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Lewis Thompson had a debut to remember as he scored a second half hat-trick to take his new club into the next round of the League Challenge Cup.
The draw for the third round of the competition took Cirencester to Redditch United - a team having a difficult time in the ‘Premier Division – Central’.
After a difficult journey in the fog Cirencester named a much changed starting eleven that included three Development Team players and new striker Lewis Thompson alongside Lewis Spurrier - another recent recruit.
The home side started with conviction as they made a number of early attacks down their right flank with Gratias Katega and Tyreece Kennedy-Williams prominent and the former firing wide of the left post.
Gradually the much changed Cirencester settled in their formation and began to stem the early tide to counter as Lewis Thompson slipped his co-striker Lewis Spurrier into the right channel of the home area but Mason Birch was quickly across to clear the danger.
Tommy Anderson featured a couple of times shortly afterwards as he brought saves out of ‘keeper Kieran Boucher.
After a period of ‘end-to-end’ play the home side worked their right flank culminating in a Katega cross that passed through the Cirencester penalty area without contact.
Cirencester immediately replied as Jordan Morris supplied Thompson who produced a sharp turn to create space to shoot from the left channel, 25 yards out, with Boucher making the save.
Once again Redditch responded as Katega moved the ball forward to the right corner where Jaden Owusu-Nepaul struck the Cirencester crossbar with a cross-shot.
As the half entered the final 15 minutes Cirencester were looking threatening as Spurrier worked his way across the front edge of the box to shoot – saved, and Max Lloyd fired narrowly wide of the far left post.
When the home side countered Spurrier latched onto the ball 15 yards inside his own half and retained possession before clipping a pass down the centre line of the pitch for a breaking TOMMY ANDERSON to chase. As the winger closed on the ball 15 yards inside the home half two opponents were also racing towards the ball – one of them being the ‘keeper but the Ciren man got there first to chip over the advancing ‘keeper and after an agonising wait the ball nestled in the back of the net to open the scoring. 0-1.
A couple of minutes before the break Cirencester came close to a second when a Thompson free kick from a central position 25 yards out looked destined for the top left corner until Boucher intervened to push it onto and over his crossbar.
Half Time: 0-1
Five minutes after the break Cirencester doubled their lead as Spurrier retained possession near the centre front edge of the home box before slipping it to LEWIS THOMPSON who placed it inside the bottom left corner. 0-2.
The two strikers combined again a few minutes later as Spurrier squared the ball from the right channel, 25 yards out, to LEWIS THOMPSON in the left channel and he wasted no time in smashing it into the top right corner. 0-3.
As the hour mark approached Redditch mounted an attack down their right flank that yielded a superb 25 yard strike towards the top left corner that brought a good save from Lewis Clayton as he pushed the effort over his bar.
During the first half Rhys Hilton had popped up frequently for the home side but as the second developed he became the main outlet and threat for Redditch as he made several bursts down their left flank resulting in shots or crosses that brought Clayton into play.
With nothing to lose the home side pressed forward after the mid-point of the half with Birch firing over, Katega cutting in from the right resulting in a corner kick, a neat move involving several players to the edge of the box and a free kick that was driven into the defensive ‘wall’ but Cirencester were resolute with Will Wellon encouraging his young charges.
In ‘added-time’ Cirencester worked the ball down their right flank to the corner where Jonny Dennis supplied Thompson in the right channel of the box and as he moved left to make room for a shot he was clipped and a Penalty Kick awarded.
LEWIS THOMPSON immediately claimed the ball and duly drove the spot kick inside the bottom right post to complete his hat-trick.
Full Time: 0-4
A solid and determined performance from a very young group of players and a terrific debut for Lewis Thompson.
Attendance: 62
Referee: Liam Corbett
REDDITCH UNITED:
1. Kieran Boucher
2. Tyreece Kennedy-Williams
3. Joshua Endall
4. Mason Birch
5. Benjamin Birch
6. Rudy Misambo
7. Gratias Katega
8. Thomas Rankin (C)
9. Jamie Lucas
10. Jaden Owusu-Nepaul
11. Rhys Hilton
12. Ronnie Hendricks (Rudy Misambo-68mins)
13. Owen Hill
14. Ray Wilson
15. Randane Larmond
16. Richard Lane (Jaden Owusu-Nepaul-58mins)
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Lewis Clayton
2. Malachi Lamie-Cotter
3. Jordan Morris
4. Sam Farr
5. Will Tunnicliff
6. Will Wellon (C)
7. Max Lloyd
8. Tommy Ouldridge
9. Lewis Spurrier
10. Lewis Thompson 50, 59, 90+3
11. Tommy Anderson 39
12. Jack Freeman
14. John Dennis (Max Lloyd-78mins)
15. Levi Irving (Lewis Spurrier-60mins)
16. James Mortimer-Jones
17. Scott Rose