Cirencester Town FC
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Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
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High-flying WARE FC were the latest visitors to The Corinium Stadium and after a solid performance The Centurions took all 3 points - with the returning Cheltenham Town loanee Adulai Sambu recording his second hat-trick against them.
Prior to this match Ware sat in fourth place in the league table with 52 points from 29 games, and 8th in the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table with 10 points from their last 6 matches.
Cirencester had dropped to 9th place in the league table, following their recent defeats to Berkhamsted and AFC Dunstable, and remained on 45 points from their 29 games. In terms of form the defeats mentioned previously had dropped them to 9th as they had obtained 8 points from their last 6 games.
The return fixture in October had produced a seven-goal thriller with Cirencester winning 4-3 so another exciting match was in prospect.
Following the mid-week GFA Senior Challenge Cup Quarter Final defeat to Bristol City U23’s Cirencester reverted to their more usual line-up as the five ‘rested’ senior players returned.
In addition, Cheltenham Town’s Adulai Sambu has also returned for a very welcome second loan spell.
The visitors kicked-off proceedings, playing towards The Shed end of the ground with a strong cross-wind behind them, and immediately launched the ball towards their left corner where Liam Dulson collected and cut inside to shoot towards goal – deflected for a corner from their right flank that was defended and cleared.
For the next few minutes Cirencester worked the ball down their left flank with Adulai Sambu getting some early involvement. As all three attacks were thwarted Cirencester tried their right flank – Reegan Messenger played the ball up to Aidan Bennett and he ‘chested’ it into the path of a charging Joe Shepherd as he drove towards the Ware box before passing the ball left to Sambu but as he cut into the visitors Penalty Area the ball was lost.
As Ware mounted a counter attack the ball was sent down their right channel for Josh Nelmes to ‘pluck’ it out of the air with his right foot and lay off to Ellis Dunton who returned it down the left channel for Shepherd to head on to Sambu who reached the by-line to cross – blocked and a goal-kick awarded.
During this attack Ware Captain, Daniel Rumens, had dropped to the ground and the game was delayed for a little while as he received treatment.
A few minutes later a cross-field pass from Cirencester was intercepted by Theophilus Ofori and he quickly supplied Joe Dearman who reached the right by-line before crossing. His cross passed through the edge of the 6-yard box without contact before Jake Lee cleared the danger near the left post.
Cirencester then worked the ball down their right channel as Will Christopher supplied Bennett, neat control and turn, and on to Shepherd, left to Sambu followed by a period of possession until a ball into the box was collected by ‘keeper Frederick Burbidge.
Ware then countered as Richard Bryan galloped down the right flank before slipping the ball inside to Ofori who shot straight to ‘keeper Alex Harris from 25 yards and as Cirencester mounted another attack the ball was intercepted by Dulson who quickly supplied Ofori but this time his progress was halted by Lee.
As the mid-point of the half approached Dunton carried the ball forward, left channel, and it seemed to open up for him so he had a pot at goal from 25 yards, left channel, but it was safely caught by Burbidge.
Following a couple of attacks that were comfortably dealt with at each end of the pitch Cirencester were awarded a free kick on their left flank that was caught by the strong wind and as a result Burbidge was unable to collect so Rimmel Daniel had to head away from goal for Bryan to complete the clearance.
The visitors mounted a couple of attacks as Dulson made ground down their left flank but when Cirencester regained possession Messenger slid the ball to the edge of the Ware box where ADULAI SAMBU collected and under challenge he momentarily lost possession but it rebounded back into his path, and past an advancing Burbidge, for him to finish into the vacant net. 1-0.
During the next five minutes or so Ware responded to the setback as Dulson fed Adams who made a run to the left corner – lost for a Cirencester throw-in. They then had a free kick that Freddy Moncur delivered to the penalty Spot – headed out for a corner kick that Dearman curled past the far-left post and out of play for a goal-kick. This was soon followed by an attack involving Dulson, Christopher Arthur and Adams but this too was thwarted for Christopher to counter as he supplied Bennett who produced a terrific pass with the outside of his right foot that curled into the path of a charging Messenger to cross from the right corner. Burbidge dived from his line to cut-out the cross near the edge of his 6-yard box.
As the interval approached Bennett supplied Shepherd, charging down the centre, and he shot from 25 yards bringing a fine save from Burbidge at his left post for a corner kick. Joe Turley delivered the kick towards the Penalty Spot where Dunton half-volleyed it for Burbidge to collect at the second attempt.
As the half drew to a close an instant Turley shot was caught by Burbidge and Shepherd fired wide following a run down the centre.
Half Time: 1-0
Cirencester started the second half strongly as Lee sent the ball to the right corner and this led to a throw-in and a free kick to the home side. Joe Turley delivered the kick into the ‘mix’ near the Penalty Spot and when it was cleared both Sambu and Messenger had shots blocked.
They were soon back again as Turley played the ball to Dunton and he sent it down the left channel for Shepherd to lay-off into the path of Bennett, centre front edge of the box, and his strike was blocked and a goal kick awarded.
