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
In their last scheduled home league match of the season Cirencester were hosts to the ‘in-form’ Mangotsfield United and despite going behind after 13 minutes they recovered to finish convincing 6-1 winners.
When the sides met in January Cirencester came away with a 5-1 victory but recently Mangotsfield have been in a good run of form that has taken them to 2nd place in the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table (Cirencester 3rd) and 16th in the league table (Cirencester 3rd).
The Cirencester starting eleven was unchanged for the 4th consecutive match.
‘The Mangos’ kicked off proceedings in glorious sunshine for the spectators (but not so pleasant for those running around on the pitch) playing towards The Shed End of the ground and immediately won a corner kick on their left flank that Clayton Fortune fired high over the bar.
Cirencester responded with a couple of moves down their left flank that resulted in an Alan Griffin header being collected by ‘keeper Marko Radovanovic, an ‘offside’ decision and a cross-field pass from Ellis Dunton that released Tommy Anderson to the right by-line where his cross passed through the 6 yard box to be re-cycled.
A few minutes later Dunton embarked on a mazy run that took him past several would be challengers to the edge of the visitor’s penalty area where he slid the ball through to Owen Windsor who saw his shot saved by Radovanovic.
Mangotsfield had shown during these early minutes that they possessed some pace in their forwards and with 13 minutes on the clock it was used to good effect as a swift break produced the opening goal for them. Thomas Hillman collected the ball 10 yards inside the Cirencester half, left touchline, cut inside and delivered a curling right footed pass that reached Dan Demkiv as he darted into the right channel of the home penalty area. The striker took the ball towards the by-line, drawing home ‘keeper Sam Ayres towards him in the process, before playing it left to an unmarked, supporting MATTHEW TANNER who had the simple task of tapping into the net from 10 yards. 0-1.
Shortly afterwards a free kick for Mangotsfield resulted in a corner kick from their right flank that was headed away for Demkiv to attempt an overhead kick that passed over the home crossbar.
As the mid-point of the half approached a Windsor snap-shot from the edge of the penalty area, right channel, fizzed past the right post and a free kick from the right - after some neat interplay between Will Christopher and Anderson was unceremoniously brought to an end - reached Dunton’s head but Radovanovic made a good low save to prevent the ball entering his net.
Cirencester had gradually been increasing the pressure and a fine move involving Mike Pook and Christopher supplied the ball to Anderson who slid a precision pass down the right channel into the visitors penalty area as ALAN GRIFFIN darted forward. The striker met the ball with Fortune in close attendance as he shot and the ball finished in the back of the net, inside the right post, with some contact from the defender but as the shot was on target anyway current thinking seems to suggest the goal should be awarded to the striker. 1-1.
Mangotsfield replied as James Ollis, who had briefly switched to the left wing, cut inside to fire wide of the far left post from a central position, 35 yards out.
Due to the temperature the Referee, Simon Brown, sensibly stopped play after 29 minutes for a ‘Drinks Break’ and when play resumed Aidan Bennett ‘bent’ a pass with the outside of his right foot down the left flank into the path of Jack Freeman who took it down the side edge of the penalty area before sending a low cross from the by-line towards the far post where TOMMY ANDERSON was arriving to convert inside the right post. 2-1.
A few minutes later Babz Jarra went down injured, with no-one around him, and the ball was sportingly put out of play by Mangotsfield for him to receive attention. Unfortunately he was unable to continue and Louis Spalding came on at left back with Ellis Dunton moving inside to Centre Back.
Almost immediately Mangotsfield attacked to the right corner to win a corner kick as Sekani Simpson’s cross was cut out and the resulting kick produced a throw from the left corner and a Fortune header that was wide of the target.
During the final scheduled five minutes Cirencester pressed - Pook fired over after a short free kick, and Griffin had a low shot saved by Radovanovic – and as the half was drawing to a close another fine move supplied the ball to Windsor who cut along the left by-line where he too sent a low cross to TOMMY ANDERSON at the back post, 10 yards out, and he smashed it into the back of the net, inside the left post. 3-1.
Half Time: 3-1
Immediately from the re-start Cirencester attacked their visitor’s goal as Griffin latched onto a ball over the back-line to set up Windsor but his shot from left of the penalty spot was saved, then Bennett cut right from the left corner to shoot narrowly wide of the far right post and Windsor collected a Griffin header to shoot wide of the left post from the right channel of the visitors penalty area.
