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
Westbury United of the Southern League - Division 1 South were the latest visitors to The Corinium Stadium for a Pre-Season Friendly match and after an opening minute let-off it was The Centurions that went on to secure a comfortable victory.
The Cirencester squad is beginning to take shape and the personnel for this match had a familiar look about it, based on previous matches, although Jake Lee, Aidan Bennett and Harry Burns were unavailable.
Cirencester kicked-off playing towards The Arena end of the ground and almost immediately lost possession as Stradling intercepted a pass and charged down the right channel to the front edge of the home Penalty Area unhindered but as he entered the box he was confronted by the advancing Stuart Nelson and sent his shot wide of the right post.
The scare certainly woke Cirencester up and they responded to reach their right corner where they were awarded a corner kick that Joe Turley delivered to the far post for JOSH NELMES to outjump his opponents and powerfully head the ball into the net via the inside of the left post. 1-0.
What a start to a match!!
A minute later Nelmes was involved again, this time inside the home box, as he headed a free kick clear for a throw-in to Westbury in the left corner.
Both sides were moving the ball around quickly, from flank to flank, but as soon as it was moved forward possession was lost as illustrated when Nelson left his area to head the ball over a chasing opponent, collect and pass to Will Christopher to counter.
A couple of minutes later Nelson left his area again to win the ball and pass to Jonny Dennis who darted forward before passing to Nick Peare and he shot from 25 yards, left of centre – Westbury ‘keeper Hill making the save.
Cirencester were soon back again and this time a DAN GRIEVE effort took a deflection to finish in the back of the net. 2-0.
Two minutes later Cirencester made it three as another corner kick from the right reached JOSH NELMES at the back post and he powerfully headed it home – inside the far-right post. 3-0.
When Westbury responded they lost possession and the ball was quickly worked down the Cirencester right flank as Christopher and Luca Robinson combined to release Reegan Messenger to the side edge of the visitor’s box where he sent a cross through their Penalty Area.
At the mid-point of the half Westbury had another 1v1 situation as Demkiv latched onto the ball but shot wide of the right post from the edge of the box.
Play continued with the ball being moved about at pace but once it neared their opponents box progress ended although Cirencester did threaten more often and Grieve came close with a shot narrowly wide of the right post.
The final action of the half saw Walton supply an overlapping Bole slip the ball inside to Demkiv who moved right of the left front corner of the home box to shoot over the bar.
Half Time: 3-0
The second half began in similar fashion as in the opening five minutes Grieve fired over the bar and Bole reached the left corner to send a low cross towards the 6-yard box where Ellis Dunton intervened before Demkiv could reach it.
Leading up to the hour mark Cirencester produced some neat football as Turley released Messenger into the right channel of the Westbury box but his shot was blocked by Ellison and collected by ‘keeper Hill.
Another Cirencester attack down the right flank, during this period, was cleared to a supporting Turley who headed it on to Messenger and his instant left footed volley was just wide of the left post.
A couple of Westbury attacks followed but both were dealt with comfortably by the home defence.
Shortly afterwards Willem Pooley collected the ball near half way and slipped it to Charlie Johnson who moved forward and shot at the target with his right foot from 25 yards, left channel. His effort was parried by Hill and collected by CHARLIE McCRAE who drove it home from a narrow angle near the right by-line with his right foot. 4-0.
At the mid-point Ellison sent a superb 50-yard cross-field pass to Bole in the left corner but the threat petered out enabling Cirencester to counter as Robinson galloped down the right flank to cross from the by-line – caught by Hill at the near post.
A few minutes later as Westbury attacked the ball was lost and supplied to Peare who delivered a terrific curling pass, with the outside of his left foot, inside the Westbury fullback for Ollie Stevenson to chase, collect and run to the left channel of the Westbury Penalty Area where he delivered a left footed cross that reached Robinson as he supported in the right channel of the box. Luca Robinson fired at the target – blocked on the line but rebounded back to him for another shot that was also blocked on the line and cleared.
Westbury countered immediately and brought a fine low save from Ronnie Newberry at his right post and this was soon followed by some composed defending from Josh Seller as he evaded an incoming challenge.
Five minutes from time Ellison took a quick free kick to supply Bole in the left corner and his low cross was once again saved by Newberry at his right post.
As the game was drawing to a close Pooley supplied Robinson in the right corner and his cross was blocked for a corner kick that was cleared to Nelmes and the resulting cross was also cleared.
Full Time: 4-0.
An entertaining game played at a good pace with plenty of fluid football that should assist preparations for the new season.
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
Stuart Nelson (Ronnie Newberry 46), Will Christopher (Dan Hill 46), Charlie Johnson, Joe Turley ©, Josh Nelmes, Ellis Dunton (Josh Seller 70), Luca Robinson, Nick Peare, Dan Grieve (C.McCrae 62), Reegan Messenger (Willem Pooley 62), Jonny Dennis (Ollie Stevenson 70).
WESTBURY UNITED:
Hill, Hulbert, R.Bole, Hutchings, Stradling (McKay 59), Flippance (Starr 46), Walton (Biddiscombe 46), Demkiv, Ellison, Shanley, Griffiths (Adepitan 46).