Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
32.jpg)
Click photo to view a slideshow of photos from the match
Match photos supplied by Graham Hill
This week’s encounter at The Corinium Stadium was a ‘top v bottom’ match as the home side faced a re-vitalised Barnstaple Town that has installed a new Management Team and brought several new players to the Club in recent weeks.
These changes have enabled the visitors to secure 7 points in their last three games – their last point being a creditable draw at AFC Totton – and in terms of current form based on the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table they are 12th whilst Cirencester are in 4th place.
Cirencester Town Manager, John Brough, made five changes to the starting eleven when compared to the team that took to the pitch at the start of their last match – the defeat at Slimbridge.
The visitors kicked off playing towards the Shed End of the ground and as in the last home match against Winchester City a fortnight ago the strong wind affected the goal kicks at the Arena end of the ground and made controlled play difficult as the gusts of wind took over.
Almost immediately from the kick-off Cirencester were awarded a free kick on their left flank that was worked to the corner but when the cross was delivered it was affected by the wind resulting in a goal-kick that proved difficult to take as the ball kept rolling away as the ‘keeper ran towards it – with the Referee insisting it had to be stationary.
With 5 minutes on the clock Barnstaple mounted an attack down their left flank as Harry Baker played a clever reverse pass to release Oliver Haste near half-way and he sent it down the left channel towards Ashton Hewitt where Josh Nelmes won it to launch a counter attack as he fed Ben Whitehead on the half-way line. The striker turned and charged down the right flank to the by-line but as he crossed it was blocked for a corner kick that was defended at the near post to be recycled to the left channel where Tom Handley fired wide of the left post.
Shortly before the 15-minute mark Ellis Dunton slipped a couple of ‘would-be’ challenges near the centre circle and sent the ball forward to Josh Parsons who slid it through for Tommy Anderson to collect as he burst into the Barnstaple box on a diagonal run. The visitors ‘keeper, Lloyd Irish, advanced to meet him and as he rounded the ‘keeper the ball ran away from him and aided by the wind went out for goal kick before he could tuck it into the empty net.
Around the mid-point of the half Barnstaple suffered a second injury that led to substitute Callum Davey (who had earlier replaced Brodie Montague) having to leave the field on a stretcher. We hope both players make a quick recovery and are soon back in action.
When the action was resumed a neat passage of play involving several players down the left flank eventually resulted in Dunton supplying Parsons in the right channel of the Barnstaple area but as he cut left and shot his effort was deflected wide of the right post resulting in a corner kick that eventually resulted in a corner kick from the left flank that was also defended.
A feature of the first half had been the marauding runs of the returning Jordan Morris and when another was stopped near the edge of the penalty area it was recycled to the right flank for Handley and Anderson to combine before reaching Whitehead who produced a trademark turn and shot that was just over the bar.
Barnstaple responded as Billy Tucker sent a cross-field pass, from right to left, to Owen Howe who headed on from the edge of the home penalty area for Haste to collect and shoot – blocked and cleared.
As Cirencester continued to press another corner kick and free kick were awarded to them but both were successfully defended by the visitors but four minutes into added time Whitehead finally put the ball into the back of the net when it broke loose after Parsons challenged with a defender for possession. He smashed it inside the right post from the left channel front edge of their box but it was ruled out for an earlier infringement.
Half Time: 0-0
The first half had been busy with few clear chances but within five minutes of the re-start Cirencester opened their account as Mike Pook slid a precision low pass to Whitehead, just inside the penalty area – right of centre, and he collected, turned and shot – blocked back to him, second shot blocked but recovered and laid back to JOSH PARSONS, on the edge of the box behind him, and he immediately drove it inside the right post. 1-0.
As the home side pressed again, down their right flank, the ball was cleared for a counter attack that was switched to the right where Callum Laird’s cross resulted in a goal kick.
Cirencester were pushing forward at every opportunity and another dipping Whitehead effort from 25 yards was caught at the second attempt by Irish.
Around the hour mark the home side won another couple of corner kicks – one of which Nelmes headed over the bar and at the mid-point of the half a neat piece of play involving Parsons, Whitehead and Anderson enabled the latter to burst into the box where he crossed towards a supporting Joe Shepherd, arriving near the Penalty Spot, but before he could collect a defender intervened to clip it over his own bar for a corner kick.
Shortly afterwards Barnstaple attacked down their right flank but when Tucker crossed towards the far post it was initially cleared by Handley to be recycled for a corner kick from the left that was defended by Nelmes at the back post.
Cirencester responded as several players combined to work the ball down the right flank to the corner resulting in a corner kick and eventually another one from the same flank that was cleared to Shepherd, near the left front corner of the Barnstaple box, and he cut right to fire a fierce right footed strike that looked destined for the top right corner but passed inches wide of it.
When Haste crossed from the Barnstaple left flank into the home area it was quickly cleared to Parsons, right channel – halfway, who fed it left for a charging Levi Irving to collect and advance into the visitors penalty area for a 1v1 with ‘keeper Irish. The ‘keeper managed to take the pace out of the resulting shot enabling a defender to get back and clear from near the goal-line just inside the right post.
A few minutes later Handley crossed from the right corner towards the Penalty Spot where Shepherd volleyed over the bar as he charged forward.
Almost immediately the visitors levelled as a muddle, just outside the home area, and a back pass was collected by OWEN HOWE who latched onto the ball to poke it past an advancing Alex Harris and inside the right post. 1-1.
For the next ten minutes Cirencester bombarded the visitors but to no avail until Pook slid the ball down the right flank to Anderson, back to Zack Kotwica who took it towards the by-line before slipping it left into the area for Anderson to dart forward to collect and be tripped – PENALTY KICK.
Once again it was up to the Captain, JAKE LEE, to take responsibility and he confidently smashed it inside the left post as ‘keeper Irish dived in the opposite direction. 2-1.
Full Time: 2-1
Not the most fluent of games but certainly one of determination from the visitors who kept battling throughout.
Cirencester had plenty of possession but struggled to make it count but eventually their commitment was rewarded.
Attendance: 195 Referee: Matthew Rushton
Cirencester Town:
1. Alex Harris
2. Tom Handley
3. Jordan Morris
4. Michael Pook
5. Jake Lee © 90+5p
6. Ellis Dunton
7. Tommy Anderson
8. Josh Nelmes
9. Ben Whitehead
10. Josh Parsons 50
11. Joe Shepherd
12. Nick Hancock
14. Levi Irving (Ben Whitehead-58mins)
15. Joe Turley
16. Nick Peare
17. Zack Kotwica (Josh Nelmes-84mins)
Barnstaple Town:
1. Lloyd Irish
2. Callum Laird
3. Oliver Haste
4. Michael Lilley
5. Adam Hill
6. Brodie Montague
7. Ashton Hewitt
8. George Jones
9. Owen Howe 83
10. Harry Baker
11. William Tucker ©
12. Ryan Turner (Michael Lilley-35mins)
14. Callum Davey (Brodie Montague-14mins)
15. Ashley Mitchell (Callum Davey-27mins)
16. Ryan Keates
17. Jake Mawford