Cirencester Town FC
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Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
Cirencester made the long journey to the northern outskirts of London to face WALTHAMSTOW FC and after a hard-fought, competitive and frantic match that contained plenty of effort but few chances for either side The Centurions returned with a point.
Prior to the match Walthamstow sat in 10th place in the Division table with 16 points from 11 games played whilst Cirencester were 13th with 11 points from 10 games so an interesting contest between two mid-table teams was in prospect – both teams being unbeaten in their last three fixtures.
Following on from the performances in the last three games the Cirencester starting eleven was unchanged.
The home side kicked off and immediately launched the ball to the right corner to be awarded a throw-in that reached the Cirencester Penalty Area where Jordan Morris headed away so they switched the point of attack to the left corner for another throw-in and cross from Ryan Kirwan that ‘keeper Alex Harris caught at his right post.
A minute later Cirencester pressed but in doing so conceded a free kick that the home ‘keeper, Bradley Robinson, launched to the right front corner of the Cirencester box where Bilal Sayoud collected, moved left and fired over the bar.
A couple of minutes later Cirencester worked the ball to their left corner and were awarded a throw-in that Ellis Dunton delivered into the home Penalty Area where Joe Shepherd headed on to Adulai Sambu at the back post but he was quickly surrounded so he laid it back to Will Christopher who crossed towards the far-left front corner of the box where Dunton sent his half-volley over the bar.
The visitors were soon back again as they continued to work their left flank with Reegan Messenger heading a corner kick at the near post wide of the far-right post and when Walthamstow replied Sayoud sent a couple of crosses into the grateful arms of Harris and wide of the back post for a goal-kick.
From another Cirencester attack down the left flank the ball was cleared for Jake Lee to collect and move forward down the right channel and 30 yards from goal he delivered a cross that passed through the home 6-yard box without contact.
Almost immediately Jordan Watson collected a loose ball near he right channel front edge of the Cirencester box and poked it left to Sayoud who shot wide of the left post. The home side then challenged for a ball in midfield and it broke from the contact to be fed to Damaray Anyadike who crossed from the right-side edge of the visitor’s box to the back post where Callum Ibe headed wide of the target.
Callum Ibe then fed Anyadike but his shot from the left channel of the Cirencester box was part blocked for Harris to collect.
Around the mid-point of the half Sayoud attempted to send a pass through the visitors back line towards the right channel of the Cirencester box but Dunton’s outstretched foot diverted it to ‘keeper Harris.
In this frantic half Cirencester reached the left corner three times in a short space of time but the resulting crosses were all blocked before a moment’s pause, as the home ‘keeper received treatment for an injury, but it was soon back to action as Dunton collected a clearance, left channel – 35 yards out, and moved to the right as he produced two dummies to shoot before slipping the ball to Shepherd on the edge of the box and left to Levi Irving who was crowded out and the danger cleared.
Cirencester continued to press and the home side defended to launch the ball down their right channel prompting Harris to leave his box to challenge Watson - the striker managed to turn and shoot towards the empty goal but Lee showed his nous as he recovered to block the shot and Harris was able to collect the rebound.
As the half entered the final five scheduled minutes Irving slipped the ball left to Morris who advanced to the left corner before crossing towards the near post where Irving had made ground to stretch and volley wide of the left post under pressure.
During the final minutes Cirencester attacked to the left corner and threatened the home box a couple of times but the defence stood firm.
Half Time: 0-0
The frantic pace continued after the interval as Irving produced a clever back-heel to release Messenger to the left corner - resulting in a free kick that Joe Turley delivered to the far- post where Dunton’s header was safely caught by Robinson.
Four minutes into the half the home side worked the ball down their left flank and right to the centre front edge of the Cirencester box for Sayoud to shoot wide of the left post.
As Cirencester attacked down their right flank - Sambu to Turley who clipped the ball to the corner for Irving to press - Carl Mensah defended and sent the ball down the flank for Sayoud to cross but Lee headed clear - but it was soon back again as Watson poked wide of the left post as Shepherd challenged.
Cirencester responded as Morris charged down the left flank to be stopped unceremoniously by Richard Platt who received a lecture from Referee, Elliot Spencer, for his troubles. The free kick came to nought.
It was certainly ‘end-to-end’ stuff as Anyadike reached the right by-line to cross, past Harris, but cut-out by Lee for Josh Nelmes to clear enabling Morris to run at the home defence again and when he reached the corner he laid the ball back to Dunton who delivered it to the area in front of the 6-yard box where Irving arrived to head over the bar.
Cirencester then attacked down their right flank as Sambu and Christopher combined to reach the corner where the resulting throw-in was defended.
The pressure continued as Irving was released into the left channel of the home box for his low cross to be cut-out by Robinson and a free kick and throw-in into the home box were defended.
Shortly after the hour mark it was the turn of the home side to press with Sayoud’s shot headed away by Lee and then he ran out of space as he tried to run at the Cirencester defence.
At the mid-point of the half Sayoud collected 40 yards from goal, left channel, moved forward a few yards and unleashed a fierce strike that fizzed past the far-right post.
Moments later as the home side advanced again Nelmes read the situation, intercepted just inside the home half and supplied Turley, left to Morris, back to Turley but the pass towards Sambu was cut-out.
The tension was rising as both sides pressed forward - George Yianni attempted an overhead kick that was wide of the left post and Nick Peare fired wide of the right post - both from throw-ins.
As the game entered the final phase Cirencester produced a neat move involving several players as they worked the ball from right to left for Peare to shoot narrowly over the bar.
Into the last ten scheduled minutes and Peare headed a throw-in towards the home Penalty Spot, and a few minutes later he headed a free kick at the near post to the back post but both were defended.
Into the final five scheduled minutes and Ross Gabriel headed a free kick wide of the right post.
In ‘added-time’ Nelmes headed a free kick wide of the right post and Peare drove a free kick over the bar but in the 3rd minute of extra time Kai Davis reached the right by-line and delivered a low cross towards the visitors Penalty Spot where Watson collected and fired towards the left post- past everyone, but not Cirencester Captain Jake Lee who stretched out a leg to block the goal-bound shot on the line.
Full Time: 0-0
A hard-fought game and probably a fair result.
Attendance: 337 Referee: Elliot Spencer
Walthamstow FC:
1. Bradley Robinson
2. Kai Davis
3. Ryan Kirwan
4. Richard Platt
5. Carl Mensah
6. Jack Green
7. Damaray Anyadike
8. Fofana Kissi
9. Jordan Watson ©
10. Bilal Sayoud
11. Callum Ibe
12. Scott Cleland-Knight (Bilal Sayoud-87mins)
14. Daniel Green
15. Daniel Brock (Damaray Anyadike-82mins
16. George Yianni (Fofana Kissi-49mins)
18. Te Wihongi
Cirencester Town:
1. Alex Harris
2. Will Christopher
3. Ellis Dunton
4. Joe Turley
5. Jake Lee ©
6. Josh Nelmes
7. Adulai Sambu
8. Reegan Messenger
9. Levi Irving
10. Joe Shepherd
11. Jordan Morris
12. Ross Gabriel (Adulai Sambu-80mins)
14. Sergio Mills (Jordan Morris-71mins)
15. Nick Peare (Joe Turley-71mins)
16. Nick Hancock
17. Louie Barnfather