Cirencester Town FC
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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 Centurions returned to The Corinium Stadium for the second of their Bank Holiday fixtures to face Kidlington FC and in a combative match scored a goal in each half to avenge their early season defeat at Yarnton Road by the same score-line in the reverse fixture.
To set the scene for this match – Kidlington sat in 6th place in the Central Division table before kick-off with 30 points from 19 games whilst Cirencester were 9th with 25 points from 18 games. In terms of current form, based on the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table, Cirencester were 7th with 10 points and Kidlington 11th with 8 points so not a lot to choose between the teams.
Cirencester were able to name the starting eleven that secured a 4-0 victory at Highworth Town in their last match on Boxing Day whilst the bench saw the return of Cheltenham Town loan player Jay Simpson following illness.
The visitors kicked off, playing towards The Arena end of the ground and immediately launched the ball to their left corner and play continued on that flank for some time as Cirencester tried to work it clear but were pegged back and eventually the home side did counter to reach their right corner as Will Christopher chipped the ball into the corner for Zac Guinan to chase, collect and lay into the path of a supporting Andy Lewis who had his shot comfortably saved by ‘keeper Joseph Gorman.
A couple of minutes later Harry Whitehead produced some trickery in the left corner to create space for a cross that Josh Nelmes cut out before clearing down the right channel and this led to a free kick to Cirencester that Jake Lee delivered to the left channel front edge of the visitor’s box where Ellis Dunton controlled it on his chest before firing wide of the right post.
Kidlington replied as they sent a free kick from just inside the Cirencester half to the left channel of the home box where it was worked back to Connor Ferguson who shot wide of the right post.
A few minutes later Kidlington were awarded a corner kick from their left flank that John Dennis delivered to the near post where it was headed away but there had been a foul on home custodian Alex Harris and a free kick awarded.
With 15 minutes on the clock Cirencester worked the ball down their right flank – Christopher to Levi Irving, on to Joe Shepherd, who was upended near the by-line - Joe Turley delivered the resulting free kick to the centre front edge of the Kidlington 6-yard box where ZAC GUINAN rose to head inside the left post for his second goal in two matches. 1-0.
At the mid-point of the half Christopher supplied Irving who cut inside from the right corner to deliver a dangerous cross towards the far-left post – but just too long for an incoming Shepherd to reach it.
It wasn’t long before the home side were back again as Irving played another pass to his left from the right corner for a supporting Lewis to collect near the centre front edge of the Kidlington box but instead of shooting he slipped it left to Jordan Morris as he burst into the box to cross – the ball took a deflection and looped to the far post where it was cleared to Shepherd on the edge of the box, right channel, and instantly fired at the target – blocked and cleared to Jake Lee, a little further out, and he struck a fierce shot that was wide of the far-left post.
The visitors were awarded a couple of free kicks at this point – Daniel Comer sent the first from the right flank, half way, into the mix and when it was headed away it was quickly fired over the bar, the second from the left flank was headed clear by Nelmes.
As the interval approached Morris popped up on the right flank and cut left to shoot over the bar.
A couple of minutes later Dunton intercepted a pass inside his own half and galloped down the left channel before slipping the ball to Irving who continued the run to the by-line and this resulted in a corner kick that was cleared at the back post to Nelmes but the resulting cross from the corner resulted in a goal-kick.
It had been a ‘scrappy’ half of ‘bits and pieces’ but there were signs of the teams settling – roll on the second half.
Half Time: 1-0
Cirencester started the second period positively as the ball was worked to the left corner for Morris to cross to Guinan but his header was defended and cleared.
Almost immediately, as Kidlington broke down their left channel, play was brought to a temporary halt when a strong challenge from Shepherd knocked Bradley Walton off his feet – a Yellow Card being awarded to the Cirencester player. The resulting free kick was sent to the edge of the home box and headed away for Matthew Cheetham to shoot over the bar.
Cirencester responded as the ball was worked down their right flank for Christopher to advance into the Kidlington box before firing wide of the far-left post.
