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
Following four successive away matches, three league and one County Cup, The Centurions returned to The Corinium Stadium to host BIGGLESWADE FC and after taking an early lead the scores were level at the interval but mid-way into the second half they conceded another to lose their second home match of the season.
In terms of league positions and current form prior to the match – Biggleswade FC sat in 12th place in the league table with 16 points from 12 games played whilst Cirencester were in 4th place with 25 points from 16 games played. Based on current form the two sides are evenly matched as they have both secured 9 points from their last 6 games which places them, based on the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table, in 6th and 7th places respectively.
Last season this fixture resulted in a 4-1 victory for Cirencester whilst the reverse fixture was a 3-1 victory for Biggleswade FC.
Starting Eleven – The Cirencester Captain Jake Lee was back from his holiday and took his usual place alongside Nick Peare at the centre of the defence. Aidan Bennett filled the left back slot (having performed this role many times before during his long career with The Centurions) to give the defence a more settled look. Luca Robinson returned to the right wing and Harry Burns moved inside with Reegan Messenger taking a seat on the bench.
Cirencester kicked-off playing towards The Arena end of the ground in cold, misty conditions, which became thick fog late in the second half, and worked the ball to the right corner and back across the pitch to obtain a corner kick from the left that was successfully defended by Biggleswade.
During the first ten minutes the visitors barely had a kick as they sat back and soaked up the pressure by massing their defence to make it difficult for the home side to break through.
Eight minutes into the game Jake Lee switched play from right to left as he moved the ball across the back line to Aidan Bennett and he sent it down the left flank for Felix Miles to collect and cut inside to fire a firm shot at the target for keeper Tyler Josephs to parry for a corner kick.
The first sign of a threat from the visitors came in the 12th minute when Amaru Kaunda broke down the centre and fed Jack Dickerson, to his left, who galloped to the left side of the home box but his resulting cross was too long for the incoming support.
A minute later Cirencester worked the ball forward Bennett to Miles, right to Joe Turley, right to WILL CHRISTOPHER as he moved down the right channel before unleashing a fierce strike from 25 yards that swerved as it flew into the top right corner of the goal. 1-0.
A few minutes later Biggleswade were awarded a free kick, near the right front corner of the home box, 25 yards out, that Charlie Hayford fired towards the bottom right post where custodian Stuart Nelson dived to parry and then block the follow-up attempt.
Around the mid-point of the half Miles launched a free kick from the right flank towards the left post where Lee headed over the target.
A couple of minutes later Biggleswade attacked to the right corner and then recycled the ball to their left flank as George Wheler-Bailey collected it near half-way, moved forward and sent it back to an overlapping Michael Simpson who reached the right front corner of the home box and shot – parried by Nelson for a corner kick. When the kick was taken it reached Kaunda who had two efforts blocked near the right post by Nelson before it rebounded to the feet of GEORGE WHEELER-BAILEY, in line with the left post, 15 yards out, and he immediately fired at goal. The recovering Nelson managed to get a hand to it but couldn’t keep it out. 1-1.
In response Cirencester worked the ball from left to right via Miles, Will Pooley and Christopher to Luca Robinson who made ground to the corner where the threat ended but shortly afterwards Christopher supplied Ben Whitehead who turned and shot but his effort was part-blocked enabling Josephs to gather comfortably.
Cirencester continued to press and Biggleswade soaked it up and mounted counter attacks as the interval loomed and a Christopher cross from the right was flicked over the bar at the right post by Whitehead.
Half Time: 1-1
The visitors kicked-off the second half and as they came forward the ball was lost enabling Cirencester to counter down their right flank to be awarded a free kick near the right front corner of the Biggleswade box, 30 yards out. Felix Miles delivered the kick into the Penalty Area and a hurried clearance broke to the left channel of the box where Nick Peare back-pedalled and turned sharply to drive a left footed shot against the bottom of the left post – the ball rebounded across the face of the goal to the front edge of the 6-yard box where Lee fired over the bar.
