Cirencester Town FC
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The Centurions were on the road again as they made the long journey to the north of London for the return fixture against The Abbotts of Waltham Abbey and after a competitive game they returned with a point.
Examination of the current positions and form prior to the match revealed that Waltham Abbey were in 10th place in the league table with 33 points from 22 games played (Cirencester 6th with 38 points from 24 games) and 14th in the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table with 6 points (Cirencester 2nd with 13 points). The reverse fixture in October resulted in a 3-3 draw.
For this match Cirencester Manager, John Brough, had to make a number of changes as the suspensions from the dismissals against Barton Rovers took effect and with others unavailable the team sheet had a very different look compared to recent matches. Nick Hancock and Reegan Messenger replaced the suspended Ellis Dunton and Joe Shepherd respectively, whilst Nick Peare and Jordan Morris replaced the two Cheltenham Town loanees who are both injured. In addition, Tommy Anderson made a welcome return to the Club and took a seat on the bench for his first appearance of the season.
The visitors kicked off playing towards the Clubhouse end of the ‘Capershotts’ ground and immediately attacked to the left corner where the home side gained possession and worked it through the centre to their left flank but as the ball was sent down their left channel it was intercepted by Jake Lee who launched it over the Waltham backline for Levi Irving to chase. As the ball dropped just inside the home Penalty Area and bounced up Irving was onto it and attempted a lob over advancing ‘keeper Noah Phillips but it was wide of the far-left post.
A minute later Cirencester were awarded a free kick on their right flank that Will Christopher delivered into the corner where it was worked across the front edge of the home box as Irving and Jordan Morris combined to set up Andy Lewis for a left footed shot from a central position that Phillips pushed over his crossbar.
A very positive start from the visitors but a few minutes later the home side threatened as Richard Asamoah made a strong run down their right flank before moving the ball on to Ramiah Mills who had his cross blocked for a throw-in to Waltham half way down the flank. The throw was taken by Mills who launched it into the visitor’s box with the resultant aerial challenge requiring Ciren ‘keeper Alex Harris to push the ball over his crossbar. The corner kick was played short to Asamoah and his cross blocked by Lewis for another long throw from Mills that Harris punched clear for Joe Turley to send downfield where Irving released Morris for a run to the left corner that was defended by Mark Twumasi.
Cirencester maintained the pressure for the next few minutes as Phillips punched a corner kick away, caught a free kick and left his box to clear another attack.
Shortly before the 15-minute mark Waltham switched play from right to left but Junior Appiah’s cross from the by-line was cut out.
Back came Cirencester with Nick Peare sending a cross from the left corner over the home defence for Reegan Messenger to collect and cross from the right – defended. Within minutes Peare was involved again as he headed a free kick into the grateful arms of Phillips.
At the 20-minute mark a Cirencester corner kick from the right broke to Josh Nelmes just outside the area and he immediately lashed it high over the home bar.
Cirencester had enjoyed a dominant spell but at the mid-point of the half Declan Rydings drove the ball into the visitor’s box where Lee headed it clear for Nathaniel Orafu to collect and slip to Asamoah, right side edge of the box, and his cross was again headed away by Lee at the near post.
Back came Waltham as Phillips delivered a free kick from inside his own half to the left corner for Ben Baker to cross towards the near post where Mills headed wide of the post.
The visitors immediately pressed again with some neat football taking them to the edge of the home box where the ball was lost and shortly after the 30-minute mark Rydings sent a cross-field pass to Baker who worked his way inside before losing the ball.
Cirencester responded with another series of quick passes taking Morris to the left corner but Irving was unable to control the resulting header at the back post and it cleared the bar.
A free kick to Waltham was taken quickly and sent towards Asamoah, right side edge of the visitor’s box, but an alert Harris spotted the danger and darted forward to gather before the winger could reach it.
As the half was drawing to a close the home side defended another corner kick and survived as Nelmes sent a superb pass into the left channel of the box for Lewis to collect and slip to the near post where Messenger had his attempt on goal blocked.
Half Time: 0-0
Waltham also launched their kick-off to the left corner where Cirencester defended and sent it back down their right flank to the corner but that threat was soon dealt with by the home side.