Despite being on the back foot during this period Mangotsfield countered with a swift break as Tanner carried the ball some 25 yards before slipping it forward for Demkiv to chase into the home box where the alert Ayres dived at his feet to smother the ball before he could make good contact.
Back came Cirencester as a move involving Spalding, Bennett and Windsor as they worked the ball from the left touchline to Griffin, centre - 25 yards out, who slipped it right to the right channel of the Mangotsfield penalty area as Anderson burst forward to shoot narrowly wide of the far left post.
Once again Mangotsfield responded as they worked the ball forward for a Demkiv shot that Ayres had to dive right to push wide of his post for a corner kick.
Around the hour mark Windsor and Bennett had shots deflected for corner kicks that were defended followed by counter attacks involving Demkiv, Ollis and Hillman and a free kick for a foul on the former. The kick was headed clear by Pook and this led to a charging run of some 50 yards from Freeman that took him into the visitor’s penalty area and seeing Anderson in support to his right he attempted to slip the ball to him but it was blocked by Radovanovic.
Shortly after the mid-point of the half Windsor displayed some trickery in the visitor’s box to create space for a right footed shot that was saved by Radovanovic.
Just before another ‘Drinks Break’ Ayres launched the ball to Anderson, forward to Windsor, back heel to Anderson as he charged forward in support, followed by a shot that Radovanovic parried for a corner kick.
At this point Jordan Morris replaced Will Christopher and he had an instant impact as he darted to the left corner before crossing to Windsor, near the penalty spot, who laid it back to Griffin who moved it right for Anderson to shoot as he burst into the right channel of the area – his low drive whizzed past the left post again.
Mangotsfield responded with another break from Demkiv who fired wide of the right post from the left channel of the home penalty area.
The resulting goal kick from this effort produced a ‘route one’ response as Ayres kick was headed on by Griffin for OWEN WINDSOR to collect and take to the left channel of the visitor’s area where he calmly tucked his shot inside the left post as the ‘keeper advanced. His 6th goal in his last 5 games. 4-1.
Once again the busy Demkiv was involved in a reply as his ‘step-over’ deceived Ayres, who was advancing for 1v1, enabling the striker to chase after and collect the ball, right channel – 6 yards out, and shoot towards an empty goal but narrowly wide of the far left post.
As the game entered the final ten minutes Morris and Windsor combined to set up Anderson but his resulting shot was deflected wide for a corner kick.
After the corner kick had ended in a goal kick 17 year old Levi Irving, who has scored 20 goals for the Academy side, was introduced in place of another 17 year old, Owen Windsor, for his first taste of First Team football.
Into the final 5 minutes and Cirencester made a break down the centre – Griffin slipped the ball into the path of JACK FREEMAN as he charged forward into the box to shoot. His shot was partially blocked by Radovanovic but it squirmed through and over the line. 5-1.
As the match was drawing to a close Morris battled for the ball on the centre front edge of the Mangotsfield area enabling JACK FREEMAN to latch onto it and shoot inside the right post to complete the scoring. 6-1.
Full Time: 6-1
Another solid performance from Cirencester who responded well after the initial setback to produce some sensational football and finishing in a convincing victory to keep the pressure on their ‘play-off’ rivals.
Attendance: 301
Referee: Simon Brown
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Sam Ayres
2. Will Christopher
3. Ellis Dunton
4. Michael Pook
5. Baboucarr Jarra
6. Jack Freeman 86, 90
7. Tommy Anderson 31, 45
8. Adam Connolly
9. Alan Griffin (C) 24
10. Owen Windsor 79
11. Aidan Bennett
12. Jordan Morris (Will Christopher-75mins)
14. Louis Spalding (Baboucarr Jarra-35mins)
15. James Mortimer-Jones
16. Levi Irving (Owen Windsor-83mins)
17. Scott Rose (GK)
MANGOTSFIELD UNITED:
1. Marko Radovanovic
2. Sekani Siompson (C)
3. Matthew Tanner 13
4. Clayton Fortune
5. Keith Kearney
6. Chris Peck
7. James Ollis
8. Calum Ferguson
9. Dan Demkiv
10. Lee Hartshorn
11. Thomas Hillman
12. Tyrone Tucker-Dixon
14. Sam Hill (Chris Peck-77mins)
15. Colin Mugoya-Tabingwa (James Ollis-66mins)
16. Ollie Price