Cirencester Town FC
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Click photo to view a slideshow of photos from the match
Match photos supplied by Graham Hill
CIRENCESTER TOWN welcomed Mangotsfield United to the Corinium Stadium on the back of a comprehensive victory against Cinderford Town earlier in the week; and despite taking a comfortable 2-0 lead midway through the second half, the Centurions conceded two late goals, allowing the Mangos to return to Cossham Street with a valuable point.
It was decided not to risk top scorer Josh Parsons for the game after he had tweaked his hamstring against the Foresters the previous Tuesday.
On a day where conditions were just about perfect for free-flowing football, it was the home side that looked much the livelier in the early exchanges. In fact, it was their first meaningful attack after just 12 minutes that led to the opening goal. Wide man Aidan Bennett gathered the ball and looped a pass to Levi Irving in the right channel. He cleverly slipped his marker to set up JOE SHEPHERD with an inch perfect pass at the near post. ‘Shep’ duly obliged by thumping his first-time effort past the sprawling Marko Radovanovic in the visitor’s goal.
The early advantage put the Centurions in the box seat but they couldn’t build on their first half domination and went in at the break leading by just the single goal. Ciren’s chief
custodian, Alex Harris, didn’t have a single shot to deal with during the opening 45 minutes.
Sadly the quality of the football in the second half deteriorated markedly with both sides delivering ‘hit and hope’ passes and the ball spending a good deal of the time in the air.
What was noticeable though was the long throw-ins delivered by Mangos centre-back Sam Larkins every time they ventured into the final third. It was a weapon that would prove to be Ciren’s undoing later in the game.
On 70 minutes Ciren finally got it to feet, and after clever interplay between Joe Turley, Mike Pook and Tommy Anderson, the latter’s deft pass fell perfectly into the stride of substitute ROSS GABRIEL and he calmly slotted it past the onrushing Radovanovic to double the home team’s advantage. A few minutes later Gabriel should have put the game to bed when he found himself in acres of space in the visitor’s half, but he took too many touches before hitting tamely at the Mangos ‘keeper.
Ten minutes from time, Mangotsfield got themselves back in the game. Honest endeavour from the influential Larkins allowed him to deliver a cross to the far post where the dangerous KYE SIMPSON drilled low past Harris.
For the last 6 or 7 minutes it was the Mangos who were much the hungrier, bombarding the home penalty area with several of Larkin’s dangerous long throws. You somehow sensed it would eventually pay dividends and that is exactly what happened; a speculative ‘long launch’ by the number 4 resulted in a penalty for the visitors, although you have to say the decision looked harsh. DAN McBEAM made no mistake from the spot sending Harris the wrong way and the Centurions had to settle for a point.
It was a huge disappointment for the CTFC players and supporters alike and very much a case of two points lost rather than a point gained. But, credit must be given to the South Bristol side, who never gave up trying to retrieve something from the game.
Attendance: 174 Referee: Liam Beames
Cirencester Town:
1. Alex Harris
2. Elliott Keightley
3. Tom Handley
4. Michael Pook
5. Jake Lee ©
6. Shayne Anson
7. Joe Shepherd 12
8. Joe Turley
9. Levi Irving
10. Tommy Anderson
11. Aidan Bennett
12. Ross Gabriel (Aidan Bennett-64mins) 70
14. Josh Nelmes (Tommy Anderson-73mins)
15. Ellis Dunton
16. Nick Hancock (Levi Irving-81mins)
17. James Mortimer-Jones
Mangotsfield United:
1. Marko Radovanovic
2. Emmanuel Oke
3. Josiah Dunstan
4. Samuel Larkins
5. Mercea Ilea ©
6. Tabu Minzamba
7. Dion Chambers
8. Harry Haughton
9. Kye Simpson 81
10. Daniel McBeam 90+4p
11. Wayne Nderemani
12. Joe Beardwell (Wayne Nderemani-46mins)
14. Terry Moore
15. Peter Majek-Oduyoye (Tabu Minzamba-73mins)
16. Jadyn Crosbie (Harry Haughton-46mins)
17. Benjamin Carter