Cirencester Town FC
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Click photo to view a slideshow of photos from the match
Courtesy of Steve Rolfe Photography
The Preliminary Round of the FA Trophy brought Basingstoke Town to The Corinium Stadium and following the recent cup-tie exploits of the home side there was much anticipation of another exciting match and so it proved with the spoils going to the visitors by the odd goal in five.
Basingstoke’s former Assistant Manager Dan Brownlee has recently stepped up to take the reins and this has seen a change in their fortunes as since his appointment they have secured 4 of their 6 points in their last two league matches and a win against North Leigh in the previous round of the FA Trophy.
In the last couple of days Charlie Griffin (Manager) has recruited Forest Green Rovers Academy student Isaiah Jones on a month’s loan to cover the departure of Will Christopher from the Club after 100 appearances in the Red & Black.
The visitors kicked off playing towards The Shed end of the ground and made the perfect start as they opened the scoring within 4 minutes when a cross from their right flank reached BEN COOK at the back post and his high looping header dropped into the net off the inside of the far right post. 0-1.
Cirencester responded positively to the setback and pressed their visitors down both flanks to the corners with fullbacks Isaiah Jones and Will Tunnicliff supporting their wingers, Ollie Artwell and John Dennis, respectively.
As the home side pressed debutant Jones received a short free kick 40 yards from goal, right channel, and delivered a terrific arcing cross towards the far post where Alan Griffin was just short of making a meaningful contact.
During this period of intense pressure on the visitors defence Artwell popped-up to head a Jack Freeman cross narrowly wide of the right post from right of the penalty spot.
Whilst Cirencester had forced Basingstoke to defend during the period since the opening goal the visitors were dangerous on the counter and an example of this is when Harry Cliff chased a ball down their right flank to the corner before sending a low cross through the home penalty area for Claudio Herbert to collect as he supported on the left side edge of the area but his cross was cut out and the threat averted.
Shortly after the mid-point there was a period of ‘’end-to-end play as Zach Robinson latched onto a pass over the Cirencester backline to burst into the left channel of the penalty area to face ‘keeper Lewis Clayton before sending the ball towards the far right post for a supporting Riccardo Andrady but the home defence managed to get back to clear the danger.
Almost immediately Jones brought another Basingstoke attack to an end and mounted a counter as he exchanged passes with Artwell as they worked their way down the right flank for Jones to send a dangerous cross/shot narrowly wide of the far post.
Not wishing to be left out Dennis then produced a run to the left corner where he crossed to the back post for Artwell to collect and fire a left footed shot on the turn at the target – pushed wide of the post for a right wing corner kick. The kick was recycled to Freeman and his cross was headed wide of the left post by Griffin.
The pressure on the visitors defence had been increasing and as the half hour mark arrived Cirencester finally made the breakthrough. After working across the front edge of their penalty area – right to left - the ball reached Freeman and he clipped a precise ball to OLLIE ARTWELL, to the right of the right post – ten yards out, and he drove it into the roof of the net. 1-1.
Three minutes later Basingstoke regained the lead when Harry Cliff squared the ball from near the right by-line for RICCARDO ANDRADY, to take advantage of a moment of hesitation in the home defence, to dart forward to finish from the edge of the 6 yard box. 1-2.
Once again Cirencester responded with a neat move down the left flank that was switched right, then left, to create space for a Freeman drive from the edge of the box – caught by Chris Rackley.
As the half was drawing to a close Basingstoke were becoming more confident with Herbert firing wide of the left post, Alfie Saunders attempting a long range effort that flew high over the home bar, and sending a corner kick into the area but Cirencester stood firm and had the last action of the half when Rackley punched and Adam Connolly collected to fire wide of the right post.
Half Time: 1-2
The first half had certainly been eventful with Basingstoke scoring the early goal and then weathering the Cirencester storm in reply to finish the half positively and the second half started in similar fashion but it was Cirencester that scored the early goal.
Within minutes of the re-start the home side worked the ball to the right corner to be awarded a free kick that Freeman delivered into the ‘mix’ near the Basingstoke penalty spot where it ‘bobbed about’ before being cleared for a Cirencester ‘throw-in’ in the left corner that eventually led to a Basingstoke free kick to relieve the pressure.
