Cirencester Town FC
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Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
Match report by Dave Pyzer
The Centurions made the comparatively short journey to Thame United with a depleted squad for a mid-week fixture and after conceding an early goal they battled hard and were rewarded when a home defender diverted a cross into his own net shortly before the interval.
A review of the relative positions and current form before this match revealed that Thame United sat in 16th place in the table with 14 points from their 16 games played whilst Cirencester were in 10th place with 21 points from 14 games. Examination of current form based on the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table reveals that Cirencester’s recent run of form has placed them at the top of this table with 16 points whilst Thame are 13th with 7 points. It should be noted, having detailed the above, that Thame inflicted a 2-1 defeat on Cirencester at The Corinium Stadium in their first home match of the season.
The Cirencester starting eleven for this match had a number of absentees from recent matches as Captain Jake Lee was unavailable (holiday) and midfielders Joe Shepherd and Reegan Messenger are both injured. As a result, Matt Williams has been recruited and takes a position in the centre of the back line, Jay Simpson makes his first start and Sergio Mills retains his place in the starting eleven.
The home side kicked off on a damp, chilly evening and immediately attacked down their left flank as Gregory Hackett made ground to the by-line where Josh Nelmes came across to block the intended cross and concede a corner kick that was too long for any home players to collect.
Thame then tried their right flank and this also resulted in a corner kick and when the kick was cleared to the edge of the Cirencester Penalty Area it was collected by GREGORY HACKETT, just outside the right channel front edge, and he struck a firm right footed shot that took a deflection to finish inside the left post and give the home side the perfect start. 1-0.
When Cirencester responded to work the ball forward Thame launched it down the centre prompting ‘keeper Alex Harris to leave his box and punt it back down the centre for Levi Irving to control and slip to the right flank for Jay Simpson to move forward before crossing towards the far post where it was cleared down their right flank. Ellis Dunton intercepted and sent it back down the flank for Jordan Morris to gallop to the corner and cross. This too was cut-out and worked to the home sides left flank by Harry Mepham, Hackett and Jack Tutton but lost as they approached the Ciren box and then recycled for a shot from 20 yards that Harris safely caught.
The pattern of thrust and counter attack from both sides, with neither ‘keeper being seriously tested, continued until the 10-minute period leading up to the interval when Harris sent the ball to Dunton on half-way who controlled it with his chest and volleyed it down the line to Morris and he made ground before crossing from the left corner towards the near post where Irving burst forward to head against the post.
Cirencester were finishing the half strongly as Dunton made a run across the pitch, dummying to shoot twice, before passing to Joe Turley who shot at the target – headed away by a defender.
A couple of minutes later Simpson embarked on a long run down the right flank and as he reached the side edge of the home box he delivered a low cross towards the near post where Irving was arriving at pace with a defender in close attendance. The Ciren man cleverly stepped over the ball and as result the defender had no time to avoid the incoming pass and he tucked it neatly inside his ‘keeper’s left post for an OWN GOAL. 1-1.
When Thame kicked off Jefferson Louis attempted an audacious shot on goal from the centre spot as he had noticed Harris well off his line but the ‘keeper got back to catch.
The final goalmouth action of the half was a Thame free kick that rebounded to Luke Massingham, near the Penalty Spot, but he poked it wide under pressure from Harris.
Half Time: 1-1
During the interval the question on the minds of the Ciren support in attendance was would the threadbare squad be able to survive the second half without conceding any goals.
The answer – they could, and they even took the game to their hosts with a battling performance full of character and determination.
In the opening minutes of the half Simpson played the ball left to Dunton, inside to Sergio Mills, left to Morris and a cross from the left corner, cleared for Dunton to collect and shoot but safely caught by custodian Joshua Hill.
Cirencester tried the left flank again before switching to the right but the pass was intercepted.
With five minutes of the second half on the clock Thame mounted an attack as Hackett cut right from their left flank to shoot, dummied twice before actually doing so – blocked and cleared.
The response from Cirencester was immediate as they pressed for the next few minutes to win a couple of corner kicks and a free kick but no breakthrough.
Thame replied as they were awarded a throw-in in their left corner that landed in the Ciren box before Morris launched it down the left flank for the hard-working Irving to chase and collect but his attempted cross was deflected into the arms of Hill.
Just after the hour mark Matt Williams delivered a pass down the right flank for Irving to head on for Simpson to collect and as he burst forward into the home box Hill was quickly out to dive at his feet to gather and whilst Simpson was knocked to ground there was no hint of a Penalty decision.
Cirencester were really taking the game to their hosts at this stage but at the mid-point of the half Thame responded as Lewis Thorne carried the ball past three challenges before slipping it to Louis, left of the Penalty Spot, who shot wide of the right post under pressure.
A few minutes later Ciren were back again as Simpson slipped the ball to Mills who crossed from the right by-line – cleared to Williams near the half-way line who delivered a superb pass to the left corner for Dunton to chase and cross – caught by Hill under his bar as Irving burst forward to challenge.
During the next few minutes Irving fired into the side-netting and as they pressed again, with nine scheduled minutes remaining, Thame launched the ball downfield for David Pearce to collect in space 30 yards from goal, right channel, and from there he drove forward before cutting left to avoid an incoming challenge and as he reached the edge of the Cirencester box under pressure from the persistent Nelmes and with Harris advancing he attempted to ‘chip’ the ‘keeper who managed to get a hand to it and divert it wide of the target for a corner kick.
Both sides attacked, when possible, until the final whistle but it remained level.
Full Time: 1-1
A hard-fought game of end-to-end football with plenty of endeavour and character shown by The Centurions to bring home a point.
Debutant Matt Williams settled into the back line as if he had been there all season.
Attendance: 78 Referee: John Parry
Thame United:
1. Joshua Hill
2. Lewis Thorne
3. Harrison Mepham
4. Luke Massingham
5. Luke Carnell
6. Jack Tutton
7. Gregory Hackett 4
8. Jefferson Louis
9. David Pearce
10. Daniel West ©
11. Hayden Beadle
12. Finlay Murray
14. Kamal McEwan (Hayden Beadle-59mins)
15. Abuzar Khan
16. Matthew Peake-Pijnen
Cirencester Town:
Own Goal 41
1. Alex Harris
2. Will Christopher
3. Ellis Dunton
4. Joe Turley
5. Matthew Williams
6. Josh Nelmes
7. Jay Simpson
8. Nick Hancock
9. Levi Irving
10. Sergio Mills
11. Jordan Morris
12. Oliver Stevenson
14. Oakley James
15. Louie Barnfather
16. James Mortimer-Jones
17. Nick Peare (Sergio Mills-85mins)