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 Graham Hill
Match report by Dave Pyzer
Encouraged by their victory at leaders Ware FC at the weekend The Centurions returned to The Corinium Stadium for a mid-week fixture against third placed DIDCOT TOWN and produced another solid team performance to secure the three points on offer.
Prior to this game ‘The Railwaymen’ had won their last four matches in succession and this had seen them march up the table to 3rd place with 21 points from 10 matches played whilst their hosts had won their last two matches to sit in 15th place with 8 points from 9 games. Historically games between the two sides have always been very tough encounters.
Following the success against leaders WARE FC on Saturday the Cirencester starting eleven was unchanged.
The visitors kicked off proceedings attacking The Shed end of the ground and immediately launched the ball towards the left corner where Ellis Dunton unceremoniously volleyed it back, JOHN SMITH style, eventually resulting in a throw-in to Cirencester on their right flank, half-way, before being switched to the left flank for Jordan Morris to cross towards the back post – but just too high for an incoming Adulai Sambu.
A couple of minutes later the same combination were involved again as Morris sent a low cross behind Sambu that was cleared downfield but soon returned as another cross from Morris, near the left by-line, was parried by ‘keeper Leigh Bedwell and cleared before Joe Shepherd could latch onto it.
The home side were really taking the game to their opponents - who were moving the ball about quickly with neat quick passing whilst they had it but were being put under tremendous pressure by the busy Cirencester midfield and as result replied with long range shots from Sam Barder and Taylor-Jay Bedwell to test custodian Alex Harris.
After the flurry of crosses from the left flank Cirencester started to use the right flank more often as Sambu and Will Christopher combined for the latter to send the ball towards the corner for Levi Irving to collect resulting in a throw-in to Cirencester that eventually led to a high cross from the touch-line by Jake Lee, 35 yards out, towards the far-left post where JOE SHEPHERD made a late run to head the dropping ball inside the post. 1-0.
Shortly before the mid-point Josh Nelmes supplied Christopher who sent a cross from the right corner towards the near post where Shepherd ‘back-headed’ towards Irving but it was cleared off his toe as he shaped to shoot.
Moments later Seth Humphries struck a fierce shot from 25 yards, right channel, that Harris pushed wide of his right post for a corner kick that was defended at the back post before being fired over the target.
During the second quarter Cirencester were doing much of the pressing with many crosses and corner kicks being sent into their opponent’s box without adding to the score-line and the ‘quick passing’ style of the visitors, as they tried to work forward, meant that the game was being played a frenetic pace.
Half Time: 1-0
After the interval it was more of the same frantic football although the visitors did pose more of a threat during the closing stages.
Immediately from the re-start Cirencester sent the ball to the left corner where Barder headed out and as they worked the ball forward it was intercepted and sent down the centre for Irving to slip left to Morris who delivered a low cross that was blocked for Reegan Messenger to collect and shoot, blocked - rebounding to Morris as he cut in from the left flank along the front edge of the visitor’s box before clipping a right footed shot towards the right post where Bedwell pushed it out. A couple more efforts followed but no breakthrough.
After another period of Cirencester pressure, and a brief counter attack from Didcot had been dealt with, Nelmes played the ball across the pitch to Jake Lee and he launched a 50 yard pass down the right flank for Sambu to slip inside to Irving, left again into the left channel of the Didcot box for Morris to collect for a 1v1 with Bedwell but the second touch was too heavy and the ‘keeper was able to pounce on the ball.
Just after the hour mark Didcot’s Adam Learoyd moved the ball left to Harley Giles who sent it to the left side edge of the Cirencester box where Ben Putland laid it back to Humphries, left channel of the home box, but his shot was blocked as was the follow-up effort.
As the game entered the final quarter Dunton intercepted just inside the Didcot half and moved the ball on to Morris and Shepherd in the left corner, back to Dunton, right to Morris who moved along the front edge of the visitor’s box before supplying Sambu who shot over the bar.
At this point Didcot introduced Josh Hedges and he immediately attacked the right flank with clever footwork providing a shot for a team-mate that was blocked and a minute later he had to be surrounded to prevent further progress.
As the game was drawing to a close Cirencester added a second following a piece of sublime control from Morris as he plucked a high punt from Harris, that was coming down out of orbit near the left touchline, with the top of his foot so that it ran along the touchline, turned from facing the line and whipped in a curling cross to the far-right post where ADULAI SAMBU was arriving at pace to half-volley the ball into the roof of the net. 2-0.
Despite this further setback Didcot pushed forward with Barder launching a couple of long throws from their right flank into the home box where Nelmes headed clear.
A few minutes later another Morris burst resulted in a corner kick from the left that produced a firm header from Dunton at the back post that was cleared off the line and resulted in a corner kick from the right and a fierce header from Messenger that was also blocked on the line.
In ‘added-time’ a Didcot corner kick from the right provided a heading opportunity at the near post that Harris parried onto his left post before catching and a free kick shortly after reached the head of Learoyd but was headed into the grateful arms of Harris.
Full Time: 2-0
An entertaining game played at pace throughout with both sides looking to continue their recent run of good form.
Didcot played some neat passing football but couldn’t get a foothold in the game due to the work-rate of their opponents who once again produced a solid team performance with everyone playing their part.
Attendance: 142 Referee: James Tewson
Cirencester Town:
1. Alex Harris
2. Will Christopher
3. Ellis Dunton
4. Joe Turley
5. Jake Lee ©
6. Josh Nelmes
7. Adulai Sambu 85
8. Reegan Messenger
9. Levi Irving
10. Joe Shepherd 18
11. Jordan Morris
12. Ross Gabriel
14. Kenneth Mills (Jordan Morris-90+2mins)
15. Nick Peare
16. Nick Hancock (Joe Shepherd-86mins)
17. Louie Barnfather (GK)
Didcot Town:
1. Leigh Bedwell
2. Samuel Barder
3. George Palmer
4. Taylor-Jay Bedwell
5. Harley Giles
6. Adam Learoyd ©
7. Benjamin Putland
8. James Glover
9. Seth Humphries
10. Jenson Wright
11. Andi Noka
12. Jamar Smith (Benjamin Putland-81mins)
14. Joshua Hedges (Andi Noka-69mins)
15. Hosni Elarfa (Seth Humphries-87mins)
16. Jack King
17. Ethan Bones (GK)