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 Centurions made the long trip across the country to take on unbeaten Division One Central table-toppers BEDFORD TOWN and despite a battling performance they returned empty-handed.
In terms of league positions and current form prior to the match - the Division leaders had obtained 23 points from their 9 games to secure their top spot whilst Cirencester had 16 points from 10 games played to sit in 3rd place. The ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table had Bedford in 2nd place with 14 points and Cirencester in 5th place with 11 points - so a challenging game was in prospect.
On the player front former Cheltenham Town prospect Felix Miles has joined The Centurions and immediately came into the starting eleven on the left wing. There were a number of changes to the starting eleven – compared to last week’s league match against WARE FC - as Joe Turley (unavailable) and Reegan Messenger (suspended) were missing the game and Aidan Bennett was taking a seat on the bench.
New signing Felix Miles, Harry Burns (returning after injury) and 17-year-old Willem Pooley (making his first start in a league match for The Centurions) taking their places.
A welcome addition to the bench was that of Jordan Morris – returning after a 7-month absence due to the long-term injury he sustained towards the end of last season.
The Eyrie Stadium pitch looked to be in superb condition, despite the heavy rain of recent days, and as rain was not expected an interesting contest was in prospect – and so it proved.
The visitors kicked-off and immediately Nick Peare switched play from left to right for Luca Robinson to make his way to the corner where progress was halted and the ball worked down the home sides left flank – leading to a free kick on half-way that soon resulted in a free kick to Cirencester.
During the next few minutes Bedford worked the ball down their left flank for Louis Walsh to cut back inside from the side edge of the Cirencester box to shoot – ‘keeper Stuart Nelson making the block at his right post for the ball to be cleared and recycled for Ryan Blake to head-on to Adam Watkins who took it to the right side edge of the Cirencester box before cutting back and crossing towards the left channel of the box where it was cleared for Walsh to collect and shoot wide of the right post.
After a Cirencester attack had been repelled Bedford tried their right flank again as Blake carried the ball to the corner before laying it back to Jack Green who delivered it to the left of the Penalty Spot where Lynton Goss arrived to volley towards goal - Nelson completing a reaction block to deny him.
The home side had made a strong start as befits their current position and following another attack the ball was cleared to Felix Miles who made a positive run down the Cirencester left flank before it was brought to a halt and a free kick awarded to the visitors. The free kick was defended and cleared down the home sides right flank towards the corner for Goss to chase, gain possession and cut back to cross towards the back post where an incoming LOUIS WALSH arrived to drive it goalwards from 12 yards. Cirencester ‘keeper, Nelson, managed to get a block on the shot but couldn’t prevent it finishing in the back of the net. 1-0.
Cirencester responded to the setback as Miles and Peare combined a couple of times for the latter to deliver crosses towards the far-right post that were just too long for a team-mate to make contact.
Shortly after the mid-point of the half Peare played the ball down the centre for Harry Burns to collect, turn and carry forward before shooting wide of the left post from 30 yards.
Cirencester were growing into the game and at the 30-minute mark a neat passage of play, initially down their left flank, ensued – Peare exchanged passes with Charlie Johnson, forward to Willem Pooley, left to Miles, forward to Burns, right channel – 25 yards out, who turned and shot but his effort was blocked.
The hosts responded as a Watkins shot was deflected for a corner kick that was defended, recycled and punched clear by Nelson for Burns to start a counter – free kick to Cirencester.
A couple of minutes later Cirencester worked the ball down their right flank for Robinson to burst past a few opponents to reach the by-line – the resulting cross was deflected past the advancing custodian, Mark Smith, towards the centre of the empty goal where it bobbled as Miles attempted to bundle it over the line – clearing the bar in the process.
Undaunted Cirencester were soon back again as Will Christopher sent the ball to the right corner for Dan Grieve to chase and Shane Bush to come across and successfully clear down their left flank.
Minutes later Jake Lee embarked on a long run down the right channel as he exchanged passes with Christopher before moving the ball on to Robinson – his cross was deflected into the air to be punched away by Smith.
