Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
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Click photo to view a slideshow of photos from the match
Courtesy of Steve Rolfe Photography
Match Report by Terry Keogh
TORRENTIAL MORNING RAIN couldn’t dampen the spirits of the Ciren faithful as they turned up in numbers to watch the annual ‘free entry game’ at the Corinium against Barnstaple Town. ‘Barum’ came into the match on a wretched run of form but battled throughout, often playing football which made a mockery of their desperate league position.
New Ciren boss John Brough went with most of the players from the previous two encounters; the one enforced change coming about because of injury to skipper Shayne Anson; midfielder Tommy Ouldridge slotted in at right back, Jordan Morris moved to left back, while Will Tunnicliff filled the vacant centreback position, alongside Will Wellon. The bench included Tommy Anderson, new boy Lewis Spurrier, Sammy Farr, Max Lloyd and Malachi Lamie-Cotter.
Ciren started the brighter and their first chance came on five minutes when Barum chief custodian Steve Oliver tipped a Jack Freeman drive around the post.
Five minutes later, good interplay between Captain Mike Pook and James Mortimer-Jones, set up Tommy Ouldridge down the right flank. His pinpoint cross was met by Levi Irving, but his glancing header was wide of the sticks.
Next, Jonny Dennis who was creative and busy throughout the afternoon, found space to deliver a low strike from 20 yards, but it was safely gathered by the busy Oliver.
Then, against the run of play, Barum took the lead. From a well delivered cross, front man Mike Humphries crashed his powerful header against the bar and the first to react to the rebound was Barnstaple midfielder MANNY OMRORE, who prodded home from six yards.
The rest of the half was largely forgettable, with passes going awry and the early tempo missing from both sides.
When Ciren returned to the pitch for the second half Tommy Anderson had replaced the hobbling, unlucky Tounami Sidibe, and it proved to be a match-winning change.
From the opening whistle the Centurions started to play with zip and purpose, creating chance after chance, and it was the diminutive Anderson with his trickery and guile, who turned the game on its head.
He set up a chance for the well-timed run of Mortimer-Jones, but his header passed the far upright.
Shortly after, Mortimer-Jones was replaced by LEWIS SPURRIER, and the substitute made an instant impact. After a jinxing run by Anderson, a poor defensive clearance landed at the feet of Spurrier who slid in to level the game at one apiece.
Four minutes later, Ciren’s WILL TUNNICLIFF found the winner in bizarre circumstances; his 60 yard cross evaded everyone, including the unsighted Oliver, and the ball nestled in the far corner of the onion bag.
After that, Ciren had a number of chances to kill the game off, with Dennis firing just wide after one of his mazy runs, and Spurrier forcing a corner after a clever swivel turn and hit.
Barnstaple fought to the last, especially their spearhead Saddam Bello, who chased lost causes and put himself about all afternoon, giving the Ciren back four plenty to think about.
But, it was the Centurions who emerged triumphant, taking their match-winning run to three on the bounce.
Assessment from the terraces:
The Centurions got over the line after a much improved second half display. Tommy Anderson deserved his Man of the Match award, frequently taking on and beating classy Barum skipper, Liam Gregory. It was also a pleasing debut for Lewis Spurrier, who was lively and willing with a neat touch, during his second half cameo. The win has propelled Cirencester Town up to eighth place in the table.
Referee: Steve Oakley
Attendance: 341
Cirencester Town:
Clayton, Ouldridge, Morris, Pook, Tunnicliff, Wellon, Mortimer-Jones (Sub, Spurrier 62), Freeman, Irving, Dennis, Sidibe (Sub, Anderson 46) Unused subs: Lamie-Cotter, Lloyd, Farr
Barnstaple Town:
Oliver, Kuazeni, Gregory (c), Gale (Sub, Wright 58), Gardner, David, Lambert (Sub, Aghiste 69), Rutty-Smith, Omrore, Bello, Humphries, Levien (Sub, Harper-Inniss 77) Unused subs: Burrows, Darch