The intensity of the game had definitely increased as seven minutes into the half Pierce McNamara dived into a challenge on half way to take out Dunton and he too received a Yellow Card. The free kick was delivered by Turley to the Penalty Spot where it was headed clear and worked to Guinan, near the right front corner of the visitor’s box, and he struck a fierce shot towards the top right corner of the goal – forcing Gorman to push it over his bar. The corner kick that followed was headed away at the near post but recycled and crossed towards the far-left post, eventually reaching Morris who fired over the target.
Cirencester were beginning to find their rhythm and a move down their right flank, started by Lee to Christopher, an exchange with Irving and a pass to Shepherd resulted in the latter firing narrowly over the bar from 25 yards.
Two minutes later the home side worked their left flank before crossing to the right for Shepherd’s shot to be blocked, quickly followed by efforts from Irving and Turley being blocked in the goalmouth.
Encouraged Cirencester pressed again as Morris reached the left by-line to send a low cross towards the near post where Guinan darted forward to poke it into the side netting.
The home side were soon back again as a Lewis cross from the right towards the far-left channel of the visitor’s box resulted in a corner kick that reached Nelmes but his shot was blocked on the line.
At this point the visitor’s made a couple of substitutions but the pressure continued – Shepherd to Guinan, left to Irving, left to Morris – cross blocked for a Cirencester throw-in in the left corner – resulting in a goal-kick.
A few minutes later Ryan Knight shot at the target from the edge of the home box but it was blocked and cleared by Nelmes.
A long ball from Dunton, to the centre front front edge of the Kidlington box, was then collected by Guinan and as he moved forward a very alert Gorman quickly advanced to dive at the young players feet to prevent further progress.
Cirencester were soon back again as the ball was worked from left to right for Irving to cross towards the far-left post where Guinan glanced a header narrowly wide of the post and shortly afterwards Jay Simpson entered the fray to reach the left by-line and ‘win’ a corner kick that bobbed about in front of the goal before Guinan headed towards the top left corner where Gorman pulled off a sensational close range, reflex save to keep it out.
Kidlington replied with a shot into the side netting from Knight before Cirencester worked the ball from right to left for Simpson to display some fast feet and trickery as he darted to the left by-line and when his cross was cleared it landed in an area just outside the visitor’s box that invited both Shepherd and Gorman to race towards it and from the resulting challenge the ball ‘squirted’ out for JAY SIMPSON to collect, near the left channel front edge of the Kidlington box, and he showed commendable composure to calmly control and tuck it into the vacant net. 2-0.
As the game drew to a close there was still time for Cirencester to work the ball down their right flank for Irving and Nick Peare to have shots blocked.
Full Time: 2-0
A very tough, combative first half as both sides fought for control but after the break Cirencester dominated possession but were made to work hard for their victory - with the visiting ‘keeper pulling off a number of fine saves, aided by a resilient Kidlington defence.
Attendance: 212 Referee: Mitchell Terry
Cirencester Town:
1. Alex Harris
2. Will Christopher
3. Ellis Dunton
4. Joe Turley
5. Jake Lee ©
6. Josh Nelmes
7. Joe Shepherd
8. Andy Lewis
9. Levi Irving
10. Zac Guinan 15
11. Jordan Morris
12. Jay Simpson (Jordan Morris-74mins) 85
14. Nick Peare (Josh Nelmes-87mins)
15. Kenneth Mills
16. Reegan Messenger (Joe Shepherd-85mins)
17. Nick Hancock
Kidlington FC:
1. Joseph Gorman
12. Tom Griffiths
17. Thomas Moore ©
8. Pierce McNamara
4. Matthew Cheetham
5. Daniel Comer
6. Samuel Jenkins
7. Connor Ferguson
9. Harry Whitehead
10. Bradley Walton
11. John Dennis
14. Connor Mattimore
15. Rhys Wells (Harry Whitehead-78mins)
16. George Cowmeadow
18. Ryan Knight (Connor Ferguson-62mins)
19. Piers Walton (Bradley Walton-62mins)