Cirencester Town FC
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Match photos supplied by Graham Hill
The Emirates FA Cup - Second Round Qualifying Replay at The Corinium Stadium provided another fast paced, entertaining match between the sides and after a goal-less first half Merthyr made the breakthrough a minute after the interval, adding a second mid-way through the second period. Cirencester reduced the arrears from the Penalty Spot in the 90th minute to add a little more drama to the final few minutes.
In the absence of Josh Nelmes (holiday) the home side made one change to the starting eleven as striker Ross Gabriel came in enabling Jake Lee to return to his more customary centre back position.
On a perfect evening for football the tie continued where it had left off on Saturday with both sides going at it from the off in a fast and furious first half.
Merthyr kicked-off playing towards The Shed end of the ground but immediately conceded possession with an overhit pass that reached home custodian Alex Harris.
In the opening couple of minutes both sides attacked down their flanks but were repelled and then after four minutes Cirencester created a chance when Jordan Lymn delivered a cross from the right corner to the far post where Levi Irving missed the initial volley attempt and had his recovery cross from the left by-line blocked.
The same combination repeated the move, with the cross coming from further back, for Irving to head into the grateful arms of ‘keeper Will Fuller from the left channel of the Penalty Area.
Almost immediately Joe Turley delivered a free kick into the visitor’s box and it was deflected for a corner kick from the right that Turley sent to the left of the Penalty Spot where Jake Lee produced a powerful header that was blocked and cleared to Joe Shepherd who fed it back to Turley as he came in from the corner – resulting in a Merthyr throw-in.
Shortly afterwards as Merthyr worked the ball forward Ellis Dunton intercepted, mid-way into the home half, and sent the ball right to Lymn who moved it on to Adulai Sambu and he crossed towards the far post but just too high for Irving to connect.
A couple of minutes later Sambu burst towards the right by-line from the corner to send a low cross towards the near post where a darting Irving connected but it was blocked and cleared.
Cirencester were not having it all their own way as during this period Merthyr had advanced to their right corner for Lee to defend the resulting cross and at the mid-point of the half Frazer Thomas burst into the right channel of the home box for his shot to be blocked.
As the half-hour mark approached Reegan Messenger collected a Cirencester clearance in the visitor’s half and sent it left for Irving to begin a strong run to the corner whilst he ran towards the visitors Penalty Spot to get on the end of the expected cross. When the cross came he was involved in an aerial duel that resulted in the Ciren youngster requiring some attention before the game could continue.
For the next few minutes Cirencester pressed down both flanks but to no avail and as the interval approached it was the turn of Merthyr to press – initially working the ball across the pitch in their own half – and then Ricardo Rees latched onto a loose ball to shoot wide of the left post.
A couple of minutes later Rees had possession on the left touchline and laid it back to Jack Evans who sent it across to the right corner and the resultant cross from the by-line was blocked for a corner kick that produced a shot from former Centurion Tom Handley that was wide of the left post.
Almost immediately the visitors were back as Lewis Powell struck a fierce shot towards the left post for Harris to dive to his right to block - with the rebound being sent over the bar by an incoming Rees.
Half Time: 0-0
From the re-start Cirencester attacked down their left flank and were awarded a free kick for a foul on Irving in the corner. The kick towards the area in front of the Penalty Spot was defended and cleared down the left flank to half-way, a cross-field pass followed that reached the right channel 25-yards from the Cirencester goal where LEWIS POWELL collected and charged to the right front corner of the home box before cutting left inside his marker. As a covering defender closed in on him, he tucked a low, left footed shot inside the right post to open the scoring. 0-1.
A couple of minutes later as Cirencester attacked the visitors defence won the ball to counter down the centre for Thomas to supply Rees who fired over the home bar from 20 yards.
Six minutes into the half Lee sent a long pass to the right corner where Sambu collected and took it to the by-line before sending a low cross towards the Penalty Spot but it didn’t reach its intended target as Ismail Yakubu stretched to intercept enabling Fuller to pick-up.