As Ware pressed Lewis won the ball just outside the home box and slipped it left to Dunton who then sent it down the left flank with the outside of his right foot for Bennett to collect but as he cut inside the ball was lost for another goal-kick.
Five minutes into the second half Moncur sent a Ware free kick towards the Penalty Spot where Lee headed away and another Cirencester attack followed as Bennett fed Sambu, to his right, and he shipped it on to Shepherd who reached the corner to cross. The clearance was collected by Christopher who fired over the bar.
More neat play followed from the home side with several players involved as they reached the centre front edge of the visitor’s box before it was cleared downfield for a Ware attack as Adams slipped the ball to Declan Nche who produced a sharp turn to shoot but once again Lee blocked the effort. It was collected by Ofori who skilfully reached the left by-line to gain a corner kick that Rimmel Daniel fired over the bar.
A few minutes later Sambu played the ball to Bennett in the right corner and he produced some nifty footwork to retain the ball and cross into the Ware box where Daniel headed away.
The pressure had been building on the Ware defence and a couple of minutes before the hour mark ADULAI SAMBU exchanged passes with Lewis on the edge of the box, took the return and shimmied down the right channel, and struck a low ‘cross-cum-shot’ towards the far left post but en-route it was deflected past Burbidge into the net. 2-0.
On the hour Lewis clipped the ball up to Messenger who controlled it on his chest before clipping it over an incoming opponent to collect and charge to the left corner where his progress was halted as Daniel came across to win the ball.
As Ware played the ball down their right flank Dunton darted forward to intercept and embark on a strong run down the touchline that took him through two challenges to reach the side edge of the Ware box where he laid the ball into the path of Sambu as he arrived, goal-side of the Penalty Spot. The young forward opened up his body to divert the ball towards the right post but it passed narrowly wide of the post.
A minute later however ADULAI SAMBU made amends as he cleverly controlled the ball on the left channel front edge of the Ware box before turning sharply and unleashing a fierce left footed strike that flew into the top left corner of the goal with Burbidge helpless. 3-0.
Shortly before the mid-point of the half as Cirencester pressed they were awarded a corner kick from their right flank that Josh Nelmes headed goalwards but it was cleared to Lee near the side edge of the box and he headed it to Turley who slipped it towards the corner. As Lee chased after it to cross, under pressure from an opponent, he crashed into the perimeter fencing, and given what happened to our Development Team player at Bristol City in mid-week this provoked a strong reaction from John Brough and he was issued with a Red Card.
Around the 75-minute mark Ware pushed forward for Joshua Williams to reach the right by-line and his low cross was met by Adams, near the Penalty Spot, but the resulting shot was blocked and cleared.
Ware spent the next few minutes working the ball across the pitch in search of an opening but Cirencester stood firm and countered as Lewis found Messenger who flicked it into the path of Bennett before charging to the left corner to collect the return and cross – corner kick. The kick was cleared for a counter attack that yielded two free kicks to the visitors but no breakthrough.
Into the final scheduled ten minutes and Cirencester were awarded a free kick near the right front corner of the Ware box – Nick Peare clipped the ball to the right of the Penalty Spot where a looping header struck the left post to be collected by Burbidge.
A minute later Sambu sent the ball down the right channel for Messenger to collect, turn and run into the visitors box but his firm strike was saved by an advancing Burbidge.
During the final minutes Dunton intercepted and fired over, and Bennett collected, turned and fired towards the right post where Burbidge saved but spilled the ball for Nick Hancock to challenge leading to a Yellow Card for the Ciren man.
At the end of the game Rumens sent the ball to the left corner for Ofori to win a corner kick that was defended and cleared by Nelmes and launched to Hancock but his cross was cut-out.
Full Time: 3-0
A determined, solid team performance from The Centurions who never let their high-flying opponents get into their stride and deserved the very important 3 points in their attempt to reach the ‘play-offs’.
Adulai Sambu continued where he left off in his first loan spell scoring goals - welcome back Adulai.
Attendance: 191 Referee: Thomas Kelly
Cirencester Town:
1. Alex Harris
2. Will Christopher
3. Ellis Dunton
4. Joe Turley
5. Jake Lee ©
6. Josh Nelmes
7. Reegan Messenger
8. Andy Lewis
9. Aidan Bennett
10. Joe Shepherd
11. Adulai Sambu 32, 58, 62
12. Kenneth Mills
14. Nick Peare (Joe Shepherd-82mins)
15. Nick Hancock (Adulai Sambu-88mins)
16. James Mortimer-Jones
17. Kevin Sawyer (GK)
Ware FC:
1. Frederick Burbidge
2. Richard Bryan
19. Christopher Arthur
4. Declan Nche
5. Rimmel Daniel
6. Daniel Rumens ©
7. Joe Dearman
8. Freddy Moncur
9. Brandon Adams
10. Theophilus Ofori
11. Liam Dulson
12. Joshua Williams (Liam Dulson-63mins)
14. Marcus Milner (Freddy Moncur-80mins)
15. Bailey Eden (Joe Dearman-80mins)
16. Monty Clark
17. Louis Rose