Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
32.jpg)
Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire was the destination for The Centurions for a mid-week league fixture against newly promoted Leighton Town – formerly of the Spartan South Midlands Premier Division – and after a hard-fought match honours and points were shared.
In terms of current form and league placings - prior to the match Leighton sat in 3rd place in the Division 1 Central table with 10 points from 5 games played and Cirencester 4th place with 9 points from 6 games played so a well balanced match was anticipated - and so it proved.
Cirencester Town Manager, Jon Brough, made a couple of changes from the team that obtained a 1-1 draw against Welwyn Garden City on Saturday - Will Christopher returned to the right back berth with Ellis Dunton moving back to the centre of defence alongside Jake Lee, Nick Peare replaced the injured Joe Turley, Roger James moved to right wing in place of Luca Robinson and Aidan Bennett took up the central striker role.
The Centurions kicked-off in perfect conditions as some earlier rain had produced a slick surface on a well-presented pitch – conducive to fast, passing football – and from the off they attacked their hosts who responded in like manner as both sides attacked down their right flanks.
It soon became evident that this was to be a quick attack and counter-attack sort of game as neither side retained the ball for long such was the frantic nature due to the commitment on display – there was little time to dwell or pick a pass before an opponent was making a challenge.
Despite several sortied at each end of the pitch it was ten minutes before a ‘keeper was called into action – Cirencester’s Stuart Nelson catching a Finlay Brennan cross and two minutes later Roger James firing a snap shot narrowly wide of the home goal’s left post.
Within minutes Cirencester worked the ball from left to right, Charlie McCrae inside to Nick Peare, on through Reegan Messenger to the right-side edge of the home box where James fired just over the top left corner of the home goal. The reply from Leighton was immediate as James Sage launched the ball to the left corner for Brennan to chase and following a throw-in the ball reached the edge of the Cirencester box where Brennan shot over the bar.
As the half-hour mark approached a James cross was sliced over his crossbar by a defender but the resulting corner kick was defended.
Two minutes, either side of the 40-minute mark, Harry Burns delivered a low cross from the left-side edge of the home box to Messenger who shot over the bar from near the Penalty Spot and this was followed by James intercepting a cross-field pass and sliding the ball down the right channel to Aidan Bennett who turned and worked his way towards the right post before poking the ball wide of the left post.
At the 45-minute mark a Brennan cross along the front edge of the Cirencester box was acrobatically cleared by an overhead kick from Nick Peare and in the process there was some contact with an opponent and this raised the temperature of the match as minutes later another Cirencester challenge resulted in a melee before a Yellow Card was issued.
Half Time: 0-0
Within a couple of minutes of the re-start Leighton were pressing down their right flank and after a throw-in towards the right post had been cleared Sebastian Simpson, left channel – 25 yards out, struck a firm low drive towards the bottom left corner of the goal to see Nelson dive across and push it wide for a corner kick.
Moments later Leighton launched the ball down the right channel and as it was dropping Ellis Dunton, back-pedalling sideways, managed to keep his eye on the ball and an inrushing opponent to back-head it inside for Jake Lee to start a counter attack.
As Cirencester worked the ball forward to Peare he surprised everyone with a fierce strike from 35-yards, left channel, that home ‘keeper Xavier Comas Leon managed to push wide of his goal for George Joyce to complete the clearance.
Shortly before the hour-mark McCrae began a run down the left channel and as he neared the box he struck his shot towards the top left corner where the ‘keeper tipped it over his bar.
On the hour McCrae crossed the ball to the far-right post where James volleyed it goalwards – blocked but recovered for a left footed shot that was also blocked.
As the home side worked the ball down the centre they were awarded a free kick that was slipped right to Ben Farrell and he struck a low, strong shot from 30 yards but Nelson was in position to save.
A few minutes later Louie Barrett was released to the right corner by Joyce and his low cross passed wide of the far post and as Leighton attacked again down their right channel Burns won the ball 10-yards inside his own half and spotted James in space on the Cirencester right flank. Without hesitating he launched a superb cross-field pass behind the advanced home back line into space for James to charge forward, collect and continue to the edge of the home box for a 1v1 with Leon but he blasted his shot over the bar.
As Cirencester pressed again around the mid-point of the half Charlie Johnson received the ball near the left front corner of the home box and struck a right-footed shot wide of the far-right post.
Leighton responded as Charlie Pattison supplied Barrett and he made ground before shooting but his effort was blocked and the follow-up cleared.
Around the 75-minute mark Leighton pressed again and were awarded a corner kick that required some desperate defending from Cirencester to keep them out.
During the next ten minutes Albie Hall attempted a couple of snap shots but they were both wide of the target and into the final five scheduled minutes the home ‘keeper was called into action as Will Christopher intercepted near half-way, right flank, charged forward and slipped the ball inside for Josh Nelmes to shoot, parried and cleared but recycled for Burns to shoot – pushed over the bar for a corner kick.
The game was now in ‘added-time’ and nerves were stretched as both sides were still looking for the win but worried about conceding a late goal – with balls disappearing off the pitch at a rate of knots.
Deep into added-time a Hall header was caught by a well-positioned Nelson and a shot from Rory Busby was blocked with the follow-up blazed over the bar.
Full Time: 0-0
Whilst the score-line might suggest a dull match it was far from that as there was plenty of goalmouth action and two keepers who made several spectacular saves behind solid defences.
Attendance: 223 Referee: Fadi Mansour
Leighton Town:
1. Xavier Comas Leon
2. George Joyce
3. James Sage ©
4. Ben Farrell
5. Luke Pyman
6. Alfie Powell
7. Louie Barrett
8. Sebastian Simpson
9. Jake Watkinson
10. Charlie Pattison
11. Finlay Brennan
12. Jack Sayell
13. Karl Daley (GK)
14. Rory Busby (Charlie Pattison-86mins)
15. Lee Cooksey
17. Albie Hall (Louie Barrett-75mins)
Cirencester Town:
1. Stuart Nelson
2. Will Christopher
3. Charlie Johnson
4. Nick Peare
5. Jake Lee ©
6. Ellis Dunton
7. Roger James
8. Reegan Messenger
9. Aidan Bennett
10. Harry Burns
11. Charlie McCrae
12. Dan Grieve (Charlie McCrae-77mins)
14. Luca Robinson (Roger James-67mins)
15. Willem Pooley
16. Josh Nelmes (Nick Peare-67mins)
17. Ronnie Newberry (GK)