Cirencester Town FC
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Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
Click each photo to view a slideshow from the match
Match photos supplied by
Graham Hill (left) and Becky Handley (right)
The penultimate home match of the season brought league leaders Plymouth Parkway to The Corinium Stadium and in front of a huge crowd - including many local junior players and their parents, guardians etc. due to a ‘Community and Junior Day’ being held at the stadium - the long unbeaten run of the visitors was brought to an end as Levi Irving scored two late goals to secure victory for The Centurions.
Before today’s game the visitors were in a strong run of form - having obtained 34 points out of a possible 36 in their last 12 games (including ten wins on the bounce) – and this run has taken them to the top of both the ‘League’ and ‘6-Match Form Guide’ tables. In comparison Cirencester were 3rd in the league table and 7th in terms of form.
In the reverse fixture in November ‘The Parkway’ ended a 9-game unbeaten run in the league for Cirencester.
Following last weeks 5-1 victory at Mangotsfield an unchanged starting eleven was named by Cirencester Town Manager John Brough.
In perfect conditions for football the visitors kicked off towards The Shed end of the ground and almost immediately were awarded a free kick, left channel – 40 yards out, that Ryan Lane sent to the Penalty Spot where Jake Lee headed clear and as the visitors worked it back across the pitch it was lost for a counter attack as Tommy Anderson collected 15 yards inside his half to send it to the right corner for Josh Parsons to chase, collect and cross to the far post – resulting in a goal kick.
From the goal-kick Lee headed it powerfully back towards the left corner where Ben Whitehead chased and ‘keeper Kyle Moore dashed from his box to clear for a Cirencester throw-in. The throw was sent into the corner where Parsons and Jake Mawford combined for the latter to deliver a cross to the area just outside the 6-yard box, right of centre, where JOE SHEPHERD arrived to divert it inside the right post with an outstretched leg. 1-0.
A couple of minutes later Shayne Anson sent the ball down the home sides right flank for Whitehead to collect and cross towards the Penalty Spot but despite the attendance of two of his team-mates the danger was cleared.
It had been a positive start for Cirencester but Parkway are top of the league for a reason and it wasn’t long before they began to press and at the 15-minute mark Michael Landricombe had a pot from 35 yards which was deflected wide of the target for a corner kick from the right flank that ‘keeper Alex Harris punched away at the near post. The follow-up shot from William Palfrey was wide of the right post.
A few minutes later Ellis Dunton played the ball up to Anderson who embarked on a run down the right channel to the Parkway penalty area and as he reached the by-line and attempted to cross he was bundled to the ground resulting in a strong shout for a Penalty Kick that was ignored by the Referee.
Cirencester continued to push forward as they worked the ball down the flanks and Parkway mounted counter attacks and around the 30-minute mark Ethen Mitchell sent the ball down the centre to Jack Crago on the edge of the home box but his shot was blocked, as was the follow-up effort, resulting in a corner kick from the right flank. The initial kick was defended but a second one resulted in the goal-line clearance of Landricombe’s header and another effort into the grateful arms of Harris.
During the next few minutes Tom Handley made a timely interception and released Anderson to the corner and Lee delivered a free kick into the visitor’s penalty area but both resulted in goal kicks.
As the half was drawing to a close Lane fired a shot from 25 yards over the bar as the visitors finished the half pressing the home defence but generally neither ‘keeper had been particularly troubled.
Half Time: 1-0
Within a few minutes of the re-start Cirencester were awarded a couple of free kicks and from the second, from the right flank-halfway, Mawford delivered the ball to the Penalty Spot where Lee competed for it and it dropped to Dunton who struck a fierce left footed volley that was blocked for a corner kick. The same player then headed the resulting kick over the bar at the back post.
Parkway responded as they worked the ball across the pitch in search of an opening but conceded a free kick shortly after losing it. Alex Harris sent the kick to the right corner where Mawford crossed it to the Penalty Spot and Shepherd headed it to Moore.
