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
As expected, the eagerly anticipated return fixture between the teams, who currently sit in 5th and 4th places in the league table respectively, produced a competitive match with plenty of goalmouth incident and commitment.
In terms of league positions and current form prior to the match – Waltham Abbey sat in 4th place in the league table with 35 points from 22 games played whilst Cirencester were in 5th place with 32 points from 21 games played.
Examination of the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table reveals that The Abbotts have secured 7 points and Cirencester 10 points from their last 6 games with Waltham Abbey sitting in 13th place and Cirencester 3nd place in the relevant table.
The reverse fixture, in late October, at the Capershotts Stadium resulted in a 1-0 victory for today’s visitors.
Starting Eleven – Manager, John Brough, made two enforced changes to the starting eleven, when compared to the last match against Kidlington a fortnight ago, as Aidan Bennett and Joe Turley are unavailable – the former due to an injury sustained in that match and the latter due to illness.
As a result, Jordan Morris makes his first start of the season at left back and John Dennis takes up a position on the wing with Reegan Messenger and Harry Burns expected to fulfil the role normally performed by Joe Turley in a slightly changed formation.
Willem Pooley, Luca Robinson and James Mortimer-Jones are joined in the dug-out by Charlie Johnson (following his recovery from an injury sustained in early November).
The home side kicked-off, playing towards The Arena end of the stadium, and Nick Peare immediately launched the ball towards the right corner where some clever footwork from Felix Miles resulted in a throw-in to Cirencester. After the initial threat was defended the ball was worked across the pitch to the left flank and corner with a goal kick the outcome – but a positive start from The Centurions.
A few minutes later the home side produced some neat quick passing football as they worked their way forward – Peare to Burns, laid off to Jake Lee, out to Jonny Dennis on the left flank who darted forward but the move petered out.
Shortly after Waltham Abbey mounted a brief attack to the left corner the home side worked the ball from right to left for Dennis to run to the left by-line where Babadi Kamara ended his progress.
Cirencester were soon back again for the visitors to relieve the pressure by launching the ball down the pitch for Aaron Eyoma to chase but at the 16 minute mark the tactic proved fruitful as when Cirencester pressed the ball was lost and immediately launched from 10 yards outside the visitors Penalty Area, right channel, to their left channel – 15 yards inside the Cirencester half where Jason Hallett instantly volleyed it further down the channel for NATHAN TWIN-KORANTENG to chase and collect just inside the home box before clipping it over the advancing Stuart Nelson and into the vacant net. 0-1.
Undeterred Cirencester continued to push forward and at the mid-point of the half they were rewarded as Lee slipped the ball to Will Christopher, left to Ben Whitehead who turned and charged to the centre of the pitch before shooting – deflected for a corner kick that Miles delivered into the area between Penalty Spot and 6-yard box where NICK PEARE rose to powerfully head against the underside of the crossbar. The ball rebounding down and into the net off the back of ‘keeper Bradley Robinson. 1-1.
The visitors responded to the setback as they mounted a couple of attacks down their right flank – Acea Laurent crossing to the back post (defended) and Benjamin Baker pulling the ball back from the corner to supply Eyoma who sent his cross behind the goal. This was soon followed by a 50-yard cross-field pass from Twin-Koranteng to the same corner for Baker to collect and the home side defend.
Shortly afterwards The Abbotts reached the corner again after a throw-in fed Hallett who fired over the bar from the right channel front edge of the Cirencester box.
At this stage the game was much more open with both sides having a go and following a Waltham attack Peare supplied Jordan Morris who darted to the left corner to cross for an incoming Whitehead to collect but his shot was comfortably saved by Robinson.
The busy Eyoma then charged down the visitors left channel to the edge of the home box but his cross was intercepted by Morris who set a counter attack in motion and shortly afterwards Morris sent a deep cross to the back post where Robinson collected.
Almost immediately George Peare made a break into the Waltham box that led to a corner kick from the left and once again Miles delivered it into the ‘mix’ where a scramble ensued – Nick Peare, Reegan Messenger had efforts blocked on the goal-line but BEN WHITEHEAD managed to force it over the line to give Cirencester the lead. 2-1.
The final few minutes of the half were frantic with Cirencester appealing for a Penalty Kick when Whitehead was brought to ground but the well positioned Referee disagreed.
Half Time: 2-1
Within two minutes of the re-start Messenger had a trial run for a later effort as he was in position to collect a clearance and instantly volley it from 25 yards – just over the bar.
