Cirencester Town FC
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What an incredible FA Cup-tie this has turned out to be as following an exciting 2-2 draw on Saturday at The Corinium Stadium the replay at Hardenhuish Park was eagerly anticipated and it sure lived up to expectations with a seven goal thriller that kept everyone attending on edge until the final whistle.
Cirencester named the same starting eleven as the first match whilst Chippenham made three changes with Jay Foulston, James Guthrie and Nat Jarvis replacing Harry Rutty, Tariq Ossai and David Pratt respectively.
An indication of what was to come came as early as the first minute with penalty area action, at the Cirencester end, as Chris Zebroski latched onto a through ball for a 1v1 with ‘keeper Lewis Clayton who quickly advanced to block.
Cirencester responded with a break down their left flank as Will Tunnicliff tested Will Henry in the home goal who made a low save but with ten minutes on the clock Chippenham made the early breakthrough when they worked the ball across the pitch, from left to right, to James Guthrie in the corner. The midfielder cut back onto his left foot to send a deep cross to the back post where Karnell Chambers challenged for the ball resulting in a partial clearance to LUKE HAINES in a central position on the edge of the penalty area and he took a touch before blasting it into the roof of the net. 1-0.
Eight minutes later it was all-square again as Cirencester worked the ball down their left flank to be awarded a corner kick. MIKE POOK sent the kick into the mix at the edge of the 6 yard box and eventually it came back to him and he advanced into the home penalty area, left channel, to fire a low shot towards goal and en-route it took a deflection that resulted in it finishing in the back of the net. 1-1.
Chippenham then worked the ball to their left corner where Shayne Anson stopped their progress to start a counter but it was soon back again when a long clearance reached Zebroski in the right channel of the visitors penalty area – his shot was parried by Clayton leading to a corner kick and a shot from Kieran Parselle that cleared the cross-bar.
Shortly after the mid-point of the half Cirencester produced a multi pass move that took the ball to the left by-line for Tunnicliff to cross but it was cut-out for a corner kick that reached the head of Anson but was blocked for another corner kick which was headed out of the area for Cirencester to recycle to their right flank and a throw-in that was defended.
By now the game was ‘end-to-end’ with Callum Gunner attempting another long range effort without the success of Saturday’s sensational strike as it sailed high above the target, but he did have another one deflected over for a corner kick that was defended a little later.
In between these strikes Cirencester made progress from left to right and Tommy Ouldridge produced some neat skill to retain the ball when on the receiving end of a couple of challenges - leading to a free kick.
In the final ten minute period of the half John Dennis made a strong run into the left channel of the home box resulting in a corner kick that Nat Jarvis headed clear to be fed to Ollie Atwell on the right but his cross was too long.
As the half drew to a close Guthrie crossed from the right to the back post where Jarvis and Anson contested the ball – corner kick from the left to the far post headed back into the mix where 3 goalmouth blocks later it was cleared for Cirencester to counter to the left corner.
Half Time: 1-1
Immediately from the re-start Chippenham showed their intent as they took the ball to the left corner and the subsequent cross was punched by Clayton and a header blocked before it reached Chambers who missed his shot near the penalty spot enabling a counter attack as Jack Freeman carried the ball 30 yards down the right channel before moving it on to Artwell.
A few minutes later as Zebroski burst into the box a great tackle from Adam Connolly stopped his progress and started a counter down the right flank.
Seven minutes into the second half Chippenham regained the lead when Nat Jarvis collected a ‘head-on’ near the left channel front edge of the Cirencester box, drew the defence towards him, and then slipped the ball right for KARNELL CHAMBERS to collect in space in the right channel of the penalty area followed by a straightforward finish into an empty net. 2-1.
Despite this setback Cirencester wouldn’t lie down and within the next couple of minutes Dennis and Ouldridge had shots blocked, soon to be followed by a couple of neat moves as they worked the ball down their flanks, and around the mid-point of the half they equalised when Freeman received the ball near the right front corner of the home box and instantly slipped it left to Alan Griffin as he burst forward in support to drive into the right channel of the box before squaring it left to JOHN DENNIS as he cut in from the left towards the penalty spot. As defenders closed on him he calmly tucked his shot inside the left post. 2-2.
