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
The latest visitors to The Corinium Stadium were Hertford Town and after conceding two goals within the first eight minutes, to put them on the back foot for the rest of the first period, the visitors rallied to pull one back midway into the second and this produced a tense and exciting conclusion to the match.
Examination of the statistics of both teams prior to this match revealed that the visitors had obtained 16 points from their 14 games played to sit in 13th place in the division table whilst their hosts were in 10th place with 18 points from 13 games. The current form guide, based on the last six games, revealed that Hertford were in 12th place and Cirencester 2nd.
The Cirencester starting eleven had one enforced change from the previous match as Reegan Messenger had suffered an injury in training and was replaced by Sergio Mills who took a position wide on the right flank whilst Nick Hancock moved into midfield.
The home side kicked off playing towards The Shed end of the ground and this provided an early touch for visiting ‘keeper Ronnie Sandford as it led to a goal-kick and almost immediately he had a second as LEVI IRVING collected a loose pass just outside the visitor’s box, turned and advanced a couple of paces, cut left and rifled a firm strike inside the right post that Sandford got a hand to but not enough to prevent it opening the scoring. 1-0.
A couple of minutes later Irving was back as he chased a ball to the left corner that was cleared and recycled for Nick Hancock to advance down the same flank to the by-line and his cross resulted in the first corner kick of the game that Irving headed over the target at the near post.
As Cirencester advanced again the ball was lost enabling Hertford to counter down their left flank as David Ogbonna cut in from the corner, evading challenges as he worked his way into the Penalty Area before slipping the ball to Eduard Toiny-Pendred, to the left of the Penalty Spot, who fired wide of the far-right post.
The response to this from Cirencester was immediate as Ellis Dunton played the ball down the left channel for Joe Shepherd to head on to Irving who moved it left for Hancock to collect and advance into the visitor’s box – the resulting cross from 10 yards was blocked but collected by Jordan Morris who took it a couple of yards further before clipping the ball to the back post where LEVI IRVING leapt to produce a firm header that once again Sandford couldn’t prevent from entering the net inside the right post. 2-0.
Encouraged by their early goals Cirencester pressed forward to win another corner kick and produce a neat ‘passing’ move involving three players – started and finished by Shepherd – that required a save from Sandford to deny the home side a third goal.
Hertford replied by sending the ball down their right flank as Tami Ogunnowo galloped to the corner and crossed into the home box. The initial shot from near the Penalty Spot was blocked, rebounding to Conor Clarke, right channel – 18 yards out, and his shot struck the cross-bar and was cleared to be recycled to Ogbonna who was fouled as he approached the Penalty Area. The resulting free kick was fired into the ‘wall’ and the follow-up effort headed clear.
It had been a frantic opening 15 minutes and more was to follow as the ball was worked across the visitor’s box for Sergio Mills to attempted an audacious back-heel that was cleared for a throw-in and he subsequently produced a firm strike that was blocked for a corner kick.
Whilst Cirencester were dominating play, with a number of interceptions as their opponents attempted to counter and closing down through hard work all over the pitch, the visitors were showing glimpses of their tight control as just after the 30-minute mark they produced some neat ‘pass & move’ football as they worked the ball across the pitch before eventually losing it as they moved down their left flank for Cirencester to counter with their own quick passing as Josh Nelmes and Morris exchanged passes before the latter supplied Irving and a corner kick resulted.
Ten minutes from the scheduled interval Jordan Morris was awarded the first Yellow Card of the match for pouncing on the ball after ‘keeper Sandford had rolled it along the ground in preparation for kicking it downfield.
The resulting free kick was delivered to their right corner where Dunton intervened to launch it to the centre front edge of the Hertford box where Irving displayed great touch to control the high ball, turn and run behind the visitor’s defence but he miss-hit his shot when 12 yards from goal for Sandford to make the save.
As the half was drawing to a close Cirencester pressed - Morris fired over, Sandford punched clear after two corner kicks, Mills fired over and another series of corner kicks were defended - but The Centurions went to the break with only the two-goal lead instead of the 3 or 4 they might have expected from the amount of possession and threat they had created.
Half Time: 2-0
After the interval Hertford came out with renewed purpose and whilst Cirencester continued to press the visitors were allowed a bit more space and began to play with their speedy wingers particularly prominent.
