Cirencester Town FC
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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
Match photos supplied by Graham Hill
Following their three successive cup-ties Cirencester returned to league action with the visit of County rivals Slimbridge to The Corinium Stadium and produced a thoroughly professional performance that included two ‘hat-tricks’ in their victory.
During the week Ben Whitehead was called back to his parent Club, Weston-super-Mare, and Manager John Brough had taken the opportunity to recruit Harry Williams of Swindon Supermarine on a month’s loan to take his place – and what a debut he enjoyed. The bench also saw the return of Tommy Anderson after the rib injury he received in early September.
‘The Centurions’ kicked-off playing towards ‘The Arena’ end of the ground and made the perfect start as they opened the scoring within 3 minutes following a move down their left flank that resulted in a fierce strike from left-back Tom Handley that was blocked by ‘keeper Lewis Adams and recycled to Kinsly Murray on the right. The winger darted to the by-line to cross to the back post where Handley produced another fierce shot that Adams parried but this time an alert JOSH PARSONS was quickest to react as he pounced to nod the ball into the net from the edge of the 6-yard box. 1-0.
Slimbridge reacted positively to this early setback as Jamie Martin made ground to the right corner and cut-inside to win a corner kick that resulted in a counter attack down the home sides left flank.
Shortly afterwards Marley Thomas reached the left by-line and crossed towards the penalty spot where Josh Nelmes cleared to start a break that came to an abrupt end – resulting in a free kick being awarded to Cirencester that was defended.
A few minutes later Kinsly Murray made an incisive run down the right channel, evading challenges as he went, to the edge of the Slimbridge box where he slipped the ball through to Parsons but as the striker turned to shoot the ball ran away from him enabling Adams to collect.
At this stage Thomas was seeing plenty of the ball, cutting right to shoot wide of the left post and exchanging passes with Michael Ford as he worked his way forward to be stopped in his tracks for a free kick to be awarded. Former Centurion Ben Prictor sent the kick into the home box and it was eventually returned to Thomas who sent a cross into the box that custodian Alex Harris caught.
At the mid-point of the half Levi Irving robbed a defender and slipped the ball to debutant Harry Williams who played it into the path of Parsons and his shot was deflected for a corner kick.
Three minutes later Ellis Dunton carried the ball out of defence and played it up to Murray, on the centre front edge of the Slimbridge box, and he slipped it through to HARRY WILLIAMS, in the left channel of the box, and as Adams advanced the striker lobbed it over him and inside the far-right post. 2-0.
During the rest of the half Cirencester pressed to win a series of corner kicks and Slimbridge responded as Thomas fired wide and then combined with Ben McLean and Korey Pring for the latter to cross – caught by Harris.
As the half was drawing to a close Parsons had a shot on the turn parried by Adams and a couple of corner kicks followed that were defended.
Half Time: 2-0
Cirencester started the second period positively as they worked the ball down their left flank but the first shot at goal came from Slimbridge as Handley made a strong block to deny Martin near the edge of the home box.
Within minutes Irving reached the left by-line to cross but it was parried by Adams and once again JOSH PARSONS was quickest to react as he forced the ball over the line from a few yards. 3-0.
Despite this further setback Slimbridge once again pushed forward to win a free kick on the left flank that Prictor delivered to the far post – resulting in a corner kick that he sent into the mix from the right for Harris to punch clear.
As the hour mark approached Murray cut-in from the right to be upended and the resulting free kick was headed wide of the left post by Lee, from the centre front edge of the 6-yard box.
Cirencester then produced a series of intricate play in the right corner as Murray, Parsons and Joe Turley tried to work an opening but to no avail as the visitors countered for Prictor to send a corner kick from the right that Johan Flo headed wide of the far-right post.
This was soon followed by Martin heading wide of the right post following a corner kick from the left.
Just before the mid-point of the half as Slimbridge worked the ball down their left flank Lee intercepted and carried it forward for a few yards before launching it 40 yards down the centre. Slimbridge ‘keeper Adams had advanced 15-yards out of his area and as he attempted to make contact he slipped over enabling HARRY WILLIAMS to collect and run it into the vacant net. 4-0.
Almost immediately Cirencester worked the ball forward to win a corner kick on the right flank that resulted in a low save from Adams to deny Irving.
Slimbridge responded by working the ball from left to right, with six players involved, but once again the home defence stood firm.
Thomas then fed Edjidja Mbunga who reached the right by-line before playing it back to McLean and his shot was blocked by Turley.
Into the final 15 minutes and Turley, Parsons and Irving combined for the latter to reach the left by-line to win a corner kick. Parsons drove the kick low into the 6-yard box and somehow it evaded all contact to reach HARRY WILLIAMS at the back post who completed his ‘hat-trick’ from a couple of yards. 5-0.
Three minutes later JOSH PARSONS completed his ‘hat-trick’ after another Lee interception and long pass down the centre reached him near the edge of the Slimbridge box and he rounded Adams to tuck it into the vacant goal. 6-0.
Once again Slimbridge reacted positively for Flo to have a low shot saved by Harris at his right post and a little later as he closed down defenders it required two strong block-challenges to stop him making progress.
In the final minutes there was an instant right-footed volley pass under pressure from Turley, into space on the left flank, for Handley to collect as he charged forward that is worthy of mention.
On the stroke of time former Centurion Toumani Sidibe made a familiar charging run down the right channel as he evaded several challenges to fire over the bar from just outside the home box.
Full Time: 6-0
A thoroughly professional performance from The Centurions against game opponents that have often caused Cirencester problems and kept trying to the very end.
Attendance: 185 Referee: Matt Rushton
Cirencester Town:
1. Alex Harris
2. Shayne Anson
3. Tom Handley
4. Josh Nelmes
5. Jake Lee ©
6. Ellis Dunton
7. Kinsly Murray
8. Joe Turley
9. Harry Williams 26, 66, 77
10. Josh Parsons 2, 52, 80
11. Levi Irving
12. Ross Gabriel (Harry Williams-78mins)
14. Tommy Anderson (Kinsly Murray-81mins)
15. Elliott Keightley
16. Michael Pook (Josh Nelmes-86mins)
17. Kevin Sawyer (GK)
Slimbridge:
1. Lewis Adams
2. Korey Pring
3. Ben Prictor
4. Ben McLean
5. Nathan Dennis
6. Ben Hands
7. Jamie Martin
8. Michael Ford
9. William Hawes ©
10. Myron Turner
11. Marley Thomas
12. Toumani Sidibe (Jamie Martin-78mins)
14. Johan Flo (Korey Pring-46mins)
15. Edjidja Mbunga (William Hawes-61mins)
16. Liam Harper
17. Rio Tomlin