Cirencester were clearly up for the contest as they mounted a couple of attacks to the right corner within the first five minutes of the half commencing – Whitehead and Christopher combining and a Miles free kick that was saved by Robinson.
When Waltham responded to their right corner Messenger was once again in position to head forward to Harry Burns who in turn headed on to George Peare who slipped it to Miles for a charge down the right flank with Abdulmojeed Shogbeni coming across to prevent further progress.
Another Cirencester attack saw Miles deliver a cross towards the Penalty Spot but just too far in front of Whitehead for him to collect.
The visitors replied with a neat passage of play as they worked the ball forward down their right flank and when the ball was lost Cirencester quickly countered as BEN WHITEHEAD received the ball 25 yards out, left channel, before bursting into the box to carry it to within a few yards of the left post and as Robinson and Asher Silverman came across to cover the post he cleverly lifted the ball up and between them, from the narrowest of angles, to enter the net inside the far-right post. 3-1.
A couple of substitutions soon followed and shortly after the hour mark Morris released Miles for a run towards the left post where another scramble followed and a Whitehead shot was blocked.
Around the mid-point of the half a low Luca Robinson cross from the right by-line passed through the 6-yard box untouched despite the best efforts of Whitehead to get on the end of it and this was quickly followed by Burns firing wide of the right post following another Miles run.
As Cirencester attacked again Robinson reached the right corner before passing the ball inside to Whitehead who had his shot blocked and cleared, knocking a supporting Messenger over in the process, with the ball rebounding to Willem Pooley, near the Penalty Spot, and his shot was deflected for a corner kick that was successfully defended.
Another Miles burst soon followed but Kamara won the ball and sent it down his flank to Prince Domafriyie who performed a clever flick to release Baker for a run down the right flank and his cross from the corner was collected by Twin-Koranteng who shot wide of the far-right post from a position near the left front corner of the home box.
Whilst Cirencester were dominating possession the visitors were still dangerous on the break but as the game approached the final five scheduled minutes Cirencester mounted a quick counter as Whitehead moved the ball out to the left flank for Miles to collect and as he reached the front edge of the visitor’s box he cut right, but seeing his way blocked he slipped the ball to Whitehead who cut back towards him but was fouled – Penalty Kick. FELIX MILES stepped forward and struck a fierce kick inside the left post as Robinson dived in the opposite direction. 4-1.
Following a couple of corner kicks to the hosts Declan Rydings galloped from half-way to the right by-line where the returning Charlie Johnson covered to concede a corner kick that reached Twin-Koranteng in the left corner and was eventually defended by Nick Peare.
As the game was about to go into ‘added-time’ Christopher headed a clearance kick back towards the visitor’s box and when it was cleared again it fell into the path of Messenger, right channel – 30 yards out, who struck what can only be described as a ‘thunderbolt’ at the target – this time his sights were set a little lower but not low enough as it crashed against the bar.
Cirencester were awarded a couple of corner kicks in ‘added-time’ but were unable to add to their tally.
Full Time: 4-1
A terrific, all-round team performance from Cirencester against difficult opponents who were dangerous on the counter attack.
Attendance: 169 Referee: Ollie Taylor
Cirencester Town:
1. Stuart Nelson
2. Will Christopher
3. Jordan Morris
4. Reegan Messenger
5. Jake Lee ©
6. Nick Peare 23
7. Felix Miles 84p
8. Harry Burns
9. George Peare
10. Ben Whitehead 41, 58
11. John Dennis
12. Luca Robinson (John Dennis-59mins)
14. Willem Pooley (George Peare-71mins)
15. Charles Johnson (Jake Lee-78mins)
16. James Mortimer-Jones
WALTHAM ABBEY:
1. Bradley Robinson
2. Babadi Kamara
3. Nathan Twin-Koranteng 16
4. Aher Silverman
5. Abdulmojeed Shogbeni
16. Harrison Walker
7. Benjamin Baker
8. Declan Rydings
6. Jason Hallett
10. Aaron Eyoma
11. Acea Laurent
12. Ayobami Tanimowo
14. Oluwatamilore Ogunnowo (Harrison Walker-62mins)
15. Rimmel Daniel
17. Prince Domafriyie (Jason Hallett-46mins)
9. Andrew Tirivanhu (Abdulmojeed Shogbeni-64mins)