Shortly afterwards Watkins reached the right-side edge of the visitors Penalty Area and sent a low cross towards the front edge of the 6-yard box where Christopher intervened and Peare completed the clearance to start a counter attack that resulted in a free kick 10-yards inside the home half, left flank. Felix Miles took the kick and delivered it to the far post where Lee headed downwards forcing a save from Smith.
As the half was drawing to a close Cirencester pressed with Robinson making a couple of strong runs down the right flank – aided by Burns, Pooley, Christopher and Lee - soon to be followed by Grieve having his shot from 30 yards towards the left post parried by Smith before he gathered it in.
Half Time: 1-0
The first half had ended with both sides pushing forward and the second period began in like manner as Blake’s low cross was gathered by Nelson at his left post and Christopher’s cross proved to be too long after a Johnson run and pass to Miles had been worked across the pitch via Robinson to him.
Moments later Walsh laid the ball back from the left corner for Ben Spaul to supply Goss as he charged towards the left by-line to cross – gathered by Nelson.
Following a Cirencester free kick the home side countered to reach the right channel of the visitors box where Lee produced a superb tackle on Blake to end his progress.
Shortly before the hour mark Pooley won the ball in midfield and moved it on to Miles, left to Johnson who crossed towards the back post where Lewis Green headed clear for Cirencester to recycle via Robinson.
A cross-field pass from Johnson to Robinson soon followed as Cirencester pressed again but as Bedford worked it out of defence a strong Cirencester tackle resulted in a Yellow Card for the culprit.
A few minutes later Bedford increased their lead when Cirencester worked the ball across their back line, on the edge of their Penalty Area, for a pass to be intercepted by LOUIS WALSH who immediately darted forward and tucked the ball into the net as Nelson advanced towards him. 2-0.
Two minutes later Cirencester reduced the arrears as Pooley played the ball down the right flank for Grieve to touch past his marker to chase but the defender got there first and sent it back towards Smith. The resulting attempted clearance was collected and fed to debutant FELIX MILES who calmly fired it inside the right post from the edge of the home box. 2-1.
During the next ten minutes Bedford pressed and were rewarded with corner kicks as shots were deflected or blocked by the resolute Cirencester defence and during this period Christopher produced a couple of superbly timed tackles on Blake as he charged forward.
Into the final ten scheduled minutes and after Harry Crawford had cut along the front edge of the Cirencester box to shoot the ball was recycled to Jack Green who reached the right channel, 10-yards out, where Nelson attempting to block brought him to ground – Penalty Kick. RYAN BLAKE took the spot-kick and fired it towards the bottom left corner where Nelson got his hand to it but couldn’t prevent it crossing his goal-line. 3-1.
Despite this further setback Cirencester continued to push forward - a cross from Miles resulting in a firm header from Peare being blocked and a late cross from Christopher nearly reaching Aidan Bennett.
Full Time: 3-1
A battling performance from The Centurions who never gave up against their high-flying opponents.
Attendance: 455 Referee: Oliver Potter
Bedford Town:
1. Mark Smith
2. Jack Green
3. Lewis Green
4. Shane Bush
5. Alexander Collard ©
6. Benjamin Spaul
7. Ryan Blake 84p
8. Adam Watkins
9. Lynton Goss
10. Emmanuel Dahie
11. Louis Walsh 13, 63
12. Louie Johnson (Adam Watkins-87mins)
14. Jesse Akubuine (Emmanuel Dahie-77mins)
15. Harrison Crawford (Lynton Goss-81mins)
16. Darnell-Joe Luke
17. Albert Wood
Cirencester Town:
1. Stuart Nelson
2. Will Christopher
3. Charlie Johnson
4. Nick Peare
5. Jake Lee ©
6. Josh Nelmes
7. Luca Robinson
8. Willem Pooley
9. Dan Grieve
10. Harry Burns
11. Felix Miles 65
12. Charlie McCrae (Dan Grieve-77mins)
14. Aidan Bennett (Harry Burns-71mins)
15. Josh Seller
16. Jordan Morris
17. James Mortimer-Jones