Cirencester Town FC
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Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
Click photo to view a slideshow of photos from the match
Courtesy of Steve Rolfe Photography
The long wait for the new season was finally over and what an opening fixture was in prospect with Cirencester travelling to The Forest of Dean to face their ‘play-off’ conquerors Cinderford Town.
After much anticipation Cirencester kicked off proceedings and the first half had everything you would expect from these two teams – ‘end-to-end’ football, goalmouth incident, commitment and a penalty kick but after the break Cinderford came out and took control of the match as Cirencester conceded ground. As the saying goes ‘a game of two halves’.
In the first ten minutes Cirencester pressed as a John Dennis cross from the left was punched off the top off Alan Griffin’s head by ‘keeper Andrew Hannah, Josh Parsons slipped Tommy Anderson into the right channel of the penalty area to shoot into the side netting and a Griffin glancing header looked destined for the top right corner until Hannah palmed it round his left post and Will Wellon headed the resulting corner kick wide of the left post.
Whilst Cirencester were creating these chances the home side came the nearest to opening the scoring when a cross from the right reached Ethan Moore near the penalty spot and his header crashed against the cross-bar.
Around the mid-point of the half Cinderford constructed a move that took them to the left corner as Blaine Waugh fed Andy Lewis who quickly moved it on to James Harding and forward to Matt MacDonald but after a throw-in the end result was a goal kick.
A couple of minutes later a strong run down the centre from Anderson took him to the edge of the home penalty area where he slipped the ball left for Dennis to collect as he burst into the box. A strong challenge knocked him to the ground but the penalty appeal was ignored by the Referee.
On the half hour Lorcan Sheehan received a pass inside the Cirencester penalty area, right channel, and sent his shot narrowly wide of the far left post.
This action was soon followed by a couple of shots being blocked – the first from Liam Angel and the other after a sharp turn from Harding resulted in a battle with Shayne Anson who managed to get the block in.
As the half neared the final five minutes Cirencester pressed again as Dennis cut in from the left flank to shoot – Hannah parried and there followed a couple of blocks in a scramble before Griffin’s effort was pushed wide by Hannah for a corner kick.
Cirencester were soon back again as they finished the half strongly with Dennis supplying Parsons who dribbled down the left channel into the penalty area before cutting back right to be tripped by the covering defender resulting in a Penalty Kick. MIKE POOK confidently converted from the penalty spot to give his team the lead going to the interval. 0-1.
Half Time: 0-1
During the break Cirencester made a couple of enforced changes and from the re-start Cinderford took the initiative to press forward as in the first minute a neat back heel from Harding near the edge of the Cirencester 6 yard box was intercepted by Anson.
This was followed by more pressure with Harding prominent as he struck the right post and after the ball was re-cycled Sheehan’s effort was deflected wide of the same post for a corner kick and this was sent to the front edge of the Cirencester 6 yard box where ANDY LEWIS rose to head home through a crowded box. 1-1.
Within minutes Cirencester had the chance to regain the lead when a clearance kick from a home defender struck a team-mate and rebounded to Griffin who swivelled near the penalty spot to shoot into the arms of Hannah.
Cinderford were encouraged by their goal and pressed Cirencester further and as the mid-point of the half approached a move down the right flank resulted in another corner kick and this time it led to a goalmouth scramble that eventually ETHAN MOORE managed to poke into the back of the net. 2-1.
As the game entered the final quarter hour Moore turned provider as his cross reached the far left post where Matt MacDonald slipped it to JAMES HARDING who finished from close range. 3-1.
The Foresters were by now dominating proceedings with Cirencester making occasional forays to the edge of the home penalty area with Jack Freeman having a couple of pots at goal.
A few minutes from time Sam Turl sent a cross from the right flank to the far post where Josh Hunt’s header was saved at close range by ‘keeper Lewis Clayton.
Full Time: 3-1
A disappointing performance after a bright start.
Cirencester matched their hosts during the first half and had the greater number of chances to score, even though Cinderford came the nearest to opening the scoring, but after the interval the home side changed gear and Cirencester were unable to match them.
Attendance: 176
Referee: L Mansfield King
CINDERFORD TOWN:
1. Andrew Hannah
2. Sam Turl
3. Blaine Waugh
4. Andrew Lewis 59
5. Nick Rhodes
6. Liam Angel
7. Ben Watkins
8. Lorcan Sheehan (C)
9. Ethan Moore 66
10. James Harding 76
11. Matt MacDonald
12. Josh Hunt (James Harding-82mins)
14. Marley Thomas (Lorcan Sheehan-78mins)
15. Craig Norman (Andy Lewis-77mins)
16. Kye Simpson
17. Jordan Dibble
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Lewis Clayton
2. Will Christopher
3. Will Tunnicliff
4. Mike Pook 43p
5. Shayne Anson
6. Will Wellon
7. Tommy Anderson
8. Jack Freeman
9. Alan Griffin (C)
10. Josh Parsons
11. John Dennis
12. Aidan Bennett (Tommy Anderson-46mins)
13. Sam Ayres (GK)
14. Jordan Morris (John Dennis-46mins)
15. Tommy Ouldridge (Josh Parsons-64mins)
16. James Mortimer-Jones