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
Cirencester made the comparatively short journey to Thame United and after a 3-week absence produced a solid performance against their talented opponents to bring back the 3-points on offer.
In terms of league positions and current form prior to the match – Thame United sat in 17th place in the league table with 12 points from 15 games played, whilst Cirencester were in 6th place with 25 points from 17games played. Based on current form Thame United have secured 6 points from their last 6 games and Cirencester 9 points which places them, based on the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table, in 16th and 8th places respectively.
Last season this fixture resulted in a 1-1 draw whilst the reverse fixture was 2-1 victory for Thame United.
Starting Eleven – Cirencester had a couple of changes to their starting eleven, when compared with their last match 3-weeks ago against Biggleswade FC, as Cameron Walters replaced the suspended Nick Peare alongside Jake Lee in the centre of the defence and George Peare returned in a central striking role alongside Ben Whitehead - with Willem Pooley taking a seat on the bench to accommodate this change.
The hard-working Pooley was joined on the bench by Jonny Dennis and Jordan Morris (returning after long term injuries), Reegan Messenger and Charlie McCrae.
The visitors kicked-off proceedings on a cold, blustery day and found the strong cross-wind difficult to deal with in the opening minutes but gradually began to work the ball forward with conviction.
Two minutes into the game Cirencester were awarded a free kick that Felix Miles delivered towards the Penalty Spot where, although George Peare got his head to it, the ball was cleared for a counter attack down their left channel and whilst the initial break was defended the home side were soon back to press to the left corner – eventually switching to their right flank as Jaydon Carbon supplied Oluwapelumi Maxwell who galloped to the corner to cross towards the back post where Harry Alexander fired over the bar.
The home side had started very positively and soon pressed again as Benjamin Kakembo chased after a long clearance to take the ball to the right-side edge of the Cirencester box – once there he weaved his way forward before crossing towards the Penalty Spot where Jake Lee dealt with the threat.
Cirencester had survived the early pressure and instigated a counter of their own as Ben Whitehead received the ball in the centre circle and immediately sent it out to the right flank for Peare to collect 30 yards from goal, and he delivered a deep cross to the left channel of the home box where Whitehead collected and laid it back to Miles. The initial cross was defended but recycled down the visitor’s right flank for Luca Robinson to take to the corner and cross from near the by-line. The ball reached Miles who cut right and struck a firm shot from 12 yards, right post, that ‘keeper Archie Davis did well to parry away from his goal - but into the path of GEORGE PEARE who immediately fired a low shot from the right channel, 15 yards out, inside the far-left post. 0-1.
Almost immediately Cirencester were back as Miles supplied Robinson who darted to the by-line – leading to a corner kick that was defended for a counter attack that provided Thame with a free kick near the left front corner of the visitor’s box. Eitel Moumi Goueth delivered the kick to the back post where custodian Stuart Nelson pushed it out for a corner kick that reached Finlay Murray who fired over.
Approaching the end of the first quarter Carbon fired over the bar from the right channel of the Cirencester box and Ben Whitehead darted forward to poke a Robinson cross wide of the right post from 6-yards.
Will Christopher then launched the ball down the right channel for Harry Burns to head on to Robinson who once again obtained a corner kick that Jake Lee headed into the mix around the Penalty Spot for Peare’s glancing header to be deflected for another corner kick that led to a counter attack as Kakembo charged forward to reach the box where Cameron Walters blocked his shot.
As Thame pressed again to the left corner the ball was played back towards half-way and Peare robbed his opponent of the ball and released Burns who sent Robinson to the right corner – another couple of corner kicks followed before Aidan Bennett switched play to the left corner where the hosts where awarded a free kick to ease the pressure.
During the final ten minutes of the half Thame pressed to win a couple of corner kicks but there were no further goals before the interval.
Half Time: 0-1
From the re-start Thame attacked to the left side-edge of the Cirencester box for the ball to be played back to Carbon and he sent it towards the Penalty Spot where Bennett nipped in to take it off the toe of Harry Alexander as he looked to collect.
Cirencester then attacked down their left channel as Whitehead was released into the home box and his shot blocked for a corner kick that Lee headed wide of the right post.
Shortly afterwards Thame were awarded a corner kick that was played short and eventually cleared but they were soon back as Carbon slipped the ball through for Kakembo to collect near the left front corner of the Cirencester box but he was quickly surrounded and the danger cleared
As the hour mark approached Whitehead played an instant volley-pass across the pitch on half-way, right to left, to Miles, ten yards inside the home half, and as he moved inside he was brought to ground resulting in a free kick that Miles delivered to the right post where Lee headed back across goal for GEORGE PEARE to tuck into the net from 8 yards. 0-2.
Cirencester pressed hard during the next five minutes as Burns had a couple of pots at goal from 25 yards – the first was safely collected by Davis and the second deflected to Whitehead who was adjudged to be offside.
Approaching the mid-point of the half Ezra Anthonio-Forde burst down the right channel to the edge of the Cirencester box where his progress was brought to a halt and a free kick awarded that Goueth drove into the ‘wall’.
A minute later the action was at the other end of the pitch as Bennett launched the ball towards the left corner where Miles gave chase to collect and cut inside to shoot – Davis parried his effort but wide of the incoming support so the danger was cleared.
As Thame countered Burns won the ball and released Whitehead into the Penalty Area where his shot was blocked and cleared for another counter that involved Tyler Lawson and Goueth before Murray fired over the bar from 25 yards.
The busy Whitehead was soon in the action again as he ran down the right touchline before slipping the ball inside to Robinson who sent a low cross to Peare at the far-left post – shot blocked but quickly recycled for him to head over.
Moments later Robinson reached the corner to deliver another low cross that Jordan Morris fired over at the back post.
As the game entered the final ten scheduled minutes Thame worked the ball into the Cirencester box as Forde and Maxwell combined on the right flank with a shot rebounding off the right post to be cleared.
During the final five minutes Lee cleared for Jonny Dennis to slip to Christopher who sent it down the right channel for Whitehead to collect and take into the home box – defended but recycled for Burns to charge to the side edge of the home box – corner kick, defended.
In the closing minutes Christopher and Dennis combined again for the former to supply Whitehead who moved out to the right corner before cutting back inside to shoot over the bar.
Full Time: 0-2
After a three-week absence a solid performance from The Centurions against talented opponents who produced some neat play.
It was also encouraging to see Jonny Dennis and Jordan Morris get some valuable minutes following their long-term injuries.
Attendance: 101 Referee: Jack Oxenham
Thame United:
1. Archie Davis
2. Oluwapelumi Maxwell
3. Oscar Lucey
4. Finlay Murray ©
5. Tyler Lawson
6. Elliot Kettle
7. Jayden Carbon
8. Eitel Moumi Goueth
9. Benjamin Kakembo
10. Harry Alexander
12 Ezra Anthonio-Forde
11. Josiah Bridgeman
14. Ryan Knight (Harry Alexander-55mins)
15. Harry Riley (Elliot Kettle-64mins)
16. Pierce McNamara (Eitel Moumi Goueth-77mins)
Cirencester Town:
1. Stuart Nelson
2. Will Christopher
3. Aidan Bennett
4. Joe Turley
5. Jake Lee ©
6. Cameron Walters
7. Luca Robinson
8. Harry Burns
9. George Peare 12, 58
10. Ben Whitehead
11. Felix Miles
12. Willem Pooley
14. Charlie McCrae
15. Reegan Messenger (Luca Robinson-77mins)
16. John Dennis (George Peare-77mins)
17. Jordan Morris (Felix Miles-70mins)