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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The Pexhurst Stadium – the home of Welwyn Garden City - was the latest destination for The Centurions for a re-arranged league fixture (brought forward from December) and after a hard-fought battle it was all-square with the points shared.
When the two sides faced each other last season The Citizens recorded a 2-1 victory at The Corinium Stadium early in the season and The Centurions avenged this result with a 4-0 victory at The Pexhurst Stadium. Prior to this game the home side were in 17th place with 3 points from 4 games played whilst the visitors were in 6th place with 8 points from 5 games.
Following their 4-0 home victory over Kempston Rovers last week the Cirencester Town Manager, John Brough, had to make one enforced change to his starting line-up as Jonny Dennis suffered a hamstring strain early in that match and as a result Charlie McCrae took on the wide berth.
Cirencester kicked-off proceedings in perfect dry weather conditions for football, given the rain of recent days, and immediately worked the ball across the pitch to mount an attack down their right flank that was repelled and the ball launched down the pitch resulting in a throw-in for the hosts which was also summarily dealt with.
It was a busy opening few minutes as Bradley Wadkins crossed from the right corner for the hosts and Charlie McCrae reached the left by-line and his cross was cleared for a Cirencester throw-in that also provided another opportunity for McCrae to cross from the by-line – blocked and cleared.
During the next couple of minutes Cirencester pressed down their left flank as Charlie Johnson supplied Roger James and delivered a though ball to the left corner but both were dealt with by the home defence.
The Citizens responded as they mounted a couple of attacks to the right corner and from one of these Josh Nelmes launched his clearance down the left channel for Reegan Messenger to chase but Emmanuel Olagunju got there first to clear it for a throw-in to Cirencester that was recycled back to the corner by Nelmes for Harry Burns to collect and supply McCrae and eventually it was worked to James who delivered a cross-field pass to Luca Robinson and he struck an instant right footed volley past the left post from near the right front corner of the home box, 25 yards out.
Back came Welwyn as Bailey Stevenson slipped between his two markers to reach the left side edge of the visitor’s box but his cross was too heavy and cleared the crossbar.
As Cirencester worked the right flank Ellis Dunton supplied Robinson from a throw-in and he quickly turned and weaved his way into the home box where he was upended and a Penalty Kick awarded. Jake Lee stepped forward and struck his kick against the outside of the right post - although there was some suggestion that ‘keeper Donnabhan Green helped it on its way a goal kick was awarded.
Five minutes later after some Cirencester pressure another cross-field pass found Robinson and he galloped to the right-side edge of the home box before driving the ball towards the Penalty Spot where an incoming Messenger dived forward to head wide of the right post.
A couple of minutes later James worked his way from the centre to a similar position and crossed to the back post where CHARLIE McCRAE headed the ball downwards and inside the left post. The Referee consulted with his Assistant before confirming it had crossed the line despite the valiant attempts of Green to scoop it out. 0-1.
The Citizens responded well to the setback and pressed their visitors, who were restricted to a couple of counter attacks, and during this period Johnson was required to clear a Dernell Wynter effort from near his goal-line.
During the final few minutes of the half The Citizens pressed with another Wynter effort saved by ‘keeper Stuart Nelson, and Joe Turley and Dunton called upon to clear other dangerous crosses.
Half Time: 0-1
From the re-start Welwyn worked the ball to their left corner where the incoming cross was cleared by Lee and a couple of minutes later Dunton was released, for a run inside from the right touchline, and as he neared the home box he struck a fierce shot from 30 yards that rebounded off Green before he gathered it at the second attempt.
This was quickly followed by a cross-field pass from James to McCrae that resulted in a corner kick and a Burns header that was wide of the far-right post.
Cirencester had started the half positively and after, a Robinson cross had passed through the home box for a goal-kick and a James cross towards the Penalty Spot had resulted in Messenger being bundled as he tried to get on the end of it, the action was at the other end of the pitch. Dernell Wynter collected the ball near the right-side edge of the Cirencester box and laid it back to Wadkins who shimmied to create space before unleashing a firm strike that struck the bottom of the right post with the rebound being cleared.
The ball was immediately recycled to the left channel of the Cirencester box where Stevenson played it across the box for BRADLEY WADKINS to smash it into the top right corner from 15 yards, right channel. 1-1.
A period of ‘launch-it’ football followed before a Cirencester substitution that brought about the next major issue of this encounter as a pass down the centre of the pitch was collected by Aidan Bennett and as he set off towards the goal he was brought to ground – and with the culprit deemed to be the last man he was dismissed leaving the home side with ten men.
The home side made a change in their formation as Wadkins dropped a little deeper and James Mulley replaced Ethan Kessel.
Leading up to the mid-point of the half there were crosses at both ends of the pitch and at the 30-minute mark a fierce cross from Stevenson was caught by Nelson and one from Robinson was parried by Green with the follow-up from Bennett being blocked for a couple of corner kicks that were defended.
As Cirencester pressed again the ball was launched downfield for Stevenson to collect inside the visitor’s half and he turned and charged to the right by-line where his cross was blocked for a corner kick that was laid back to Henry Jones and his shot at the target was blocked by an onrushing Dunton.
As the 90-minute mark loomed Cirencester pressed as Johnson and Nick Peare delivered crosses into the home box and in added-time Peare fired wide of the right post from just outside of the home box, left channel.
The tension was mounting as Stevenson fired over the bar and a shoulder charge on a Welwyn player resulted in a late free kick that Peare cleared - but there was still time for a final flurry of activity as Bennett’s cross from the left side edge of the home box was cleared to Peare and he crossed it towards the Penalty Spot where a header was deflected onto his crossbar by Green, rebounding towards Robinson and his shot was blocked by a recovering Green – rebounding to Dunton, right channel of the box – 15 yards out, and his effort was blocked by an onrushing defender.
The final whistle followed and it was all over with the score-line tied.
Full Time: 1-1
A hard-fought game that was full of endeavour, commitment and chances that were not taken.
A draw was probably the correct result on the day.
Attendance: 111 Referee: Thomas Hood
Welwyn Garden City
1. Donnabhan Green
2. Zak Brown
3. Ryan Kirwan
4. James Kaloczi
5. Yasin Boodhoo ©
6. Emmanuel Olagunju
7. Dernell Wynter
8. Ruben Marquez
9. Bradley Wadkins 56
10. Bailey Stevenson
11. Ethan Kessel
12. Adam Pollock
14. James Mulley (Ethan Kessel-63mins)
15. David Martins
16. Joshua Steele
17. Henry Jones (Ruben Marquez-71mins)
Cirencester Town:
1. Stuart Nelson
2. Ellis Dunton
3. Charlie Johnson
4. Joe Turley
5. Jake Lee ©
6. Josh Nelmes
7. Luca Robinson
8. Reegan Messenger
9. Roger James
10. Harry Burns
11. Charlie McCrae 27
12. Dan Grieve (Harry Burns-73mins)
14. Aidan Bennett (Roger James-61mins)
15. Nick Peare (Joe Turley-82mins)
16. Willem Pooley
17. Will Christopher