From the re-start Hertford’s Ogbonna supplied Toiny-Pendred but his progress was halted by Jake Lee and as the visitors tried the left flank again Nelmes denied them passage and cleared the immediate danger.
A couple of minutes later Ogbonna made a strong run from half-way to the home Penalty Area, cut right and shot but straight into the grateful arms of ‘keeper Alex Harris.
Hertford were working the ball forward at every opportunity but Ciren were restricting their progress and shortly after the visitors made a defensive substitution and changed their shape and this provided more freedom.
The visitors immediately worked the ball down their right flank for Ogunnowo to cross – Will Christopher’s firm header at the back post cleared the danger.
As the hour mark approached a Cirencester free kick was delivered to the left corner and it broke to Joe Turley, left channel – 20 yards out, and he struck a fierce shot at the target for Sandford to save.
Back came Hertford as Toiny-Pendred made ground down the centre to the front edge of the home box where Dunton made a solid tackle to stop further progress and start an attack down the home sides left flank that produced a cross from the by-line and a counter attack from the visitors as Ogbonna charged down the centre. As he reached the edge of the home box he was surrounded by three defenders and brought to ground – resulting in a Yellow Card and a free kick that was aimed towards the top right corner by Benjamin Herd. It cleared the bar but was adjudged to have been helped on its way by Harris so a corner kick followed.
By now Hertford had the bit between their teeth and as the mid-point of the half approached Ogbonna made another strong run down the left flank and as he reached the corner Nelmes was across to clear the danger.
Undeterred Hertford tried their right flank as Ogunnowo reached the corner and delivered a low cross towards the front edge of the home 6-yard box where DAVID OGBONNA arrived to clip it over Harris and into the roof of the net. 2-1.
Game on.
Within minutes Lee sent a long ball to the right corner for Mills to lay back to Hancock who crossed towards the far-left post – defended.
Hertford’s Billy Mardell-Smith then delivered a pass to the left flank where Joshua Bryant made ground to collect and take to the corner but his cross was deflected for Harris to pick up.
The game was much more end-to-end by now as Hertford searched for an equaliser and Ciren another goal to regain the two-goal ‘cushion’.
Into the final ten minutes and Ogunnowo crossed from the right corner but as Harris pushed it behind he was clattered by an incoming Hertford player and a Yellow Card awarded to the culprit.
Shortly afterwards Hancock collected a throw-in near the left front corner of the Hertford box and delivered a deep cross to the far-post where debutant Jay Simpson (on loan from Cheltenham Town) volleyed it back towards the edge of the 6-yard box where Irving was arriving but he couldn’t control his volley and it passed over the bar.
As the game drew to a close Hertford delivered a number of crosses into the home box but the defence remained resolute to take the points.
Full Time: 2-1
Certainly ‘a game of two halves’ as the saying goes – with Cirencester dominating the first after a fantastic start and strong team performance, due to their superb work-rate, whilst their visitors rallied after the interval to test their resolve - especially towards the end of the match.
Attendance: 155 Referee: Thomas Staten
Cirencester Town:
1. Alex Harris
2. Will Christopher
3. Ellis Dunton
4. Joe Turley
5. Jake Lee ©
6. Josh Nelmes
7. Kenneth Mills
8. Nick Hancock
9. Levi Irving 2, 8
10. Joe Shepherd
11. Jordan Morris
12. Jay Simpson (Kenneth Mills-76mins)
14. Oliver Stevenson
15. Louie Barnfather (GK)
16. James Mortimer-Jones
17. Kevin Sawyer (GK)
Hertford Town:
1. Ronnie Sandford
2. Conor Clarke
3. Joshua Bryant
4. Benjamin Herd
5. Charlie Payne
6. Christopher Gosling ©
7. Tami Ogunnowo
8. Darnell Baxter-Alleyne
9. Eduard Toiny-Pendred
10. Billy Mardell-Smith
11. David Ogbonna 68
12. Ricky Brennan (Darnell Baxter-Alleyne-54mins)
14. Dontai Stewart (Eduard Toiny-Pendred-69mins)
15. Kurainashe Musanhi
16. Christopher Eccles
19. Vladut Sighlartau (Charlie Payne-87mins)