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
The Talent Hire Stadium was the venue for another entertaining and competitive match, as the league leaders came to town to take on their 5th placed hosts, and at the end of a competitive match it was all-square despite plenty of effort, commitment, goalmouth incident and a Penalty Kick.
In terms of league positions and current form prior to the match – Bedford Town sat in 1st place in the league table with 46 points from 23 games played whilst Cirencester were in 5th place with 39 points from 25 games played.
Examination of the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table reveals that ‘The Eagles’ have secured 10 points from their last 6 games whilst ‘The Centurions’ have obtained 8 points to sit in 4th and 12th places respectively in the relevant table.
The reverse fixture, in October, at The Eyrie Stadium resulted in a 3-1 victory for today’s visitors.
Starting Eleven – Manager, John Brough, made one change to the starting eleven, when compared to last week’s match against Aylesbury United, as Jordan Morris sustained an injury in that match and is replaced by Charlie Johnson.
Harry Burns returns after missing last week’s game and takes a seat on the bench alongside John Dennis, Aidan Bennett, Charlie McCrae and James Mortimer-Jones.
The visitors head the table for good reason and from the start, as they attacked The Arena end of the ground, it was clear they had come to play as in the opening two minutes they had attacked down both flanks and won a corner kick that Nick Peare cleared.
A few minutes later Ben Walster sent a free kick from the right channel, 30-yards out, narrowly wide of the right post.
Cirencester responded as a cross-field pass from Nick Peare released Luca Robinson for a run from half-way to the right byline where he ran out of room – goal-kick, and shortly afterwards a long kick from ‘keeper Stuart Nelson was collected by Ben Whitehead in the right channel of the visitor’s box but he fired over the bar.
During the next few minutes Bedford pressed as they delivered a diagonal ball to the left channel of the home box where Leon Lobjoit headed over and Henry Dudley had an effort blocked and cleared leading to a counter attack as Whitehead took the ball to the left byline before laying it back to Charlie Johnson who delivered a dangerous cross that reached Robinson in the right corner where his cross was blocked for a corner kick – defended.
A quick counter from Bedford followed as Liam Dulson made a break into the left channel of the Cirencester box and brought a block from Nelson before it was worked along the front edge of the home box for another block to follow from a Lewis Green shot – leading to a counter as Felix Miles fed Whitehead who upon reaching the left channel front edge of the visitor’s box unleashed a fierce strike that ‘keeper Mark Smith could only push over his bar.
It had been a busy opening 15-minutes and as the mid-point of the half approached the visitors tested their hosts defence resolve and the Cirencester defence met each challenge whilst mounting quick counter attacks as Miles collected a long clearance near the central front edge of the Bedford box, moved forward and chipped both the advancing Smith and the crossbar. A let-off for the visitors.
A couple of minutes later, as Cirencester pressed, Whitehead took a quick throw-in on the left flank to release Miles for a run at the Bedford defence and after some trickery on the edge of the box he laid the ball to Willem Pooley, on his right, who shaped to shoot but instead played a terrific pass to the left corner for Whitehead to collect – unfortunately he was adjudged to be ‘offside’.
Cirencester were now pressing their visitors and during the next few minutes George Peare and Reegan Messenger sent headers wide of the target and a Whitehead effort landed on the top of the net.
Shortly afterwards Miles collected a free kick, just outside the Bedford box, and worked his way to the left channel of the box before slipping the ball past an advancing Smith but narrowly wide of the far-right post.
As the game entered the 5-minute period before the interval Bedford mounted a quick break down their right flank as both Lewis Green and George Morrall converged on the ball, near half-way, but a superbly timed challenge from Johnson prevented further progress.
Leading up to the break Cirencester were awarded a couple of free-kicks but neither caused the visitors much concern.
Half Time: 0-0
It had been a frenetic first period and the second continued in like fashion as Bedford attacked for Dulson to have his shot from the left front corner of the home box deflected for a corner kick within the opening minutes. Ben Walster took the kick from the right and delivered it to the back post where Alex Collard headed it back into the ‘mix’ where it was cleared downfield.
Four minutes into the half Miles collected the ball on the centre front edge of the Bedford box, shimmied and shot – rebounding back to him so he shot again – blocked, falling to Messenger who also shot – deflected for a corner kick that was cleared.
The action immediately switched to the other Penalty Area as Lobjoit shot from the left front corner of the home box – blocked by Cameron Walters.
In this all-action match Pooley then lobbed the ball to the edge of the Bedford box where Jack Green headed back towards Smith who managed to catch as Whitehead closed in.
A few minutes later Lobjoit received the ball, near the right front corner of the home box, and cut left just inside the box where he was on the receiving end of a double challenge and as a result fell to ground with the Referee, Said Ouchene, who was well positioned to make the decision, immediately pointing to the spot. LEON LOBJOIT smashed the spot kick into the bottom left corner to open the scoring. 0-1.
Undeterred the home side pressed again as Robinson supplied Whitehead, right side edge of the Bedford box, and he moved it on to Miles near the Penalty Spot, shimmy and shot – blocked but recycled back to Robinson who immediately slipped it back to Whitehead who cut inside and fired a powerful left footed shot that struck the top left corner of the bar – goal kick.
Cirencester then produced a couple of neat passing moves that involved several players as they approached the Bedford box but they were well defended by the visitors.
At the 75-minute mark Johnson delivered a free kick from the left flank towards the Penalty Spot where Jake Lee headed narrowly wide of the right post.
The pressure was mounting on the Bedford defence as a free kick led to a corner kick, soon to be followed by Lee embarking on a run down the centre to supply Aidan Bennett and on to Harry Burns who shot, from the edge of the box, - parried by Smith for another corner kick that was defended.
Minutes later Burns slipped the ball to LUCA ROBINSON, now at the left side edge of the Bedford box, and he drove inside past a couple of would-be challenges before driving the ball inside the left post. 1-1.
At the 90-minute mark Lee produced a 50-yard pass that cleared the visitors defence for Bennett to chase to the edge of the Bedford box but his attempted lob was wide of the target.
Full Time: 1-1
Another terrific game of football with both sides having periods of dominance but neither able to break through resolute defences - although Cirencester probably had the clearest chances to score.
Attendance: 273 Referee: Said Ouchene
Cirencester Town:
1. Stuart Nelson
2. Cameron Walters
3. Charles Johnson
4. Reegan Messenger
5. Jake Lee ©
6. Nick Peare
7. Luca Robinson 80
8. Willem Pooley
9. George Peare
10. Ben Whitehead
11. Felix Miles
12. Harry Burns (George Peare-35mins)
14. Aidan Bennett (Ben Whitehead-74mins)
15. John Dennis
16. Charlie McCrae
17. James Mortimer-Jones
BEDFORD TOWN:
1. Mark Smith
2. Jack Green
3. Ben Walster
4. Lewis Green
5. Alexander Collard ©
6. Charles McDonald
7. Ryan Blake
8. Henry Dudley
9. Liam Dulson
10. Leon Lobjoit 57p
14. George Morrall
11. Louis Walsh
12. Fernando Bell-Toxtle (George Morrall-46mins)
13. Owen Brooks-Tonkin (GK)
15. Jay Rolfe (Henry Dudley-84mins)
16. Jemale Olayinka