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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Match report by Dave Pyzer
Bristol City’s impressive training facility was the venue for this Gloucestershire Senior Challenge Cup Quarter Final fixture against Bristol City U23’s and faced with a youthful side that consisted predominately of their U18 players Cirencester took the opportunity to rest a number of senior players and introduce five of our Development Team (U17’s) to First Team action.
Cirencester kicked-off in pouring rain that continued all evening but almost immediately lost the ball for a counter attack down City’s left flank to the corner where they also lost possession for Andy Lewis to launch it down the visitor’s right channel. The ball landed inside the home half and
bounced over a defender for AIDAN BENNETT to collect and charge towards the Penalty Area and once there he fired it inside the far-left post to score in the opening minute. 0-1.
Undaunted the hosts responded to attack down their right flank as Billy Phillips reached the by-line to cross shortly followed by Kai Churchley crossing into the box from the same flank but Lewis was well positioned to deal with both threats.
Almost immediately City were back again as Churchley slipped the ball to Phillips who cut left as he dribbled into the Penalty Area where he was quickly surrounded and the ball broke to Ephraim Yeboah who shot at goal – ‘keeper Kevin Sawyer parried his effort and the ball was cleared.
After surviving this period of pressure Cirencester mounted an attack of their own with some neat play down their right flank that ended in a goal-kick.
Shortly before the mid-point of the half as Cirencester tried their left flank the ball was played up to debutant Ollie Stevenson, tight to the touchline - on half-way, and as he headed the ball he was challenged and crashed into the perimeter barrier resulting in a painful injury to his hand that both Clubs Physio’s and an attending Para-Medic responded to.
Ollie is due to have surgery today (Wednesday) and we wish him a speedy recovery.
He was replaced by Willem Pooley, another debutant from the Development Team.
At the mid-point Sergio Mills received the ball, left front-corner of the home box, cut right and shot towards the left post and this brought a fine save from ‘keeper Joe Duncan that resulted in a corner kick that he also saved and sent down their right flank where moments later Churchley fired wide of the far-left post.
As Churchley tried again he exchanged passes with Callum Hutton to reach the right corner where debutant Kian McNally did well to deal with the threat.
Cirencester responded with a couple of attacks, one a long ball and the other good approach play, that reached the Penalty Area but failed to trouble the home defence unduly.
City replied as Marley Rose sent a free kick through the Cirencester 6-yard box without contact before evading a couple of challenges on the right by-line to send a low cross into the ‘mix’ where a deflection enabled Sawyer to collect.
At this stage City were pressing hard as Isaac Richards clipped the ball towards the Penalty Spot leading to a scramble before it was cleared.
A few minutes later there was an incident on the touchline, as a throw-in was awarded, that resulted in a Red Card being shown to a City player by the Referee, James Tewson, who was well placed a few yards from the contact.
Despite being reduced to ten men City attacked to the right corner again shortly afterwards and debutant Josh Seller produced some composed defending to deal with the threat.
In reply Will Christopher delivered a superb free kick from the visitor’s right channel to the far-left post where Reegan Messenger headed wide of the target.
As the interval loomed Phillips collected a terrific pass down their left channel to enter the Cirencester box but his shot was parried by Sawyer and cleared.
Three minutes into added-time Hutton sent a superb cross-field pass from the right flank towards the left corner where a defensive header resulted in a corner kick that Rose took and was eventually recycled to him. As he cut inside from the flank he fired a low shot past the far-right post.
Half Time: 0-1
The home side started the second half positively as Max Davies supplied Phillips who switched play to their right flank for a ball to Churchley and his firm shot from the edge of the visitors box was parried by Sawyer.
Cirencester responded by working the ball down their right flank but the ball was lost for City to counter as Rose fired past the far-left post before releasing Hutton who cut inside and his shot was deemed to have been deflected for a corner kick from the left flank.
Before the corner kick was taken Cirencester changed ‘keepers, Alex Harris replacing Sawyer, and his first involvement was to defend the corner kick. Rose delivered the ball into the ‘mix’ at the edge of the 6-yard box and it bobbed about before hitting the cross-bar and as it dropped BILLY PHILLIPS was quickest to react and prod into the net. 1-1.
As the hour mark approached Hutton sent the ball down their right flank to Churchley who crossed from the right corner for Phillips to volley over the bar.
The visitors replied as Nick Peare slipped the ball to Bennett, left to Mills, inside to Peare, down the channel for Mills to collect and cross from the left corner but too long and the threat was cleared.
The game became ‘end-to-end’ and a long ball down the centre was chased by Bennett into the home box but the bounce enabled Jed Meerholz to get back and clear near the Penalty Spot.
Shortly after the mid-point of the half City were reduced to nine men as a comment to the Referee resulted in the offender being ‘Sin-Binned’ for ten minutes.
During the next ten minutes Christopher fired wide of the right post and McNally delivered a free kick to the back post from the left flank where Messenger just failed to make contact.
Into added-time Churchley curled a shot from the left flank wide of the right post and with a ‘Penalty Shoot-Out’ looming Phillips cut right from the left front corner of the visitor’s box to shoot – saved by Harris but recycled to their right flank for BRANDON BAK to strike a firm shot inside the far-left post to win it for City.
Full Time: 2-1
A competitive game, played in awful conditions, with the City youngsters sticking to their task to play their passing brand of football and despite the setbacks getting the result.
The Cirencester youngsters all contributed at various points in the match and will hopefully have enjoyed their first outing with the First Team whilst experiencing the level required.
Attendance: ??? Referee: James Tewson
Bristol City U23’s:
1. Joe Duncan
2. Marley Rose
3. Taine Anderson
4. Callum Hewlett
5. Josh Campbell-Slowey
6. Jed Meerholz
7. Callum Hutton
8. Isaac Richards
9. Ephraim Yeboah
10. Kai Churchley ©
15. Billy Phillips 53
11. Zac King-Phillips
12. Max Davies
13. Sam West (GK)
14. Brandon Bak 90+3
16. Ruebin Sheppard
Cirencester Town:
1. Kevin Sawyer
2. Will Christopher
3. Kian McNally
4. Nick Peare
5. Andy Lewis
6. Josh Seller
7. Sergio Mills
8. Reegan Messenger ©
9. Aidan Bennett 1
10. Oakley James
11. Oliver Stevenson
12. Willem Pooley (Oliver Stevenson-18mins)
14. Ellis Dunton
15. Josh Nelmes
16. Nick Hancock (Aidan Bennett-71mins)
17. Alex Harris (GK) (Kevin Sawyer-52mins)