Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
Cirencester hosted neighbours Swindon Supermarine, of the Southern League Premier Division (South), in their latest Pre-Season Friendly match and on an extremely warm, humid evening the sides produced a competitive game that resulted in a fairly even first half and an impressive second from the visitors with clinical finishing on view.
The visitors kicked off and immediately worked the ball down their left flank to release Ryan Campbell into the left channel of the home penalty area but he fired wide of the left post.
Cirencester countered with a quick break down their left flank as Levi Irving reached the left by-line to pull the ball back towards a supporting Tommy Anderson who was just unable to make serious contact enabling ‘keeper Martin Horsell to gather.
It had been a bright start to the match and with three minutes on the clock Supermarine were awarded a free kick on their right flank that Jamie Edge drove towards the near post where it glanced off the top of a defenders head to be diverted inside the far post for an OWN GOAL. 0-1.
Following the early breakthrough ‘Marine’ pressed forward for the next ten minutes or so as they were awarded a couple of free kicks in dangerous positions and a corner kick so that Cirencester had to rely on occasional breaks but as the first ‘Drinks Break’ loomed the home side were making a spirited comeback with Tom Handley and Roger James combining down their right flank to good effect with the latter making a driving run to the corner and on another occasion sending a deep cross to the left channel of the visitors penalty area where a stretching Josh Parsons volleyed over the bar.
After the ‘Drinks Break’ Cirencester got into their stride quicker than their visitors and began to move the ball about with more confidence and a move down their right flank culminated with Irving heading a Handley cross wide of the target.
Shortly afterwards James collected a loose ball, 25 yards out – centrally, turned and fired goal-wards but it was deflected for a corner kick that Josh Nelmes headed narrowly wide of the left post.
Five minutes later James collected another ball in the left channel, 30 yards out, and delivered a cross towards the far right post where Anderson was just short of making contact.
Cirencester were finishing the half strongly and a free kick in the left corner was eventually clipped from the left channel of the visitor’s box by Anderson to the far post where Nelmes headed back across goal to his central defensive partner Shayne Anson but his header was gratefully caught by Horsell.
Supermarine launched a couple of counter attacks during this period with Cameron heading a Rhys Wells cross from the right wide of the left post.
Half Time: 0-1
During the interval the visitors made five changes to their line-up and before they could settle into the match Cirencester equalised as James carried the ball to the right by-line before crossing to the front edge of the 6 yard box where JOSH PARSONS was on hand to force the ball home. 1-1.
Moments later Cirencester repeated the move but this time the cross was cut-out and cleared.
Josh Parsons then fired a low drive wide of the right post from 22 yards before he was replaced by Ross Gabriel.
As the hour mark approached home ‘keeper Alex Harris was in action as he first caught a Harry Williams shot and then cut-out a low cross from Henry Spalding as he worked his way along the right by-line and on the hour he was beaten by a fierce cross-shot from CONOR MCDONAGH that flew inside the far left post from the narrowest of angles after the forward had twisted and turned to create the space for his effort. 1-2.
After the goal Cirencester made five changes to their personnel on the pitch and within a few minutes Supermarine doubled their lead as JACK STANLEY galloped down their right flank to collect a pass from Harry Williams before clipping a deep ‘cross-cum-shot’ from the right front corner of the home area that evaded the outstretched hand of Harris to drop inside the far left post. 1-3.
Shortly before a late ‘Drinks Break’ was taken Cirencester mounted a couple of attacks – one of which resulted in a free kick, near the right front corner of the visitor’s box, that Jack Freeman sent towards the top left corner where Horsell made the catch.
During the ‘Drinks Break’ Cirencester changed ‘keepers as Dan Lawrence entered the fray and within minute’s he was picking the ball out of his net following a terrific strike from ZACK KOTWICA, 25 yards - left channel, that flew inside the right post. 1-4 .
Cirencester reacted as Freeman made his way to the left side edge of the ‘Marine’ box to deliver a low cross towards the far post where Mat Liddiard, facing his goal and near his goal-line, managed to head it wide of the left post for a corner kick.
Almost immediately Cirencester were back again as young Development Team player Felipe Dias embarked on a run from half way that took him into the visitor’s penalty area and resulted in a corner kick.
As the game was drawing to a close Brad Hooper slid a pass down the left channel for CONOR McDONAGH to collect in the area and he calmly tucked his shot inside the far right post. 1-5.
Cirencester responded with a low Aidan Bennett shot from the front right corner of the box that Horsell gathered near his left post.
The final goal-scoring action came seconds before the final whistle was blown when BRAD HOOPER latched onto a loose ball near the penalty spot to volley into the roof of the net. 1-6.
Full Time: 1-6
In hot, sticky conditions the teams put on a competitive game but the second half changes for the visitors to their more familiar line-up produced some clinical finishing.
A very useful ‘work-out’ for the teams that in the conditions should help to shed a few pounds in their search for match fitness.
Unfortunately two former Centurions were injured during the encounter – Henry Spalding and Tommy Ouldridge – and we wish them a speedy recovery.
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
Alex Harris, Tom Handley, Ellis Dunton, Mike Pook, Shayne Anson, Josh Nelmes, Roger James, Joe Turley, Levi Irving, Josh Parsons, Tommy Anderson, Aidan Bennett, Ross Gabriel, Archie Brennan, Lee Llewelyn, Ben Hands, Felipe Dias, Jack Freeman, Dan Lawrence (GK).
SWINDON SUPERMARINE:
Martin Horsall, Jack Stanley, Louis Spalding, Jamie Edge, Jake Lee, Pierce Mitchell, Rhys Wells, Lee Marshall, Cameron Allen, Zack Kotwica, Ryan Campbell, Conor McDonagh, Matt Liddiard, Brad Hooper, Henry Spalding, Ollie Rejeck, Harry Williams, Tommy Ouldridge.