As Parkway came forward again the ball was lost enabling Cirencester to counter as Whitehead slipped the ball from the left channel to Parsons and he in turn released Anderson to the edge of the visitor’s box where progress was halted.
Shortly after the hour-mark the visitors were working the ball from their right flank towards the home box and as they moved towards the centre Cirencester conceded a free kick, 30 yards from goal. WILLIAM PALFREY stepped up to place his precise kick into the top right corner. 1-1.
Encouraged by their breakthrough the visitors pressed forward as Michael Williams burst into the home box for his cross to be blocked and recycled for a corner kick that led to Harris saving from Palfrey at his left post.
As a result of the visitors pressure it was Cirencester that were having to counter and the game became end-to-end and shortly after the mid-point of the half another Mawford free kick was recycled by Joe Turley to Shepherd, on to Aidan Bennett, forward to Anderson and his strike towards the top right corner was saved by Moore.
Back came Parkway as Mitchell delivered the ball from the right flank to Crago in the left channel of the home box and he clipped it to the back past as Mitchell supported to head to a well-positioned Harris.
Almost immediately in this fast-moving game Harris punted the ball downfield and as it dropped near the left channel front edge of the Parkway box Parsons turned to collect and as he waited for it to come down to attempt a volley a recovering Callum Rose took it off his toe to concede a corner kick that Handley headed over the bar.
Parkway replied as Crago played the ball right to an overlapping Finley Craske as he reached the right front corner of the home box to shoot – tipped over by Harris.
Three minutes later it was all action at the other end as a series of blocks were made to deny Cirencester – Bennett crossed from the right corner and Mawford shot towards the right post from near the Penalty Spot – blocked and cleared to Anderson (right channel front edge of the box) – shot blocked and cleared to Handley (to the right of Anderson) and his fierce strike was blocked by Moore. This period brought audible gasps from the spectators.
As Parkway worked the ball forward they lost possession to Handley who quickly sent it down the right channel to Parsons and he immediately slipped it to LEVI IRVING as he supported down the left channel, collecting it in space 30 yards out. The striker had only been on the pitch for 6 minutes but he carried it to the edge of the box and tucked it inside the right post, aided by a slight deflection, as Moore advanced. 2-1.
Three minutes later LEVI IRVING scored again as Handley played a free kick on the right flank short to Bennett who returned it for the full back to clip a perfectly weighted left-footed pass into the right corner where Bennett had darted to collect and deliver a terrific cross towards the near post where the striker leapt to send a glancing header inside the far-left post. 3-1.
Full Time: 3-1
An exciting game of football, particularly the last 20 minutes, played by two of the top three sides in the Division in front of a huge crowd that included lots of youngsters.
A great advert for non-league football at this level.
Attendance: 710 Referee: Thomas Kelly
Cirencester Town:
1. Alex Harris
2. Shayne Anson
3. Tom Handley
4. Joe Turley
5. Jake Lee ©
6. Ellis Dunton
7. Tommy Anderson
8. Joe Shepherd 4
9. Ben Whitehead
10. Josh Parsons
11. Jake Mawford
12. Michael Pook
14. Josh Nelmes
15. Aidan Bennett (Ben Whitehead-60mins)
16. Jordan Morris (Shayne Anson-66mins)
17. Levi Irving (Jake Mawford-81mins) 87, 90
Plymouth Parkway:
1. Kyle Moore
2. Finley Craske
3. Ryan Lane
4. Ethan Mitchell
5. Callum Rose
6. Michael Landricombe ©
7. Michael Williams
8. William Palfrey 62
9. Jack Crago
10. Matthew Andrew
11. Gabriel Rogers
12. Harrison Davis (Michael Williams-81mins)
14. Callum Hall
15. Thomas Bath (Gabriel Rogers-50mins)
16. Jacob Smith
20. Adam Carter (Ethan Mitchell-89mins)