Cirencester Town FC
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Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
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Following a three week lay-off due to the recent snow and freezing conditions The Centurions returned to action on Boxing Day with a local derby fixture against neighbours Highworth Town and produced a dominant performance that included two goals in each half to secure the three points on offer.
Prior to this match the home side were in 19th place in the Southern League Central Division table with 13 points from their 17 games whilst Cirencester were in 10th place with 22 points from 18 games played. Current form, based on the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table reveals that Highworth have obtained 4 points from their last 6 games to be in 18th place whilst Cirencester sat in 6th place with 10 points from the same number of games – but all this counts for nothing in local derby matches with ‘bragging rights’ at stake.
The Cirencester starting eleven had a couple of changes from their last match three weeks ago against Hadley as Joe Shepherd returns wearing a ‘face shield’ following his fractured cheekbone a few weeks ago and Zachary Guinan – a loan player from Cheltenham Town who began the season with The Centurions but suffered a knee injury in training – also returning. Nick Hancock and Reegan Messenger took a seat on the bench to make way for them.
The home side kicked off on a soft pitch following the thaw of recent days in damp, chilly conditions defending the Clubhouse end of the ground and Nick Stanley immediately launched the ball down the slope towards the left corner but Levi Irving had taken some of the power out of the strike as he closed quickly to attempt a block but Highworth managed to recover and work it to Aleksandar Novakovic and his pass down the left flank was intercepted by Andy Lewis who clipped it back into the right corner for a throw-in to the home side that led to them working the ball down the centre but once they entered the Cirencester half Josh Nelmes was on hand to play it back to ‘keeper Alex Harris to launch down the pitch.
A couple of minutes later Jake Lee sent one of his customary 50-yard passes from the centre circle to the left corner for Jordan Morris to collect and cross but it was part blocked and looped up to drop at the back post - just too far behind and high for an incoming Zachary Guinan to be able to do anything with it.
With 7 minutes on the clock Joe Turley - facing his own goal and with an opponent snapping at his heels – produced a clever turn to evade the challenge and deliver a pass to the left corner where Morris collected and played the ball towards the near post, and a charging Irving, who was knocked to the ground by the advancing ‘keeper, James Walker, but the Referee saw nothing untoward and play continued.
The home side were finding it difficult to retain possession or make any ground against their visitors who were constantly working both flanks to the corners to keep them on the back-foot.
At the ten-minute mark Ellis Dunton exchanged passes with Guinan before delivering a cross to just inside the centre front edge of the home Penalty Area where Joe Shepherd headed towards the top left corner to see Walker push his effort onto the woodwork and in the follow-up an ‘offside’ flag was raised.
Cirencester continued to press and work the ball to the corners and were rewarded with a couple of corner kicks but no goals and then on 17 minutes they finally made the breakthrough as Nelmes supplied Dunton who played the ball down the left channel for Shepherd to collect inside the home box and square past an advancing Walker for LEVI IRVING to tap home from a few yards. 0-1.
A minute later Cirencester added another as Morris received the ball on the left side edge of the home box and delivered it the area in front of the 6-yard box where ZACHARY GUINAN collected and, after his initial shot was blocked, recovered the ball to drive it home – scoring his first goal for Cirencester in the process. 0-2.
Shortly before the mid-point of the half and as Cirencester were working the ball across the pitch Highworth eventually gained possession and sent it down their left flank for Daniel Grieve to chase and ‘win’ a corner kick – but it was headed away by Lewis at the back post and cleared downfield.
A couple of minutes later Lewis was in the action again as he exchanged passes with Guinan on the right flank before moving the ball on to Irving, centre – 25 yards out, and as Lewis went to collect the return his touch was heavy enabling Walker to gather.
Around the 30-minute mark Guinan received the ball, right channel – 35 yards out, and seeing Will Christopher on an overlap he drew two opponents towards him before slipping the ball between them for Christopher to collect and drive low and hard from the side edge of the home box to Shepherd, near the Penalty Spot, but his effort was blocked and cleared. This action was quickly followed by a Cirencester corner kick that resulted in Nelmes driving over the bar from the edge of the box.
During the remaining period Cirencester continued to press and the home side produced a counter attack down their left flank as Novakovic supplied Oliver Rejek who exchanged passes with Riegan Cook before slipping it to Stanley near the left by line where it ended in a goal-kick.
Half Time: 0-2
It had been a very positive first half for the visitors working up the hill but could they defend the high end - would the home side be able to get behind them to make progress as the Cirencester defenders had to turn and run up the hill – the answer was no.
Cirencester once again started positively as they attacked to the right corner with Lewis supplying Christopher.
Highworth responded as Cook, and Dan Drewett worked the ball to Rejek who shot from 30 yards but wide of the left post.
Almost immediately Turley won the ball and supplied Irving who made ground to the right-side edge of the home box before laying it off to Guinan, left to Shepherd – shot blocked and ball collected by Walker.
Around the 55-minute mark Highworth produced a couple of positive periods of play but as they neared the Cirencester box the threat was quickly dealt with – leading to more pressure from the visitors as they worked their left flank to ‘win’ a corner kick. Joe Turley delivered the kick to the near post where it was headed away, then back in, and out to the back post where a lurking ANDY LEWIS was on hand to head back across goal and inside the far-left post for his first goal for Cirencester. 0-3.
A couple of minutes later Highworth were awarded their second corner kick as Oliver Case and Rejek combined but this was caught at his left post by Harris.
At the mid-point of the half Lewis won the ball, 30 yards from goal – left of centre, and slipped it through for Irving to chase for a 1v1 with Walker who did very well to dive at the forwards feet and claim the ball.
Six minutes later Lewis and Irving combined again but this time Stanley had seen the danger and quickly came across to clear the threat.
Cirencester continued to press in and around the home box and substitutions were made as the game drew to a close with a couple of Yellow Cards issued by the Referee and then in ‘added-time’ Cirencester added a fourth goal as REEGAN MESSENGER latched onto the ball in the right channel of the home box and struck a rasping drive inside the far-left post. 0-4.
Full Time: 0-4
A dominant performance from Cirencester who never allowed their hosts to get into the game.
Attendance: 382 Referee: Martyn Mitchell
Highworth Town
1. James Walker
2. Oliver Case
3. Aleksandar Novakovic
4. Nicholas Stanley ©
5. William Davidson
6. Joah Hall
7. Daniel Drewett
8. Riegan Cook
9. Daniel Grieve
10. Antonio Gerrish
11. Oliver Rejek
12. Harrison Edwards (Daniel Drewett -61mins)
14. Ashley Edenborough
15. Samuel Uzzell (Oliver Rejek-77mins)
16. Michael Alexander (GK)
Cirencester Town:
1. Alex Harris
2. Will Christopher
3. Ellis Dunton
4. Joe Turley
5. Jake Lee ©
6. Josh Nelmes
7. Joe Shepherd
8. Andrew Lewis 60
9. Levi Irving 17
10. Zachary Guinan 18
11. Jordan Morris
12. Sergio Mills (Jordan Morris-86mins)
14. Nick Peare
15. Nick Hancock (Zachary Guinan-84mins)
16. Reegan Messenger (Joe Shepherd-77mins) 90+2
17. James Mortimer-Jones