More ‘end-to-end’ football followed and with ten minutes remaining Clayton had to advance from his box to head a long ball clear and then recovered to catch Zebroski shot.
A couple of minutes later Chambers had a good chance to regain the lead for his side but pushed his effort from the right channel wide of the right post and as full time approached Freeman struck the bottom of the right post, from the right channel, recovered the rebound and sent it out to Artwell who crossed to the penalty spot where Griffin volleyed narrowly over the bar.
At the final whistle the teams couldn’t be separated so extra-time was required.
Full Time: 2-2
When extra time began Parselle attempted a long range shot but it sailed over the bar without troubling Clayton.
Chippenham then worked the ball down the centre as Luke Hopper exchanged passes with Tariq Ossai but the resulting shot was blocked by Anson.
As the sides searched to break the deadlock both ‘keepers were called into action to make fairly straightforward catches but as the first period drew to a close Cirencester worked the ball to the right corner and inside to Freeman who sent it across the front edge of the home box to Ouldridge and he slipped it between two approaching challengers for ALAN GRIFFIN to collect in line with the penalty spot and the left post. The experienced striker, with virtually the last kick of the period, stabbed the ball with the outside of his right foot past the advancing Henry and it clipped the inside of the far right post before nestling in the net. 2-3.
Within two minutes of the re-start a long ball was launched to TARIQ OSSAI in the right channel of the Cirencester box and he levelled the score with a firm volley. 3-3.
Encouraged by this success Chippenham pressed for Hopper to slip the ball left to Chambers and his strike from the left channel of the box was pushed over the bar by Clayton.
Five minutes away from a penalty shoot-out Chippenham scored what turned out to be the winner as NAT JARVIS retained the ball on the left touchline to send a cross from the corner towards the goalmouth but a defenders outstretched foot deflected it high into the air to drop under the bar at the near post where ‘keeper Lewis Clayton, who had made many a fine save in both matches, had the misfortune to push the slippery ball into his own net. 4-3.
A couple of minutes later, with time rapidly running out, a cross from the right reached Griffin near the home 6 yard box but his downward contact bounced up and over the cross-bar.
Chippenham ran the clock down to confirm victory and a home fixture against Slough Town in the next round.
Extra Time: 4-3
A very disappointing way to bring this fantastic cup-tie to a conclusion but that’s football.
The tie was a real credit to Non-League Football as both games revealed incredible fitness, pace, commitment and plenty of ability from the players that took part for those fortunate enough to watch.
A valiant effort from Cirencester who gave everything they had against their more illustrious opponents and in so doing provided a thrilling spectacle that kept everyone on edge until the final whistle.
GOOD LUCK to Chippenham in the next round and the rest of your season.
Attendance: 340
Referee: Jason Richardson
CHIPPENHAM TOWN:
1. Will Henry
3. Jay Foulston
4. George Rigg
5. Chris Zebroski
8. Callum Gunner
9. Nat Jarvis 115
11. James Guthrie
14. Kieren Parselle (C)
16. Curtis McDonald
17. Karnell Chambers 52
20. Luke Haines 10
7. Tariq Ossai (George Rigg-79mins) 107
10. Luke Hopper (Chris Zebroski-84mins)
12. Harry Rutty (James Guthrie-91mins)
15. Elias Youseff
19. David Pratt
18. Connor Thompson (GK)
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Lewis Clayton
2. Will Christopher
3. Will Tunnicliff
4. Mike Pook 18
5. Shayne Anson
6. Tommy Ouldridge
7. Oliver Artwell
8. Adam Connolly
9. Alan Griffin (C) 105
10. Jack Freeman
11. John Dennis 68
12. Jordan Morris (John Dennis-113mins)
14. James Mortimer-Jones
15. Will Wellon
16. Alfie Cook
17. Levi Irving (Will Tunnicliff-116mins)
18. Sam Ayres (GK)
19. Tommy Anderson