Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
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 Becky Handley
In the second of their three away matches on the bounce The Centurions travelled to Southampton to face 4th placed AFC Totton at The Snows Stadium and after a tough contest returned empty handed as the home side secured the points mid-way through the second period thanks to a converted Penalty Kick.
In terms of current form (based on the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table) and league position ‘The Stags’ are 7th and 4th respectively and Cirencester 5th and 2nd respectively but this would count for little as the home side would undoubtedly be looking to avenge their 2-0 defeat at The Corinium Stadium at the end of January to keep the pressure on the Division leaders.
The visitors kicked off in perfect conditions and attacked down their left flank but play was soon halted for an ‘offside’ decision that enabled the home side to mount an attack down their right flank as a long ball was launched to the edge of the Cirencester box where ‘keeper Alex Harris left his area to head it clear but in the process he was clattered resulting in a free kick to the visitors. The kick was delivered to Levi Irving as he entered the right channel of the home box but he was quickly closed down resulting in a corner kick that came to nought.
In reply Callum Baughan delivered the ball to the right channel front edge of the Cirencester box where an aware Ellis Dunton ‘back-headed’ it across the box for Shayne Anson to complete the clearance.
A minute later Tommy Anderson burst into the home box but his shot from the right channel was blocked.
Shortly afterwards Ethen Taylor received the ball near the right front corner of the Cirencester box and played it towards the Penalty Spot where Hisham Kasimu was arriving in support but his touch was heavy enabling the danger to be cleared.
When the home side attacked down their right flank again Dunton headed it to Nick Peare who started a counter attack down the Cirencester left flank that reached the corner to be crossed to the right flank where Anson delivered the ball to the back post for Peare to send his header just over the bar.
Just after the 15-minute mark Cirencester produced a neat passage of play as they worked the ball from right to left and back to the centre with slick passing involving several players until Aidan Bennett’s shot was blocked.
Almost immediately Anderson intercepted a Totton pass just inside the home half to move the ball left to Irving and on to Bennett who had his cross headed out for a throw-in followed by a corner kick to the visitors. The corner kick was long but Peare collected it in the right corner to produce a sharp turn and run along the by-line but as he entered the box his progress was brought to a halt with a well-timed tackle and the danger cleared.
Leading up to the mid-point of the half Bennett played the ball down the left touchline for Irving to chase and as he did home custodian Lewis Noice left his box to clear with the kick collected by Peare near half-way and he attempted an instant right-footed shot at the empty goal but it drifted wide of the mark.
A couple of minutes later Taylor and Kasimu produced a neat move as they exchanged passes on the edge of the Cirencester box, right channel, that created an opening for the former to shoot narrowly wide of the far-left post.
This signalled the start of some pressure from the home side as after a period of ‘head-tennis’ Adam Tomasso played the ball to the left channel front edge of the Cirencester box where Kasimu fired over the bar under challenge from Anson – leading to a couple of corner kicks and a cross from Jake Adams from the left corner that Brett Williams headed wide of the target.
As the interval approached Cirencester mounted attacks down both flanks that came to nothing and the final action of the half saw Bennett shoot over the bar from the edge of the home box.
Half Time: 0-0
After the interval it was the home side that came out of the blocks quickest as they worked the ball to the right corner where Taylor sent it to the opposite flank for Adams to slip it to Kasimu but his pass inside was intercepted.
Five minutes into the half some neat approach play from the home side ended when the final pass was too strong resulting in a goal-kick but a minute later they supplied Taylor who struck a fierce shot from 25 yards out, left channel, that Harris punched over his crossbar. The resulting short corner was delivered to the near post by Adams but Kasimu headed over.
Cirencester countered with a break down their right channel as Anderson darted forward and sent a cross-field pass to Bennett but his cross was blocked – rebounding to Peare who sent it into the home box where it was headed away leading to a counter attack down their left flank and a corner kick.
A couple of minutes later Tom Handley delivered the ball to the left corner where Irving chased to collect and send a low pass across the front edge of the 6-yard box and out the other side without contact despite the best efforts of a supporting Anderson.
On the hour mark Totton took a free kick quickly and supplied Williams who produced some neat control in the left channel of the Cirencester box before tucking his shot inside the right post but the joy of the home support was short-lived as the Assistant Referee was indicating ‘offside’.
The home side were enjoying a ‘purple patch’ as they pressed forward in search of a goal and a few minutes later Taylor cut in from the right flank to shoot but Harris pushed it out to be cleared.
As the mid-point of the half approached both sides made a substitution and a minute later it all changed as a long punt down the right channel reached the edge of the Cirencester box and as Taylor collected and turned he was confronted by a defender and fell to ground with the Referee indicating a Penalty Kick. HISHAM KASIMU stepped up and smashed the spot kick low and hard inside the right post to give his side the breakthrough they had been searching for. 1-0.
Cirencester made a couple more changes to their personnel as they looked to respond and as the game entered the final ten scheduled minutes they worked the left flank resulting in a corner kick that Mike Pook delivered to the Penalty Spot where Ross Gabriel headed goal-wards. Lewis Noice parried the first effort and somehow blocked the second with the ball falling to Dunton who attempted to ‘chip’ the fallen ‘keeper but again he made the save.
During the final minutes play became scrappy as tensions rose in this important fixture for both sides but The Stags stood firm to take the 3 points.
Full Time: 1-0
A tough match with no quarter being asked or given due to the importance of the result in the race to stay in the ‘mix’ with only glimpses of the quality football both sides are able to produce.
There was plenty of commitment and endeavour but neither side kept the ball for long with their opponents snapping at their heels.
Attendance: 781 Referee: Alex James
AFC Totton:
1. Lewis Noice
2. Callum Baughan
3. Ben Jefford
4. Adam Tomasso
5. Harry Medway ©
6. Robert Flooks
7. Jake Adams
8. Frederick Read
9. Brett Williams
10. Ethan Taylor
11. Hisham Kasimu 66p
12. Shaquille Gwengwe (Brett Williams-80mins)
14. Woody Angell
15. Jordan Raguette
16. Nathan Hurst (Jake Adams-65mins)
17. Jack Masterton (Frederick Read-86mins)
Cirencester Town:
1. Alex Harris
2. Shayne Anson
3. Tom Handley
4. Nick Peare
5. Jake Lee ©
6. Ellis Dunton
7. Tommy Anderson
8. Joe Turley
9. Levi Irving
10. Joe Shepherd
11. Aidan Bennett
12. Michael Pook (Nick Peare-65mins)
14. Josh Nelmes
15. Ben Whitehead (Joe Turley-70mins)
16. Nick Hancock
17. Ross Gabriel (Aidan Bennett-77mins)