A miss-placed clearance kick from Fuller was collected by Sambu and fed from the right channel, 25 yards out, into the visitor’s box as Irving darted through and this yielded a corner kick that was cleared at the near left post and returned to Turley who sent it towards the back post. It went out for a goal-kick with strong claims from Cirencester that an incoming Centurion had been held in his attempt to get to the ball – dismissed by the Referee.
As the hour mark approached Lee headed a free kick over the Merthyr bar and after Turley won the ball in midfield he played it forward to Ross Gabriel, right to Sambu, back to Gabriel – left foot shot over the bar.
On the hour a Cirencester free kick was sent from left to right for Lymn to send to the right corner where Shepherd’s cross from the by-line resulted in a corner kick that was defended.
Five minutes later Merthyr doubled their lead as they reached the home box for a scramble that saw a couple of shots from Powell blocked with the ball breaking to ALEX JOHN, just behind the Penalty Spot, and he smashed it into the back of the net. 0-2.
Despite this further setback Cirencester continued to push forward and within minutes Gabriel had an attempted ‘chip’ caught by Fulller and a free kick from the right flank was headed goal-wards by Lee to be blocked for Fuller to pick up.
Jake Lee then won the ball at right back and sent it down the line for Lymn to collect, inside to Shepherd, left to Jordan Morris, forward to Sambu who sent the ball across the Merthyr box for an incoming Shepherd to shoot – saved at the left post.
The reply from Merthyr was an attack that produced a corner kick from the right flank that was defended.
Into the final scheduled ten minutes and Morris embarked on a long run to the left front corner of the Merthyr box but Shepherd’s volley was caught by Fuller.
This was followed by an attack to the right by-line as Lymn sent his cross through the front edge of the 6-yard box to be collected by Sambu in the left corner and his cross back into the mix was cleared to Nick Peare who had his shot from the edge of the Penalty Area blocked.
Cirencester were really giving a go and Merthyr had to defend several corner kicks, free kicks and crosses during the last five scheduled minutes and with the clock ticking down Dunton sent a 40-yard pass from right to left for Sambu to collect near the left front corner of the Merthyr box where he cut right to shoot – blocked, Penalty Kick awarded. Cirencester Captain JAKE LEE stepped up and drilled his spot kick inside the right post and even though Fuller guessed correctly he couldn’t reach it. 1-2.
A minute later Morris and Sambu exchanged passes near the Merthyr Penalty Area for Morris to send a low cross through the box towards the Penalty Spot but the incoming Gabriel and Irving were unable to make contact.
The final action in this pulsating game saw Harris deliver a free kick to the right post where Lee’s header was caught by Fuller.
Full Time: 1-2
Another entertaining and competitive match, played at a good pace in perfect conditions, that kept those present interested until the final whistle.
Merthyr Town will visit Gloucester City in the next round.
Attendance: 190 Referee: David Nicholson
Cirencester Town:
1. Alex Harris
2. Jordan Lymn
3. Jordan Morris
4. Joe Turley
5. Jake Lee © 90p
6. Ellis Dunton
7. Adulai Sambu
8. Reegan Messenger
9. Ross Gabriel
10. Joe Shepherd
11. Levi Irving
12. Kenneth Mills
14. Frankie Johnson
15. Aidan Bennett
16. Nick Hancock
17. Nick Peare (Reegan Messenger-73mins)
18. Louie Barnfather (GK
Merthyr Town:
13. Will Fuller
2. Callum Ryan-Phillips
3. Tom Handley
5. Liam Angel ©
18. Ismail Yakubu
6. Jack Evans
7. Frazer Thomas
8. Alex John 65
9. Lewis Powell 46
10. Ricardo Rees
11. Bubacarr Sama
1. Jaimie Cogman (GK)
12. Camden Duncan (Ricardo Rees-82mins)
14. Andy Lewis (Bubacarr Sama-52mins)
15. Curtis Jemmett-Hutson (Frazer Thomas-73mins)