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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In their latest Pre-Season Friendly match Cirencester entertained Forest Green Rovers Academy and after a game of free flowing football the home side scored six against their young opponents.
The starting eleven for Cirencester listed a Trialist on the team-sheet wearing the No.11 shirt – later established to be 18 year old Liam Bishop (ex Newport County – currently with Hereford).
The visitors kicked off on a cool evening towards The Shed end of the ground but almost immediately lost possession enabling Alan Griffin to have the first shot at goal - after the ball had been recycled following a cross from the right flank by Will Christopher – but a part block had taken the sting out of it enabling ‘keeper Luc Rees to collect.
Within minutes the young Rovers were working their left flank before switching to the right for Archie Thayer to send it down the line where Vaughn Covil won a corner kick. When the kick came in it reached Luke Hallett to the left of the penalty spot but his header was gratefully caught by ‘keeper Lewis Clayton.
Cirencester began to make progress down both flanks with a mixture of direct and flowing football and the first example of their direct approach came when Clayton launched the ball down the right channel for Griffin to head on to Trialist Liam Bishop as he darted forward to collect and deliver to Josh Parsons in a central position, 25 yards out. With some clever footwork and a sharp turn Parsons evaded two challenges before firing wide of the left post.
Further attacks followed as Jack Freeman fired wide of the right post, Tommy Anderson stretched Rees with a left footed shot towards the right post and Christopher sent a raking pass from right to left flank for Will Tunnicliff to feed Bishop who cut right before shooting wide of the right post.
In amongst these efforts from the home side Dan Bradshaw played Dylan Morgan in to the left front corner of the home box where he cut right to shoot but Clayton was in position to parry the shot before collecting.
As the mid-point of the half approached Rovers created the best opening when Hallett was released through the centre for a clear sight of goal but as he entered the area, right of the penalty spot, he sent his shot wide of the right post.
The opportunity spurred on the young side and during the next ten minutes or so they kept Clayton busy as Joe Jeremiah, Covil and Morgan tested the ‘keeper but as is often the case when a side is pushing forward they are vulnerable to the counter and so it proved as Bishop slipped the ball to Griffin in the left channel of the Rovers area and as he drew the defence across to him he side stepped a challenge before moving it right to JOSH PARSONS who finished from the edge of the 6 yard box. 1-0.
A few minutes later Parsons fed Freeman and his shot from the edge of the box, left channel, was parried to Griffin who saw his effort diverted to Parsons and he fired over the bar from right of the penalty spot.
Almost immediately Griffin supplied Parsons again, left front corner of the visitor’s area, and he fired narrowly wide but this proved to be practice as a couple of minutes later JOSH PARSONS drove the ball across goal from a similar position inside the far right post. 2-0.
As the half drew to a close both sides had shots at goal as Isaiah Jones shot wide of the left post for Rovers and Bishop had his effort saved by Rees.
Half Time: 2-0
Cirencester made the perfect start to the second half as within a minute a flowing move down the left flank involving Freeman, Parsons, Bishop and Anderson was returned to LIAM BISHOP as he moved along the edge of the visitor’s penalty area to the centre where he struck a low right footed shot inside the left post. 3-0.
Undaunted the youngsters continued to play their passing football with Dylan Morgan striking the side netting after cutting in from the left and Seungwoo Yang firing over but around the hour they conceded another after neat approach play down the right flank created the opening for JACK FREEMAN to cut left from near the corner of the area before unleashing a fierce low strike into the bottom left corner of the goal from 25 yards. 4-0.
A couple of minutes later the Academy side were given a lifeline when they were awarded a Penalty Kick and LUKE HALLETT made no mistake from the spot – shooting left as Clayton dived in the opposite direction. 4-1.
That was two goals in two minutes and it soon became 5 in 14 minutes as 4 minutes later LIAM BISHOP robbed an opponent, in a central position just outside the visitor’s area, moved right and rifled his shot inside the bottom left post. 5-1.
Three minutes later a strong run from Morgan took him to the home area where his shot was parried by replacement ‘keeper Sam Ayres – eventually reaching Harvey Bunker, 20 yards out – central position, and his shot took a huge deflection to enter the net inside the right post - OWN GOAL?. 5-2.
With 15 minutes remaining Parsons released TOMMY OULDRIDGE for a run down the left channel and as he approached the by-line he clipped the ball with his left foot towards the far post where it struck the inside of the post to rebound into the net. 6-2.
Despite the score the young Rovers continued to compete until the final whistle with Dan Jones testing ‘keeper Ayres who pushed his effort wide for a corner kick that was re-cycled for Destiny Oladipo to produce a couple of step-overs before firing wide of the right post.
Full Time: 6-2
A very entertaining game of flowing football for the neutral observer with plenty of skill and movement on display.
For Cirencester it was a good work-out against a very fit and mobile young side whilst for the Rovers youngsters it was good experience in their development.
Attendance: ?? Referee: Oliver Spender
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
Lewis Clayton (Sam Ayres 63), Will Christopher, Ben Tunnicliff, Mike Pook, Shayne Anson, Will Wellon, Tommy Anderson (Tyreece Briscoe 63), Jack Freeman (Tommy Ouldridge 63), Alan Griffin (Levi Irving 80), Josh Parsons (James Mortimer-Jones 87), Trialist.
Unused Substitutes:- Jordan Morris.
FOREST GREEN ROVERS ACADEMY:
Luc Rees, Seungwoo Yang, Isaiah Jones (Ethan Hill 46), Dan Bradshaw (Dan Jones 46), Jago Thompson Roberts (Harvey Bunker 46), Owen Orford, Vaughn Covil (Alfie Saunders 46), Archie Thayer (Ollie Artwell 46), Luke Hallett (Dan Ogunleye 65), Joe Jeremiah (Destiny Oladipo 74), Dylan Morgan.
Unused Substitutes:- Seb Duff.