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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Click photo to view a slideshow of photos from the match
Match photos supplied by Graham Hill
Match report by Dave Pyzer
The first of the semi-finals for this limited entry competition had to be reversed, for reasons beyond the control of the organisers and Stonehouse Town, and as a result the match was played at The Corinium Stadium.
Once again Cirencester's squad consisted of regulars, former Development Team members and new faces looking to impress.
Stonehouse kicked off playing towards The Shed end of the ground but almost immediately they lost possession enabling Cirencester to mount an attack down their left flank to the corner but as their progress was halted they switched play to the right flank for Will Christopher to send a deep cross to the back post where an arriving Harry Burns headed over the target.
Stonehouse responded as Nick Humphreys crossed from their left corner to the far post where Dan Hill conceded a corner kick that Reegan Messenger headed clear.
A neat play from Stonehouse opened the scoring after 11 minutes as Luke Soule received the ball near halfway, turned smartly, and delivered a precise pass between two Cirencester defenders for CHRIS EARLE to collect and produce a composed finish, past an advancing Alex Avenell, as he reached the right channel of the Penalty Area. 1-0.
Three minutes later Cirencester were two down as a punt downfield from Stonehouse 'keeper DAN BRABHAM cleared the Cirencester back-line and skipped off the damp surface of the 3G pitch to bounce over the advanced Avenell into the net. 2-0.
Almost immediately Charlie McCrea cut in from the left corner to advance into the Stonehouse box but as he neared the goal his progress was halted as Brabham dived at his feet to collect the ball.
Cirencester were soon back again as Josh Nelmes had a left footed volley blocked, following a corner kick, and a firm strike from Burns was saved by Brabham before the mid-point of the half.
A few minutes later Brabham was in action again as he saved from DAN GRIEVE but shortly before the half-hour mark the striker received the ball on the left channel front edge of the Stonehouse box and calmly placed his shot inside the far-right post. 2-1.
After an ambitious long-range effort from Humphreys sailed over the Cirencester bar Grieve continued his duel with Brabham who saved his first header before a second glancing effort cleared the bar.
At this stage the Stonehouse 'keeper was certainly busy as he punched a free kick off the top of Jake Lee's head and collected a weak effort after another sustained period of pressure.
As the interval loomed Christopher delivered a dangerous cross from the right flank that passed through the Stonehouse box without contact despite diving efforts from Grieve and Messenger.
Following all this effort Cirencester equalised in bizarre circumstances when a low cross from Dan Hill on the left flank was deflected over Brabham for an OWN GOAL. 2-2.
Cirencester started the second half positively and within minutes Burns latched onto a loose ball, following a strong Messenger challenge, and played it up to Aidan Bennett who moved left on the edge of the Penalty Area before firing over the bar.
As the hour approached Alex Kibble made a break down the centre but his shot from 25 yards cleared the Cirencester bar.
Leading up to the mid-point of the half Hill slid the ball up to Grieve who rode a couple of challenges as he worked his way into the Stonehouse box but he was soon surrounded and his shot blocked.
This action was quickly followed by a couple of Burns crosses from the right corner - the second resulted in an attempted overhead effort from Messenger that was wide of the right post.
Cirencester were dominating possession and further efforts from Messenger and Nick Peare were saved and wide of the target respectively.
Ten minutes from the scheduled end of the game Peare struck a Cirencester free kick from 30 yards towards the top left corner with tremendous power but Brabham managed to divert it onto his cross-bar and the rebound was headed wide of the right post by an incoming Willem Pooley.
Shortly afterwards Stonehouse were awarded a free kick that was sent from the right flank to the far post where it was headed back across goal but a weak overhead followed for Avenell to collect the ball.
The final goalmouth action was the result of a Cirencester free kick from the right flank that Lee delivered to the left post where Grieve sent his half volley over the bar.
With the scores tied a Penalty Shoot-out followed.
Stonehouse took and converted the first spot-kick and Cirencester scored theirs, and this pattern continued with excellent Penalty Kicks until it was 9-9 and at the 10th attempt the Stonehouse kick was saved by Alex Avenell leaving Willem Pooley with the responsibility to bring it home for Cirencester and he duly obliged. 9-10.
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
Alex Avenell, Will Christopher, Dan Hill, Jake Lee ©, Josh Nelmes, Ellis Dunton (Nick Peare 56), Harry Burns (Willem Pooley 68), Reegan Messenger, Dan Grieve, Aidan Bennett, Charlie McRea (Ollie Stevenson 68).
Unused Substitutes:- Kian McNally, Josh Seller, James Mortimer-Jones.
STONEHOUSE TOWN:
Dan Brabham, Kieron Marks, Elliott King, Ryan Thwaite, Spencer Martin, Fin Rees, Thomas Palmer, Alex Kibble, Nick Humphreys, Luke Soule, Chris Earle, Rich Thwaite, Callum Radford, Josh Taylor, Joe Williams, Greg Beckett.