Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
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At the third time of asking, due to weather issues, Cirencester finally made the long journey across the country to face AFC Dunstable in a re-arranged mid-week league fixture and despite a battling performance returned empty handed as they conceded a Penalty Kick on the stroke of half-time and a second goal ten minutes after the interval.
Prior to the match AFC Dunstable sat in 11th place in the league table with 38 points from 27 games played whilst Cirencester were 8th with 45 points from 28 games. In terms of form the hosts for this evening’s game were in 19th place with only 2 points from their last 6 games whilst Cirencester had dropped to 10th due to recent results. The reverse fixture a month ago resulted in a narrow 1-0 victory for The Centurions.
There was a couple of changes to the starting eleven from the previous match against Berkhamsted as Levi Irving and Nick Hancock were both injured (the latter took a seat on the bench however) and although Joe Shepherd returned it was a depleted squad that visited AFC Dunstable with Jordan Morris also injured.
The visitors kicked off proceedings in pouring rain on a very cold evening and immediately attacked down their left flank but the move petered out as home ‘keeper Jamie Head was able to collect the ball.
The home side responded with a sharp multi-pass move down their left flank but this came to an end when the resulting cross from the side edge of the Cirencester box was cut-out by Will Christopher and cleared.
During the next ten minutes or so Cirencester pressed down both flanks - Andy Lewis fed Christopher who clipped the ball to the right corner for Joe Shepherd to collect and his cross was blocked for a corner kick that the home side defended.
Cirencester then worked the ball down the left channel for Nick Peare to shoot with the outside of his left foot narrowly wide of the right post from 25 yards.
Back to the right flank as Shepherd and Reegan Messenger combined for the former to fire at goal from 30 yards but a partial block enabled Head to make a comfortable catch.
Almost immediately Cirencester were awarded a free kick on their right flank and Peare sent it towards the Penalty Spot where Ellis Dunton arrived to head wide of the right post.
Cirencester continued to press and just after the mid-point of the half the ball was worked down their right flank for Lewis to send into the home box where it was cleared to be re-cycled to Aidan Bennett who shot from a central position, 25 yards from goal, and his effort was deflected over the bar onto the top of the net.
A little later Dunton embarked on a run down the left flank before exchanging passes with Shepherd and clipping the ball towards Bennett but Ryan Frater came across to head it behind for a corner kick that Peare headed and hooked over his shoulder but wide of the target.
Shortly afterwards the home side mounted an attack to the right corner that was initially repelled but eventually resulted in a corner kick from the right that was headed away by Dunton for Collier to collect, left channel – 30 yards from goal, and he embarked on an arcing, cross-field run that took him to the right corner. His resulting cross was caught by ‘keeper Alex Harris.
After another Cirencester attack reached Head the ball was worked down Dunstable’s right flank to the corner where Max Bustamante’s low cross from the by-line reached Collier, right of the Penalty Spot, but he blazed his effort over the bar.
The busy Collier was soon involved again however as he combined with Max Hercules before heading a cross from the right flank wide of the left post.
As the interval loomed the home side were pressing their visitors and a Hercules free kick from the left channel was sent towards the far right post where it was headed back across goal for Frater to volley at the target but a Cirencester player blocked his effort and a ‘handball’ appeal resulted in a Penalty Kick being awarded. LOUIE COLLIER stepped up and confidently struck his kick inside the right post as Harris dived in the opposite direction. 1-0.
Half Time: 1-0
Cirencester came out in positive mood after the break and in calmer weather conditions it took two minutes for Peare to shoot wide of the far-right post and a couple of minutes later Shepherd headed a Messenger cross to Head.
As the visitors pressed again the home defence cleared the ball down their left channel for Collier to chase, collect and charge towards the Cirencester box with his opposition in hot pursuit. As he entered the box he took on the shot forcing Harris to dive to his left to parry across the goal and a fast-supporting MAX BUSTAMANTE arrived to tuck it inside the empty goal. 2-0.
Despite this further setback, and with nothing to lose, Cirencester continued to push forward and a number of urgent clearances followed from Dunstable but with Collier often the outlet they were able to mount a threat as he tested Harris again following another run across the pitch.
At the mid-point of the half Hercules delivered a corner kick from their right flank to the far-post where Frater headed wide.
Cirencester replied by working the ball down the centre for Bennett to move on to Sergio Mills, right again to Christopher who had his cross blocked so the ball was worked to the left flank as Jake Lee sent a 50-yard pass from right to left for Dunton to volley across the front edge of the home 6-yard box – cleared.
As the 75-minute mark approached Collier broke free again to shoot from the edge of the visitors box and this brought a superb save from Harris as he tipped the effort onto the top left corner of the goal frame before gathering the rebound.
A minute later Harris launched a free kick to the far-right side edge of the home box where Shepherd headed towards the near post for Josh Nelmes to head goalwards and this brought about a fine save from Head as he tipped the effort over his crossbar. The resulting corner kick was headed over the bar.
During the remaining 15 minutes or so Cirencester continued to press and were awarded a number of corner kicks - and in the final minutes a Lewis free kick that was once again well saved by Head - but they couldn’t break through the stubborn, resolute home defence.
Full Time: 2-0
A hard-working performance from a depleted Cirencester side that never stopped trying and a determined performance from their hosts that demonstrated why they have the second-best defensive record in the division.
Attendance: 70 Referee: Luke Scott
AFC Dunstable:
1. Jamie Head
2. Taishan Griffith
3. Gedeon Okito
4. Ryan Frater ©
5. Samuel McClelland
6. Christian Tavernier
7. Max Hercules
8. Jordon Frederick
9. Max Bustamante Macaire 55
10. Louie Collier 44p
11. Aaron Austin
12. Arel Amu
13. Joshua Bowler (GK)
14. Luke Abraham
15. Zion Selassie-Yoseph
16. Luke Beckwith (Max Hercules-90+3mins)
Cirencester Town:
1. Alex Harris
2. Will Christopher
3. Ellis Dunton
4. Joe Turley
5. Jake Lee ©
6. Josh Nelmes
7. Reegan Messenger
8. Andrew Lewis
9. Aidan Bennett
10. Joe Shepherd
11. Nick Peare
12. Kenneth Mills (Nick Peare-65mins)
14. Nick Hancock
15. James Mortimer-Jones