Cirencester Town FC
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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 League action, following their mid-week victory against Forest Green Rovers U23’s in the County Cup, with a home match against AFC Dunstable and after a ‘scrappy’ first half Cirencester scored an early goal in the second period to secure the points.
This match is the first between the two Clubs as the reverse fixture was postponed a couple of times during the recent inclement weather - it is now scheduled for Tuesday 14th March – KO 19.45 - and examination of the current positions and form of the sides before this fixture reveals that AFC Dunstable sat in 8th place in the league table with 36 points from 22 games played (Cirencester 6th place with 39 points from 25 games) whilst the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table had AFC Dunstable in 15th place with 4 points from their last 6 games and Cirencester 6th with 11 points. The visitors however have the second-best defensive record in the Division (only Berkhamsted’s is better).
Cirencester Manager, John Brough, was able to include Ellis Dunton in the starting eleven following his one match suspension (Joe Shepherd has another couple of games to serve). Aidan Bennett returned to the squad following his long absence due to a recent operation.
The visitors kicked-off with a strong wind blowing diagonally across the pitch making accurate passing a bit of a lottery and as the ball was played back to Sam McClelland he lost his footing so he had to hurriedly adjust the intended pass to retain possession as Levi Irving closed in – but it wasn’t for long as Cirencester pressed to the left corner before trying their right flank and back again for Irving to cross from the by-line but over the head of Nick Hancock who managed to recover and lay it back to Will Christopher who delivered a cross towards the right post where Reegan Messenger arrived to head wide of the target.
Another ball down the right channel was chased by Irving but McClelland was quickly across to intercept near the front edge of the Dunstable box.
The first threat on the Cirencester goal came after 18 minutes when Dunstable attacked down their right flank to ‘win’ a corner kick that the busy McClelland headed over from near the Penalty Spot.
At the mid-point of the half there was a period of head tennis and ‘launch-it’ football with neither side retaining possession but eventually Cirencester switched play from left to right for Hancock to shoot over the bar from 30 yards.
At the half-hour mark Max Hercules embarked on a run across the pitch – right to left – before slipping the ball through for an intended overlap from Gedeon Okito but the pass was too strong – goal-kick.
Five minutes later Irving collected a loose ball – right channel, 15 yards inside the Dunstable half – and immediately galloped towards the goal but as he approached the 6-yard box McClelland was across to block his path enabling ‘keeper Jamie Head to collect.
Into the final 5 minutes of the half and a long ball from Dunstable, down their right flank, was intercepted by Josh Nelmes who produced a clever piece of play as he headed the high-bouncing ball back over his would-be challenger to turn and collect and send down the Cirencester left flank.
A couple of minutes later Cirencester produced the best move of the match so far as they produced the crisp, short passing that the game needed – Christopher to Joe Turley, back to Jake Lee, forward to Turley, right to Christopher, left to Messenger, forward to Irving who moved into the visitor’s box and fired over the top right corner of the goal.
Dunstable responded with a long ball to the right channel front edge of the home box where a miss-kick enabled Hercules to collect and cut left to shoot with his left foot. Home custodian Alex Harris pushed it wide for a corner kick that was defended and cleared for a counter attack.
In the final minutes of the half Dunstable sent a couple of long balls into the home box but both were dealt with comfortably by Nelmes and Lee.
Half Time: 0-0
Almost immediately from the re-start Cirencester were awarded a free kick from their left channel, 10 yards inside the Dunstable half, that Christopher delivered to the right channel front edge of the visitor’s box where it was headed clear to be recycled as Andy Lewis controlled the ball on his chest before slipping it left to Irving who darted towards the left by-line before crossing. The cross clipped the face of the bar and deflected towards the right post but the follow-up cross went behind for a goal kick that was eventually recovered for Christopher to send a deep cross from the right corner to the back post and whilst it appeared that a defender had the last touch a goal kick was awarded.
