Cirencester Town FC
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Click photo to view a slideshow of photos from the match
Match photos supplied by Graham Hill
The final Pre-Season Friendly match in preparation for the 2022-23 Season brought FROME TOWN to The Corinium Stadium, last season’s rivals in the Southern League – Division 1 South competition, and after a competitive encounter it was the visitors that won the day with a 3-1 victory.
The Robins kicked off playing towards The Shed end of the ground by playing the ball back to the right back position and after the ball had been launched forward it was intercepted and sent back towards the visitor’s box bringing their keeper out of his box to clear as a Cirencester player chased after the ball.
A few minutes later Frome worked the ball forward down their left flank as their left back (No. 15) sent the ball into the home Penalty Area for Luke Hopper to collect but his initial touch was blocked and recycled for the left back to collect and as he burst forward the incoming challenge resulted in a Penalty Kick being awarded. LUKE HOPPER stepped up to smash the kick into the bottom right corner to open the scoring. 0-1.
Within minutes as Frome sent the ball downfield it was intercepted by Ellis Dunton who promptly delivered it down the left channel for their Trialist to chase and once again their custodian left his area to clear the danger.
Cirencester were pressing forward down their flanks to win a corner kick that Theo Lewis delivered to the near post where Levi Irving headed over the top right corner.
At the mid-point of the half there was a Drinks Break and within minutes of the re-start the Cirencester Trialist released Irving into the Frome area and his shot was blocked for a corner kick that Lewis delivered to the near post where JOSH NELMES arrived to powerfully head inside the left post. 1-1.
Spurred on by this success Cirencester pressed on as Irving crossed from the left corner and their Trialist struck a fierce shot from the right channel of the Frome box that was blocked with the follow-up resulting in a corner kick that was caught by the ‘keeper.
Eight minutes from the scheduled interval No.6, on half way, played the ball inside to No.5 and he slid an accurate pass down the left channel for No.15 to collect and take to the by-line. His cross was cleared to be collected by ALEX MONK, in the right channel of the home box, and he drove it inside the far post. 1-2.
During the final few minutes of the half both sides mounted attacks to their opponents Penalty Area but the defences dealt with any threat.
Half Time: 1-2
Cirencester started the second half very positively as they reached the by-line a couple of times and chased down a back-pass that required the alert ‘keeper to dart from his box to launch the ball out of the ground.
Frome responded as they attacked down their right flank and into the box where three efforts were blocked.
Nineteen minutes into the half Cirencester worked the ball to the right corner and inside to Lewis who lobbed the ‘keeper from the right channel but it struck the bar and was recycled back to the right corner for Jordan Lymn to cross from the by-line – resulting in a corner kick that was defended.
Once again Frome responded to reach the home Penalty Area and after No.7’s shot was blocked the ball was bundled into the roof of the net at the right post by OWEN HUMPHRIES. 1-3.
After the second Drinks Break the game became a little feisty resulting in a number of Yellow Cards being brandished by the Referee.
As the game entered the final 15 minutes a corner kick was sent to the edge of the Frome 6-yard box where the replacement Frome ‘keeper collided with defenders and opponents moving towards the ball resulting in a delay as he was treated.
During the final ten minutes both sides worked the ball forward but without any real threat.
Full Time: 1-3
Another competitive game with glimpses of the quality expected from these sides.
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
Alex Harris (Louie Barnfather 56), Josh Nelmes (Reegan Messenger 65), Jordan Morris, Joe Turley (Frankie Johnson 70), Jake Lee ©, Ellis Dunton, Jordan Lymn, Nick Hancock (Joe Shepherd 65), Levi Irving (Ross Gabriel 56), Trialist (Sergio Mills 56), Theo Lewis.
FROME TOWN:
Squad names unavailable.