Cirencester Town FC
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‘The Centurions’ travelled to the south coast to face Sholing for the first time since the 2012-13 season and after a match that lacked any real quality but did have endeavour, a few incidents and 4 goals – unfortunately three of them in the Cirencester net - returned empty handed.
There was only one change to the Cirencester starting eleven from the last match with Will Wellon replacing the injured Adam Connolly.
Cirencester started positively but 6 minutes after the kick-off Marlon Mason refused to accept that he had lost the ball and harassed the culprit to win it back leading to a blocked Marvin McLean shot that rebounded into the path of DANIEL MASON who volleyed home from the edge of the box. 1-0.
Following this setback Cirencester pressed but were unable to break down a resolute home defence and as a result the game became ‘end-to-end’ with neither side able to retain possession for long.
As the interval loomed Cirencester worked the ball down their left flank to the corner for a corner kick to be awarded and after an initial block it fell to JOHN DENNIS who took a touch to control it, and moved right to send a precise, curling, right footed shot through the gap and inside the far right post. 1-1.
Half Time: 1-1
After the break Cirencester pressed the home defence but as the hour mark approached the home side were countering quickly and a long ball to the edge of the Cirencester box was collected by ALEX SAWYER who was quickly closed down and forced to his right and when he reached the right front corner of the 6 yard box he managed to slip the ball past his marker and the closing ‘keeper Lewis Clayton - eventually nestling inside the far left post. 2-1.
Shortly before the mid-point of the half Sholing were reduced to ten men when Jake Hoole was dismissed following a lunging tackle on Tommy Ouldridge so they re-grouped and withstood the crosses from the Cirencester flanks to launch balls downfield, chase and press, and such was their effort it was difficult see they were a man down.
With full time rapidly approaching Daniel Mason battled for the ball inside the Cirencester penalty area to reach the right by-line where he slipped it inside for BRADLEY TARGETT to collect near the right front corner of the 6 yard box, dummy to shoot - drawing a ‘would-be’ block from a defender – before dragging the ball back to create space to finish with his left foot inside the far left post. 3-1.
Game over.
Full Time: 3-1
A disappointing performance from Cirencester who succumbed to the work rate and pressure of their hosts on a very hot day.
Attendance: 142
Referee: Barrie Small
SHOLING:
1. Ryan Gosney
2. Tobi Falodi
3. Jake Hoole
4. Owen Roundell
5. Dan Miller
6. Jamie Bulpitt
7. Marlon Mason
8. Alex Sawyer 58
9. Daniel Mason 6
10. Byron Mason (C)
11. Marvin McLean
12. Terry Cuthbertson (Tobi Falodi-65mins)
14. Bradley Targett (Marlon Mason-77mins) 86
15. James Lauder (Jamie Bulpitt-79mins)
16. Dean Faithfull
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Lewis Clayton
2. Will Christopher
3. Will Tunnicliff
4. Mike Pook
5. Shayne Anson
6. Will Wellon
7. Oliver Artwell
8. Jack Freeman
9. Alan Griffin (C)
10. Owen Windsor
11. John Dennis 45
12. Jordan Morris (Will Tunnicliff-79mins)
14. Tommy Ouldridge (Owen Windsor-39mins)
15. James Mortimer-Jones
16. Malachi Lamie Cotter