Cirencester Town FC
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Football finally returned to The Corinium Stadium - after the ‘Covid-19 Pandemic’ brought the 2019-20 season to a premature end in March - as Cirencester began their preparation for the 2020-21 season.
In recent weeks there have been a few training sessions in difficult circumstances as the Club observes the ‘social distancing’ requirements advocated by the Government, whilst attempting to assess the fitness levels of players, and as these have recently been eased to allow matches behind ‘closed-doors’ a number of ‘pre-season friendly’ matches have been arranged.
The first of which brought Stonehouse Town, of the Hellenic League Division 1 West, to face a Cirencester squad that had a mix of players from last season’s First & Development Teams together with potential new recruits to both.
Stonehouse recently appointed Chris Burns and Allan Gough as their Management Team and they brought a large squad to the game eager to impress and they began brightly to shoot over the bar in the opening couple of minutes.
During the opening quarter No. 14 (Joe Williams?) supported by Bobby Humphreys made a number of driving runs to the left corner to cross into the box and Tim Williams attempted an audacious shot from near half-way that passed wide of the left post.
For their part Cirencester had plenty of the ball but wayward passing brought progress to a premature end enabling Stonehouse to counter.
After the ‘Drinks Break’ at the mid-point of the half the home side began to keep the ball better but the ‘build-up’ was slow enabling the visitors to re-group.
The highlights of this period from a Cirencester viewpoint were a dangerous cross from Malachi Cotter that passed narrowly wide of the far left post, Max Lloyd firing over the bar from 25 yards after intercepting a cross-field pass and the returning Aidan Bennett shooting over after an exchange of passes with Ross Gabriel on the edge of the penalty area.
For the visitors No. 16 (Brad Bird?) had a shot blocked and headed a corner kick over the bar.
Half Time: 0-0
After the interval Cirencester moved the ball quicker to make progress down both flanks as Cotter combined with Bennett and Felipe Dias with Lloyd to reach the corners but the visitors defended resolutely.
As the third quarter was drawing to a close Ben Hands played a cross-field pass to Bennett, who had switched to the right flank, and he sent a low cross through the 6 yard box and Tom Handley attempted an ambitious 35 yarder that was wide of the right post.
This was quickly followed by Gabriel laying the ball back to Lee Llewelyn who brought a fine save from William Pedrick as he pushed it round his right post for a corner kick that was re-cycled to Cotter who delivered a cross from the left flank that reached AIDAN BENNETT just inside the penalty area and he moved left to unleash a low drive that flew inside the far left post. 1-0.
The ‘Drinks Break’ soon followed.
A couple of changes were made at the break and almost immediately Alistair Moxham exchanged passes with Llewelyn before releasing Dan Roberts who saw his cross caught by ‘keeper Pedrick.
As the game entered the final few minutes Bennett released Dias who crossed to the far post where an incoming Roberts volleyed over the bar from close range.
The final goal-mouth action saw Elliot King’s cross from the right by-line part blocked to loop to the far post where No.15 (Oael Bassana) headed against the left post before it was cleared.
Full Time: 1-0
A fairly typical first match with endeavour but little cohesion.
A useful ‘work-out’ for the teams in their search for fitness and match sharpness.
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
Dan Lawrence, Malachi Cotter, Felipe Dias, Archie Brennan, Josh Nelmes, Tom Handley, Max Lloyd, Lee Llewelyn, Ross Gabriel, Ben Hands, Aidan Bennett, Harry Rule, Dan Roberts, Alistair Moxham.
STONEHOUSE TOWN:
William Pedrick, Ryan Thwaite, Bobby Humphreys, Lee Keveren, Daniel Stephens, Elliot King, Alex Kibble, Tim Williams, Liam Orchard, Chris Earle, Tyler Jackson, Ben Carman, James Ratcliffe, Joe Williams, Oael Bassana, Brad Bird, Luke Sanders (GK), Aaron Lowe.