Cirencester Town FC
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Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
The third successive home match for The Centurions brought long-time rivals Cinderford Town to The Corinium Stadium for a league match that would threaten both their 100% unbeaten records after just two league games – so expectations for a typical hard-fought game were high.
The Foresters are under new management as Steve Cleal has taken over from Paul Michael - who joined Yate Town following the premature close to last season – and he is rebuilding the side with many young players in his squad.
Cirencester still have five players unavailable due to injury but three that missed the mid-week fixture against Thatcham Town return, namely Brad Gray (work), Tommy Anderson and Josh Parsons (injury) with the latter making his first appearance since leaving the field on a stretcher in the opening league game at Bristol Manor Farm.
The visitors kicked off playing towards The Shed end of the ground, into the wind and rain, and as they sent a ball down their left channel it was met by the head of Shayne Anson who powerfully headed it back over their defence for Jonny Dennis to chase, collect and enter the Cinderford penalty area where ‘keeper Jadyn Mundle did well to advance and block his shot.
It was quickly recycled to the right corner for Cirencester to be awarded a free kick that was headed away and fed to the left corner – offside decision brought that attack to an end but they were soon back again as Josh Parsons shot from the right channel front edge of the visitors box – parried by Mundle for another offside decision as the loose ball was chased and collected.
A positive start for the home side.
Another move down their right flank as Tommy Anderson clipped the ball to Brad Gray who instinctively back-headed the ball on to Parsons as he darted forward to collect and shoot from the edge of the Cinderford box – diverted for a corner kick that led to a goal-kick.
A minute later the ball was slipped through to the eager JOSH PARSONS who used his quick feet to round a defender to reach the area to the left of the penalty spot before deftly tucking it inside the far-right post with the outside of his right foot as Mundle advanced. 1-0.
Encouraged by the early breakthrough and the possession they were having Cirencester continued to press and six minutes later an attempted back-pass wrong-footed the ‘keeper to finish inside the left post for an OWN GOAL. 2-0.
With the two goal ‘cushion’ the home side began to produce quick, incisive pass & move football an example of which was Archie Brennan moving the ball down the line to Anderson, clipped towards Gray who instantly flicked the ball over his shoulder towards Parsons but this time it was intercepted.
Cinderford were struggling to cope with the conditions and it took 25 minutes for their first shot on goal as James Bremner received the ball from the right flank to shoot from 25 yards – gathered by ‘keeper Dan Lawrence.
Back came Cirencester to win a series of corner kicks - Ellis Dunton headed the first towards the top right corner where Mundle tipped it over his bar, the second was blocked at the near post leading to a third that passed through the penalty spot to be collected by Joe Turley who lobbed it back into the mix – goal kick.
The pressure continued as Gray fired wide of the right post and then on the half-hour mark Anderson delivered a low cross from the right flank towards the front edge of the Cinderford 6-yard box for JOSH PARSONS to dart forward and finish inside the right post. 3-0.
A minute later as Cinderford attacked to the left corner Brennan defended well and sent the ball down the centre resulting in a free kick to the visitors that was delivered into the home penalty area and headed clear by Josh Nelmes. It was recovered by Cinderford and sent back in to the mix for Liam Wright to head goal-wards – caught by Lawrence.
Encouraged Cinderford sent the ball into the left corner again for Rhys Davies to chase and slip inside for Zack Drew to collect and reach the by-line but with space being closed he struck the side netting.
Moments later Cinderford worked the ball to their right corner and slipped it inside to Wright who fired wide of the far-left post from the right front corner of the penalty area.
As the interval approached Cirencester pressed for Anson to shoot wide of the right post and Gray the left post and on the stroke of half-time Tristan Haswell fed Davies who sent a low cross through the home penalty area from the left corner.
Half Time: 3-0
Straight from the re-start Cirencester worked the ball down their left flank for Parsons to reach the by-line and, as he was surrounded, he managed to slip the ball to BRAD GRAY near the left post who drove it into the net despite defenders attempting to block. 4-0.
Cinderford responded to this further setback by attacking down their left flank as Lewis Spurrier moved the ball on to former Centurion Jack Freeman who exchanged passes with Bremner en-route to the by-line where his path was blocked leading to a throw-in for Cirencester.
It wasn’t long before the irrepressible Parsons was involved again as he collected a pass in the left channel of the Cinderford box, cut right, and fired wide of the far-right post.
Almost immediately Dunton won the ball on half-way and played it forward to Parsons and this began a multi-pass move involving several players that yielded a corner kick from the right and from this Anson burst forward to the left of the penalty spot where he crashed his header against the bar and Dunton headed the rebound wide of the left post.
Cirencester were relentless and as a result Cinderford were only able to mount occasional counter attacks and following a period of pressure the ball was cleared to reach Wright who rode a covering tackle just inside the Cirencester half to charge down the right channel. With defenders chasing back he elected to shoot from 20 yards and his effort was wide of the right post.
Around the hour mark Cinderford mounted another couple of attacks - the second of which involved several players as they worked the ball from left to right but Cirencester dealt with the threat.
Despite the score Cinderford were not lying down as Mundle launched the ball to Drew who saw his cross blocked but recycled to Luke Payne near the right channel front edge of the home box and he drove the ball at the target forcing Lawrence to push it over his bar. The resulting corner kick was headed back into the mix at the back post by Haswell and as it ‘bobbed’ about Wright headed against the underside of the bar and Lawrence picked it up.
Shortly after the mid-point of the half a Cirencester free kick from the right flank dropped to Nelmes, near the left post, but his shot was blocked on the line and after being cleared it eventually was fed to Dennis who fired over.
Another Cinderford counter as Wright made ground down the right channel led to a corner kick that Haswell headed over.
A few minutes later Haswell fell to the ground whilst attempting to stop Anderson’s progress and he subsequently had to be helped off the pitch leaving Cinderford having to play out the last 15 minutes with ten men.
As the game was drawing to a close Dennis sent a terrific pass down the left channel for Ross Gabriel to collect in the area but his instant left footed shot was blocked and Ciren pressure resulted in a couple of corner kicks.
Full Time: 4-0
A solid all-round performance from The Centurions - dynamic forward play with Josh Parsons, revelling on his return after injury, and Brad Gray linking with great effect coupled with solid defence and a hard-working mid-field.
Attendance: 145 Referee: Iain Parsons
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
Own Goal 18
1. Dan Lawrence
2. Archie Brennan
3. Tom Handley
4. Josh Nelmes
5. Shayne Anson ©
6. Ellis Dunton
7. Tommy Anderson
8. Joe Turley
9. Brad Gray 46
10. Josh Parsons 12, 30
11. John Dennis
12. Ross Gabriel (Brad Gray-64mins)
14. Nick Hancock
15. Lee Llewelyn (Josh Parsons-76mins)
16. Felipe Dias (Tommy Anderson-81mins)
17. James Mortimer-Jones
CINDERFORD TOWN:
1. Jadyn Mundle
2. Luke Payne
3. Tristan Haswell ©
4. Lewis Spurrier
5. Luc Noble
6. William Peck
7. Zachary Drew
8. James Bremner
9. Liam Wright
10. Jack Freeman
11. Rhys Davies
12. Frank Pemberton
14. Liam Smith (James Bremner-57mins)
15. Ben Hands (Jack Freeman-65mins)
16. Yeshaya Lomotey (Rhys Davies-73mins)
17. William Gibbons