During the next few minutes Dunstable pressed as Christian Tavernier had a shot blocked by Harris, followed by a free kick that Ryan Frater sent down the flank to the corner that ultimately led to Max Bustamante Macaire cutting left to the by-line before crossing to the back post where Ellis Dunton cleared it downfield to Irving who immediately embarked on a strong run down the left channel before slipping the ball left to Jordan Morris who took it to the side edge of the Dunstable box before crossing. His cross was tantalisingly close to Irving as he charged forward to the edge of the 6-yard box but no contact was made.
As Cirencester attacked down their right flank the visitors were awarded a throw-in but they lost possession and play was switched to the home sides left flank and on to Morris who slid a superb pass towards LEVI IRVING, further down the left channel – 20 yards from goal, and he instantly controlled the ball to slip it past the advancing Head and inside the far-right post. 1-0.
The goal meant that Dunstable had to push forward and an attack down their right flank resulted in a cross from Hercules and a corner kick from the right that Turley cleared at the near post. This was soon followed by a Dunton clearance to Irving and a strong run from Morris that was brought to an end at the edge of the Dunstable box when he was surrounded.
The visitors then made a double substitution and almost immediately Brett Longden embarked on a 30 yard run down their right channel before releasing to Hercules and his cross was blocked by Nelmes resulting in a corner kick that reached Frater who volleyed wide of the left post.
A couple of minutes later Aidan Bennett chased after what appeared to be a lost cause but his pressure yielded a corner kick from the left flank that was cleared down the visitors right flank and resulted in a free kick and a cross from Hercules that drifted out for a goal kick.
A few minutes later the busy Hercules was involved again as he delivered a cross-field pass, from right to left, to Bustamante Macaire who lost possession as he cut inside from the side edge of the home Penalty Area.
Shortly after the 75-minute mark Nick Peare headed the ball towards the centre front edge of the Dunstable box where Hancock produced an aerial back heel into the path of Messenger and his reaction toe poke towards the right post was saved by Head.
A minute later Dunton supplied Messenger who moved the ball on to Bennett for a charge down the left flank and a teasing cross from the corner that grazed the head of a fast-supporting Irving.
Into the final 10 minutes and Dunstable attacked down their left flank to Hercules and his cross was blocked for a corner kick that was cleared to be recycled back to Hercules who was now in the right channel, 15 yards inside the Cirencester half, but his cross towards the left post was headed clear by Lee.
As the 90-minute mark approached Dunstable pressed as both Hercules and Lucas Kirkpatrick had shots at goal – the former blocked and the latter saved by Harris.
Cirencester replied with a curling effort from Dunton that was wide of the far-right post and an Irving header that Head managed to parry for a corner kick that was recycled for Sergio Mills to strike a firm shot at the target from 30 yards that Head pushed wide for a Cirencester throw-in at the right corner.
Four minutes of ‘added-time’ followed and during this period Dunstable threw caution to the wind in an effort to get an equaliser and this led to some desperate defending and blocks inside the home Penalty Area but Cirencester were not to be denied their victory.
Full Time: 1-0
A tense game in difficult, windy conditions with too many long balls in the first half but after the interval Cirencester found the benefit of the short passing game in these conditions to open their account and despite a late rally from their visitors held on to secure the points.
Attendance: 154 Referee: Nathaniel Wormleighton
Cirencester Town:
1. Alex Harris
2. Will Christopher
3. Ellis Dunton
4. Joe Turley
5. Jake Lee ©
6. Josh Nelmes
7. Nick Hancock
8. Andy Lewis
9. Levi Irving 55
10. Reegan Messenger
11. Jordan Morris
12. Kenneth Mills (Nick Hancock-87mins)
14. Nick Peare (Andy Lewis-77mins)
15. Aidan Bennett (Jordan Morris-62mins)
16. James Mortimer-Jones
17. Kevin Sawyer (GK)
AFC Dunstable:
1. Jamie Head
2. Brett Longden
3. Gedeon Okito
4. Ryan Frater ©
5. Samuel McClelland
6. Aaron Austin
7. Max Hercules
8. Jordon Frederick
9. Arel Amu
10. Christian Tavernier
11. Max Bustamante Macaire
12. Taishan Griffith (Max Bustamante Macaire-80mins)
14. Louie Collier (Arel Amu-59mins)
15. Ben Farrell
16. Lucas Kirkpatrick (Aaron Austin-59mins)