Cirencester Town FC
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Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
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The Centurions returned to The Corinium Stadium following their victory at Slimbridge on Saturday for their second league match with John Brough at the helm and once again the threadbare squad secured the 3 points on offer with a determined performance.
Their opponents, AFC Totton, have seen an upturn in form recently as during their last three games they have secured the 5 points that they have in the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table whilst Cirencester have achieved 6 points from the six games. Before this match the sides were 16th and 12th respectively in that table.
The League table has Cirencester 13th (16 points) and AFC Totton 19th (12 points).
Following Saturday’s hard fought victory John Brough kept faith with the squad that took to the pitch at Slimbridge, albeit with one exception as Tommy Ouldridge started in place of Tommy Anderson (ankle injury).
The visitors kicked off in dreadful weather conditions, - a strong wind blowing across the pitch complete with waves of heavy rain – to attack the Shed End of the ground and their first period of possession saw them attack the left flank for Craig Feeney to shoot wide of the left post from the edge of the home box.
Cirencester responded immediately as they worked the ball to their left flank for Jonny Dennis to cut in from the corner leading to a free kick that was delivered wide of the left post.
The home side then produced a flowing move from right to left as Shayne Anson moved the ball forward to James Mortimer-Jones who slipped it to Jack Freeman, right to Tommy Ouldridge and a 25 yard pass from the right channel to the left flank for Dennis to attack the visitors box - defended, but Cirencester recovered the ball for Freeman to cut along the left by-line with his resulting low cross smothered by ‘keeper Matthew Hall at his right post.
With 11 minutes gone Totton had a scare as ‘keeper Hall nearly fluffed his lines as he dribbled round Levi Irving when he chased down a back pass.
As Cirencester pressed again Toumani Sidibe carried the ball down the right channel before squaring it to Freeman who fired narrowly wide of the left post from near the penalty spot.
A couple of minutes later Jordan Morris delivered a free kick from just inside the visitors half, right channel, to left of the penalty spot where Irving instantly despatched a shot that struck the bottom of the left post.
Whilst Cirencester were doing most of the pressing at this stage the visitors were dangerous on the counter with the hard working Feeney the outlet as he fired wide of the right post under pressure.
Throughout the half Academy student Irving was clearly rising to the challenge of the lone striker role as he chased balls, harried and held the ball before playing in team-mates – such as Sidibe who flashed a shot wide of the right post – and when the youngster chased after a ball down the left flank, following a sharp turn and pass from Freeman, it resulted in a free kick. Tommy Ouldridge delivered the kick towards the area between penalty spot and 6 yard box, where LEVI IRVING quickly adjusted his feet to volley inside the left post for his second goal in the last two games. 1-0.
Four minutes later it was all-square again as CRAIG FEENEY collected the ball near the right corner and as he cut left into the home penalty area he was confronted with his initial shot being blocked but rebounding to him and from a position a yard or so from the by-line he managed to squeeze his second effort inside the near post. 1-1.
Cirencester continued to press forward and the visitors kept them at bay with Hall saving a low shot from Dennis after Irving had controlled an Ouldridge pass on his chest before supplying the winger.
‘The Stags’ striker Feeney once again replied as he tested Lewis Clayton from the right channel of the penalty area.
As the half was drawing to a close Cirencester worked the ball down their left flank with Will Tunnicliff over-lapping to the by-line to pull the ball back for Freeman to fire at the target, blocked near the goal-line, and back for another shot that was also blocked for a corner kick.
In the final minutes Sidibe and Freeman fired wide of the target.
Half Time: 1-1
During the interval the home support were left wondering if their team had missed their chance to seize control of the match but within minutes of the re-start a deep cross from Morris on the right flank was spilled by Hall for Dennis to blaze over the bar from 6 yards.
The winger then cut-in from the left flank to clip the outside of the left post as he looked to make amends.
As Cirencester worked the left flank again Irving was clattered as he turned sharply near the left front corner of the Totton box and although he tried to stay on his feet he lost control for the Referee to call play back for the free kick. JONNY DENNIS stepped forward to place his kick into the top left corner. 2-1.
A couple of minutes later Mortimer-Jones chipped the ball to the left corner for the willing Irving to chase, collect and shoot – blocked, rebounding to an incoming Dennis who miss-hit his effort and it was cleared.
Whilst the home side had seen plenty of the ball the visitors had not given up and around the hour mark a long throw-in from their left flank reached Liam Callaghan who volleyed over the bar form near the front edge of the 6 yard box and shortly afterwards a long ball down their right flank drew Clayton from his area as he charged forward to attempt a headed clearance. Unfortunately for the ‘keeper he misjudged the bounce enabling Feeney to latch onto the ball as he charged into the right channel of the home penalty area with Will Wellon in hot pursuit. As the striker neared the by-line (a similar position to where he scored his earlier goal) he fired at the target but this time he struck the outside of the right post.
Shortly after the mid-point of the half Cirencester Captain Shayne Anson was injured as he challenged for a ball 30 yards from goal and after some delay he was eventually assisted to leave the pitch with young Development Team defender Malachi Lamie Cotter brought on for his First Team debut at right back. This prompted a re-shuffle of the back line as Jordan Morris moved to left back and Will Tunnicliff to right centre back.
In his role on the left Morris played the ball up to Irving who instantly volleyed it into the path of Dennis on the charge down the left flank, cut right and shot towards the bottom left corner where Hall blocked with an outstretched right foot.
With ten scheduled minutes remaining Totton threw caution to the wind as they launched balls to the corners to get behind the home back-line and there was a feel of bombardment with Cirencester having to defend with determination and then counter attack.
With 6 minutes of ‘added-time’ the final goal-mouth action was a corner kick for the visitors that Clayton punched clear and a partially blocked effort from David Allen that the ‘keeper was able to collect.
Full Time: 2-1
A second victory on the bounce for the new manager and another hard working display from the team with glimpses of their fluid play in difficult condition.
Their opponents proved quick on the counter and certainly threatened as the game drew to a close.
Attendance: 75
Referee: Graham Pearce
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Lewis Clayton
2. Jordan Morris
3. Will Tunnicliff
4. James Mortimer-Jones
5. Shayne Anson ©
6. Will Wellon
7. Tommy Ouldridge
8. Jack Freeman
9. Levi Irving 20
10. John Dennis 55
11. Toumani Sidibe
12. Ashley Harper
14. Max Lloyd
15. Malachi Lamie Cotter (Shayne Anson-73mins)
16. Lewis Spurrier
17. Scott Rose
AFC TOTTON:
1. Matthew Hall
2. Callum Chugg
3. Matthew Bozier
4. Robin Nicholls
5. David Allen ©
6. Mitchell Byrne
7. Alex Haynes
8. Patrick Nolan
9. Craig Feeney 24
10. Silvano Obeng
11. Oliver Bradley
12. Liam Farrugia (Alex Haynes-78mins)
14. Liam Callaghan (Silvano Obeng-58mins)
15. Jack Masterton (Matthew Bozier-60mins)
16. Jack Smith