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 opening Southern League fixture of the 2023-24 Season took The Centurions to Hertfordshire to face KINGS LANGLEY and after conceding an early goal through a Penalty Kick the visitors recovered to secure a point with an 89th minute equaliser.
Kings Langley were relegated from the Premier Division at the end of last season and would be renewing their acquaintance with Cirencester Town as the sides previously met in the 2016-17 Season in the Premier Division when ‘The Kings’ recorded a 1-0 victory in both fixtures – with the one on the final day of the season at Kings Langley resulting in Cirencester being relegated as both sides needed to win to have any hope of surviving the drop - and for much of this game it looked like history was repeating itself in terms of the score-line until the late equaliser.
Cirencester Town Manager, John Brough, had to make changes to his back-line for this match as both his regular centre backs from last season were unavailable. He solved this problem by moving Ellis Dunton inside Will Christopher on the right whilst bringing in new recruits Charles Johnson and Dan Hill on the left. The modified backline took up their positions in front of ‘keeper Stuart Nelson – who has returned to the Club after leaving 20 years ago to have a successful Professional career. Other new faces making their Cirencester league debuts were Luca Robinson on the right flank and Harry Burns in midfield, and Jonny Dennis returning on the left.
Based on ‘Tweets’ from both Clubs during the match this was an end-to-end encounter with Cirencester conceding an early Penalty Kick that JERMAINE HOWE converted by driving the ball into the bottom left corner. 1-0.
Cirencester responded to the setback and threatened whilst Langley countered for a curling effort to be caught by keeper Stuart Nelson.
At the mid-point of the half a defensive mix-up in the Langley defence provided an opening for Luca Robinson but it was poked wide of the far post. Within minutes Cirencester were back as a Will Christopher cross from the right flank was headed back across goal by an incoming Jonny Dennis to be saved by ‘keeper Juliusz Pazio.
The Kings responded as Howe headed the ball down for Lorenzo Johnson to hit a low drive that Nelson saved.
On the stroke of half-time an Aidan Bennett drive was pushed over for a corner kick but it remained 1-0 at the interval.
Half Time: 1-0
Cirencester started the second period positively with a cross that fizzed through the home box without contact in the opening minutes and Langley replied as Nelson was called into action to save a firm header from Michael Gabblah whilst another header from Howe looped over the bar.
At the mid-point of the half Cheyce Grant created an opening for Langley but Nelson pulled off a point blank save to deny him.
During the final minutes Cirencester pressed and Langley battled to clear their lines but in the final minute the visitors finally broke through when NICK PEARE turned sharply to lash the ball into the net from a few yards.
Full Time: 1-1
The match was an entertaining and competitive encounter played on an excellent pitch.
Attendance: 160 Referee: Jordan Parkes
Kings Langley:
1. Juliusz Pazio
2. Shaun Keane
3. Kyran Henderson
4. Isaac Pedro
5. William Bishop
6. Jorell Johnson
7. Lorenzo Johnson
8. Samuel Murphy
9. Jermaine Howe 5p
10. Sonny French
11. Cheyce Grant
12. Michael Gabblah (Kyran Henderson-51mins)
13. Alex Tokarczyk (GK)
14. Frederick Buers (Lorenzo Johnson-80mins)
15. Rayan Clarke
16. Louie Collier (Cheyce Grant-69mins)
Cirencester Town:
1. Stuart Nelson
2. Will Christopher
3. Dan Hill
4. Joe Turley ©
5. Ellis Dunton
6. Charles Johnson
7. Luca Robinson
8. Reegan Messenger
9. Aidan Bennett
10. Harry Burns
11. Jonny Dennis
12. Daniel Grieve (Dan Hill-68mins)
14. Charlie McCrae (Luca Robinson-79mins)
15. Nick Peare (Reegan Messenger-68mins) 89
16. Willem Pooley
17. Ronnie Newberry (GK)