A few minutes later Jones battled for the ball near the front corner of his area and embarked on a 25 yard driving run down the right channel before moving it on to Artwell who took it further down the flank before crossing to the far post where Tommy Ouldridge collected it, moved away from goal, but towards the centre front edge of the penalty area, to return it to a supporting ISAIAH JONES who took a touch before driving it from 30 yards into the top right corner. 1-1.
Game on.
As in the first half it didn’t take long for Basingstoke to regain the lead – a superb cross-field pass from Aaron Kuhl on the left flank reached Andrady near the right by-line and he squared it to the penalty spot where a series of blocks took place, reminiscent of ‘pinball’, before ZACHARY ROBINSON managed to poke it into the net. 1-2.
Back came Cirencester as they worked the ball quickly down the centre, then right to the flank where Dennis crossed into the box – cleared to Aidan Bennett in the left corner, crossed to the far post for Dennis to volley through the box and past the left post for a goal-kick.
A few minutes later a Cirencester free kick near the right front corner of the Basingstoke area led to a couple of corner kicks and a shot from Bennett that was blocked near the goal-line.
Just before the mid-point arrived Cirencester had to replace Tommy Ouldridge after he collided with team-mate Ollie Artwell to sustain what appeared to be a broken nose.
Cirencester were really pushing forward by now – Dennis swapped wings with Artwell for a period and the former produced some trickery near the touchline before laying it off for Jones to cross to the far post, then an exchange of passes between Artwell and Tunnicliff led to a corner kick that Rackley punched for another corner kick from the left followed by a right footed shot from Dennis as he recovered the ball to cut right, to the left channel front edge of the visitors penalty area, resulting in a corner kick from the right flank. This time Griffin met the kick with his head but it was gratefully caught by Rackley to end the immediate pressure.
As the game entered the final 15 minutes Cirencester worked the ball down their right flank for Dennis to cross to the far post where Griffin rose to head against the woodwork - top left corner.
Cirencester tried again as a flowing move down the centre to Bennett and on to Irving, nearly reached Artwell on the break, soon to be followed by Artwell laying the ball back to Bennett from the left by-line where he was quickly closed down forcing him to send it out right to Dennis – Basingstoke were defending with determination to prevent Cirencester getting any shots away.
As the game entered the final minute of scheduled Basingstoke advanced to win a corner kick after Clayton tipped an audacious chip from Andrady over his bar leading to another one that the ‘keeper punched clear.
The seven minutes of added-time closed with Cirencester pressing and Rackley catching a Griffin header.
Full Time: 2-3
Once again spectators at The Corinium Stadium were treated to an enthralling cup-tie although not the result the home fans would have hoped for.
Isaiah Jones certainly had a debut to remember - capped off with a fine goal.
Congratulations to Basingstoke and GOOD LUCK in the next round.
Attendance: 137
Referee: Ben Williamson (Melksham)
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Lewis Clayton
2. Isaiah Jones 50
3. Will Tunnicliff
4. Tommy Ouldridge
5. Shayne Anson
6. Will Wellon
7. Oliver Artwell 30
8. Adam Connolly
9. Alan Griffin (C)
10. Jack Freeman
11. John Dennis
12. Aidan Bennett (Jack Freeman-57mins)
14. Levi Irving (Tommy Ouldridge-68mins)
15. James Mortimer-Jones
16. Sam Farr
17. Tommy Anderson
BASINGSTOKE TOWN:
1. Chris Rackley
2. Alfie Saunders
3. Adam Everiss
4. Aaron Kuhl
5. Reuben Collins
6. Dean Stow (C)
7. Claudio Herbert
8. Ben Cook 4
9. Zachary Robinson 55
10. Harrison Cliff
11. Riccardo Andrady 33
12. D’Andre Brown (Aaron Kuhl-76mins)
14. Aiden Harris
15. Jordan Edwards (Claudio Herbert-57mins)
16. Michael Davis (Zachary Robinson-88mins)
17. Scott Armsworth