Jordan Morris as he approached the front left corner of the Bideford area and from there the winger darted down the side of the area before sending another low cross to the back post where ALAN GRIFFIN was arriving to finish from a couple of yards. 7-2.
Despite the score-line Bideford showed they were still interested and dangerous when shortly afterwards Dowding latched onto a loose pass inside the home area to fire over the bar as Mat Wieczorek charged towards him. This was quickly followed by a snap shot from Billy Tucker that also cleared the bar and another Tucker cross from the left touchline that Jarra managed to clear under pressure.
As the game entered the final 15 scheduled minutes Dowding headed wide of the left post following good work from Will Hancox who crossed from the right by-line.
Shortly before this Freeman had displayed some neat footwork before shooting and there was a shout for handball as the ball was blocked but it was ignored by the officials.
When Tommy Anderson displayed some of his wing wizardry in the right corner he was upended for a free kick that Bideford defended before launching down the centre of the pitch for a foot-race between Tucker and Wieczorek that the ‘keeper won 30 yards from his goal. The ball was quickly fed back to Anderson who saw his shot saved by Moore.
As the game entered the final ten minutes Whitehead chased what looked to be a lost cause but kept the ball in play to cut in from the right corner to the penalty area where he slipped the ball to AIDAN BENNETT for another tap-in. 8-2.
Cirencester continued to press during the closing minutes with Anderson just unable to collect a low cross at the back post from Morris and Bennett firing wide of the right post as he cut in from the right flank.
Full Time: 8-2
With five goals in each half this certainly was an entertaining game.
After securing a two goal lead Cirencester conceded a late goal before the interval but added five more in the second to run out comfortable winners against a side that inflicted a 4-0 defeat on them earlier in the season.
Alan Griffin scored four from close range to capitalise on the superb support and work from his team-mates.
Attendance: 174
Referee: Dean Steatham
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Mat Wieczorek
2. Ellis Dunton 49
3. Louis Spalding
4. Michael Pook
5. Baboucarr Jarra
6. Jack Freeman 17
7. Aidan Bennett 81
8. Adam Connolly
9. Alan Griffin (C) 7, 23, 60, 66
10. Ben Whitehead 63
11. Jordan Morris
12. Tommy Anderson (Alan Griffin-70mins)
14. James Mortimer-Jones (Jack Freeman-80mins)
15. Will Christopher (Adam Connolly-67mins)
16. Max Arnold
17. Scott Rose (GK)
BIDEFORD:
1. Joe Moore
2. Ian Sampson
3. Ben Palmer
4. Sean Downing 13
5. James Mayne
6. Toby Down
7. Ben Carter (C)
8. Niall Heeney
9. Ryan Turner 45
10. Jordan Ricketts
11. Billy Tucker
12. Joel Randell (Jordan Ricketts-52mins)
14. Kevin Squire
15. Aaron Taylor
16. Will Hancox (Toby Down-71mins)
17. Archie Reay (Niall Heeney-65mins)