Within minutes Cirencester were back again as Nelmes delivered a free kick from inside his half to the right side edge of the Penalty Area where Messenger headed towards goal and Peare attempted an overhead kick that was over the bar.
In reply Kieron Cathline sent the ball to the left corner and this resulted in another long throw from Mills into the Cirencester box that Lee headed out and shortly afterwards Phillips launched a clearance kick to half-way, left flank, where Baker produced a sublime piece of control, tight to the touchline, to control the ball and beat his marker in one move before cutting inside for a run that took him to the side edge of the Ciren box but his cross was cut-out by Lee.
At the hour mark Rydings cut right before moving the ball forward to Acea Laurent, near the centre front edge of the Ciren box, and he slipped the ball into the left channel of the box for Orafu to chase but as Harris advanced the touch was heavy and a goal-kick awarded.
The Ciren response was immediate as the ball was worked forward to Morris, left channel front edge of the home box, but his low shot was narrowly wide of the far-right post.
Almost immediately Baker collected the ball and cut inside from the left touchline to shoot from 25 yards – straight to the waiting Harris.
In this ‘end-to-end’ period the ball was soon at the other end of the pitch as Morris pressure led to a corner kick from the left flank and when Turley sent it into the ‘mix’ Phillips took it off the head of Messenger to launch a counter attack that quickly reached Laurent, centre - 30 yards out, and he moved it on to BEN BAKER who advanced from the right front corner of the Ciren box before driving his shot inside the far-left post. 1-0.
A minute later Waltham were back again as Mills won the ball and advanced into the right channel of the visitors Penalty Area before shooting well over the goal.
A Cirencester free kick was delivered into the home box where it was punched off the top of Morris’s head - leading to a throw-in that was cleared for the home side to mount an attack down their left flank as Mills laid it back to Baker before collecting the return pass in the left channel and shooting low towards the near post where Harris diverted it for a corner kick. The ball was recycled to Baker who had his shot blocked before it was returned again, right channel of the Ciren box, he then crossed towards Billy Holland but a miss-timed kick enabled Harris to collect.
Shortly after the mid-point of the half Cirencester introduced Tommy Anderson to the action – for his first appearance of the season – and he was quickly involved in the action as Nick Hancock delivered a raking pass from the left flank towards the far-right post where Anderson managed to head it back across goal for REEGAN MESSENGER to finish from a yard out. 1-1.
The enthusiastic Anderson was soon back again as he sent a low cross to the front edge of the home 6-yard box where it was cleared for some action at the other end of the pitch as Baker slipped the ball inside for Holland to collect and charge into the right channel of the Ciren box for a 1v1 with Harris that the ‘keeper diverted for a corner kick.
Into the final few minutes and Morris had a shot saved, Baker fired over the bar, a Twumasi shot was caught by Harris and Anderson had a run and shot that was wide of the right post but at the final whistle it remained all-square.
Full Time: 1-1
An eventful match with plenty of commitment from the players as both sides were going for the win and either side could have taken the 3 points based on the chances created.
Attendance: 168 Referee: Elliott Mayer
Waltham Abbey:
1. Noah Phillips
2. Mark Twumasi
3. Junior Appiah
4. Ross Helcke
5. Kieron Cathline
6. Edwin Mensah
7. Richard Asamoah
8. Declan Rydings ©
9. Ramiah Mills
10. Nathaniel Orafu
11. Benjamin Baker 64
12. Acea Laurent (Ross Helcke-46mins)
13. Jimmy Parker (GK)
14. Darnell Goather-Braithwaite (Nathaniel Orafu-83mins)
15. Godson Mongwele
16. Billy Holland (Ramiah Mills-68mins)
Cirencester Town:
1. Alex Harris
2. Will Christopher
3. Nick Hancock
4. Joe Turley
5. Jake Lee ©
6. Josh Nelmes
7. Reegan Messenger 72
8. Nick Peare
9. Levi Irving
10. Andrew Lewis
11. Jordan Morris
12. Thomas Anderson (Nick Peare-70mins)
14. Kenneth Mills
15. Tyreece Briscoe
16. James Mortimer-Jones
17. Kevin Sawyer (GK)