Within minutes Cirencester were awarded another free kick from a similar position and this time it was cleared to be recycled to Christopher who fired a shot wide of the right post from 30 yards.
Eight minutes into the half and a Biggleswade counter resulted in Kaunda chasing the ball down the right channel before clipping his shot from 20 yards, over the advancing Nelson, but wide of the far-left post.
Cirencester replied as Robinson charged down the right flank to the corner and delivered a low cross towards the front edge of the 6-yard box where a supporting Pooley fired over the bar.
Just after the hour mark a Biggleswade cross-field pass found Simpson in space and he took the ball down the right flank towards the corner where the threat was cleared but soon returned as
Wheeler-Bailey collected and ran into the home box, right channel to the byline where a covering tackle from Nick Peare forced it out for a corner kick. Before the kick was taken the Referee awarded Peare with a second Yellow Card, followed by the obligatory Red Card, and Cirencester were reduced to ten men. The corner kick was headed over by Daniel Carey-Evans.
Two minutes later Biggleswade took full advantage of their extra man as a break involving Kaunda and Rio Martucci Bedingfield released GEORGE WHEELER-BAILEY into the home box and as the covering tackle came in from Lee he managed to poke the ball inside the right post. 1-2.
As Cirencester re-organised Biggleswade mounted a couple of attacks – Simpson to the right corner and Bedingfield to the right byline.
The home side then worked the ball down their left flank for Whitehead to shoot from the front corner of the box – but straight to Josephs.
A couple of minutes later Miles cut in from the left flank to the edge of the visitor’s box and struck a firm shot that clipped the top right corner of the woodwork.
As Biggleswade mounted another attack down the centre they were awarded a free kick, 20 yards out, that Lawrence Marsh struck against the ‘wall’ – rebounding over the bar.
Biggleswade were soon back again as Wheeler-Bailey combined with Bedingfield to release Jordan Stevenson who struck the right post.
Cirencester immediately made a couple of substitutions and they were quickly involved in the action as Nelson launched the ball to George Peare who moved it left for Jordan Morris to sprint to the left channel of the visitor’s box before sending a low cross towards the far-right post – corner kick.
Despite being a man down the home side were pressing forward at every opportunity and at the 85-minute mark Whitehead slipped the ball to George Peare who cut right along the front edge of the Biggleswade box before shooting – Josephs diving left to tip it wide of the target for a corner kick.
The final threat on a goal came from the visitors as Stevenson burst into the right channel of the home box to shoot with Nelson making yet another fine save to deny him whilst conceding a corner kick.
Full Time: 1-2
Biggleswade came with a game plan and carried it out – soaking up the pressure and countering quickly.
Cirencester worked hard but missed too many chances, whilst also striking the woodwork a couple of times, and the visitors took full advantage of their extra man for the final quarter.
Attendance: 141 Referee: James Hooper
Cirencester Town:
1. Stuart Nelson
2. Will Christopher 13
3. Aidan Bennett
4. Joe Turley
5. Jake Lee
6. Nick Peare
7. Luca Robinson
8. Harry Burns
9. Felix Miles
10. Ben Whitehead
11. Willem Pooley
12. Charlie McCrae
14. Daniel Hill
15. Reegan Messenger (Harry Burns-80mins)
16. Jordan Morris (Felix Miles-80mins)
17. George Peare (Willem Pooley-68mins)
BBIGGLESWADE FC:
1. Tyler Josephs
2. Michael Simpson
3. Jack Dickerson
4. Lawrence Marsh ©
5. Daniel Carey-Evans
6. Michael Fisher
7. Oliver Snaith
8. Rio Martucci Bedingfield
9. Amaru Kaunda
10. Charlie Hayford
11. George Wheeler-Bailey 27, 68
12. Jordan Stevenson (Oliver Snaith-61mins)
14. Oliver Pateman (Charlie Hayford-73mins)
15. Alexander Marsh