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 journey to Wodson Park to take on ‘The Blues’ of WARE FC and following a game of the proverbial ‘two halves’ returned empty handed as the home side secured victory from the Penalty Spot.
In terms of league positions and current form prior to the match – Ware FC sat in 6th place in the league table with 40 points from 26 games played, whilst Cirencester were in 5th place with the same number of points from the same number of games played – separated by ‘goal difference’.
Examination of current form reveals that Ware have secured 11 points from their last 6 games, whilst Cirencester have secured 8 points, and based on the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table, ‘The Blues’ sat in 4th place and Cirencester 11th place.
Last season this fixture resulted in a narrow 4-3 victory for Cirencester (thanks to a hat-trick from Adulai Sambu). The reverse fixture in October resulted in a 1-0 victory for today’s hosts – following an Own Goal.
Starting Eleven – Cirencester travelled to Wodson Park with a depleted squad as, following their encounter with ‘top-of-the-table’ Bedford Town last week, both strikers, Ben Whitehead (Knee) and George Peare (Achilles), together with energetic midfielder, Harry Burns (Shoulder), were on the injured list. Central defender Nick Peare was also unavailable.
In recent games Cirencester have been playing with a ‘back-three’ and with Nick Peare unavailable Charlie Johnson moved alongside Jake Lee to maintain that formation but during the warm-up period Cheltenham Town Scholar, Cameron Walters, pulled up and was replaced by John Dennis so the formation was changed to one more akin to 4-4-2 as Dan Hill, Jordan Morris and Aidan Bennett also came into the starting eleven.
The bench included Joe Turley (who has missed the last five games due to illness) alongside Charlie McCrae, Josh Seller, James Mortimer-Jones.
Cirencester kicked-off and immediately took the game to their hosts as they mounted a number of early attacks – such as Felix Miles driving into the home box before being crowded out and Jordan Morris crossing into the waiting arms of custodian Fred Burbidge.
In the 8th minute a free kick was diverted for a corner kick from the right flank that reached Charlie Johnson who headed over the target from around the Penalty Spot and shortly afterwards Dan Hill overlapped to the right corner before crossing with the intended recipient being adjudged to be ‘offside’ – the first of many such decisions during the first half.
The first threat from Ware came as a result of a free kick from their left flank – taken by George Ironton and delivered to the far-post where Ekow Coker could only find the side-netting.
Cirencester responded immediately as keeper Stuart Nelson’s goal kick was collected by Luca Robinson who fired at the target from the right channel of the home box for Burbidge to push it wide, conceding a corner kick that Jake Lee headed towards the top left corner where David Sota headed it away – ultimately leading to a corner kick that Johnson headed over.
At the 15-minute mark Darion Furlong launched a long throw from the left flank into the visitors Penalty Area to be headed on for Jon Clements to dart forward and head against the crossbar.
In the period leading up to the mid-point of the half the busy 17-year-old Will Pooley made a number of timely interceptions to keep Cirencester moving forward but ‘offside’ decisions interfered with their progress.
Shortly before the 30-minute mark Ware mounted a quick counter attack as Richard Ennin received the ball near the left front corner of the Cirencester box before cutting right to shoot over the bar.
The Cirencester response was immediate as Miles delivered a free kick from the right flank towards the Penalty Spot where Johnson headed against the home crossbar.
As the interval approached Cirencester pressed forward as John Dennis’s cross into the home box was diverted for a corner kick that was recycled back to Dennis who shot – diverted for another corner kick that led to a scramble on the home goal line, and Furlong receiving treatment, before yet another corner kick that was cleared for Theo Ofori to charge down the right flank and cut left to send his shot towards the far-left post where Nelson pushed it wide for a corner kick that the ‘keeper punched clear.
The final action of the half saw a Cirencester free kick headed on by Aidan Bennett for Lee to
chase but as Burbidge dived at his feet, to block, another ‘offside’ flag was raised.
Half Time: 0-0
The visitors had dominated the first half but had nothing to show for it and inevitably the ‘half-time chat’ produced a response from the home side as they pressed with much more urgency after the break.
The first attack of the second half from Ware had the same result as many of the Cirencester attacks in the same direction – an ‘offside’ flag.
A minute later a shot from Ironton was deflected for a corner kick that was cleared by Lee and Robinson.
Eight minutes into the second period Sota made progress to the left corner and sent a low cross towards the near post where Clements darted forward for his contact to be diverted past the far-right post by Nelson.
Ware had certainly raised their game since the interval and shortly afterwards another corner kick from the left was cleared to a lurking Ironton who drove over the bar from 25 yards.
Cirencester mounted an attack as Bennett combined with Dennis to release Robinson who cut right from the left channel front edge of the home box but his shot was blocked.
As the hour mark approached a couple of shots from Clements were blocked in the Cirencester box and as the ball was being cleared contact was made with a home player and a Penalty Kick awarded that JON CLEMENTS confidently tucked inside the right post. 1-0.
The visitors reacted positively to the setback but as they worked the ball forward the final pass was too long and the moves petered out.
Around the 75-minute mark substitutions began to be made and the game became more balanced for both sides to threaten.
Charlie McCrae reached the left corner and his cross was deflected into the air falling to Miles who fired over the bar and shortly afterwards a punt downfield over the home back line was headed back to Burbidge by Jack Grosvenor as Bennett closed in.
With five minutes of scheduled time remaining Hill chipped the ball down the right flank for Miles to pull it out of the air and cut inside but his resulting shot was well wide of the target.
Time was running out but Cirencester were still having a go and after working the ball across the pitch and back again Miles cut along the left byline where the danger was cleared.
The final action of the match was a corner kick from the right that Miles delivered to the back post for Lee to head at the target – caught by Burbidge.
Full Time: 1-0
A valiant effort from the depleted squad – dominating possession in the first half but not making it pay against a resolute Ware defence.
After the break the home side came out in a more positive mood and the Penalty setback was unfortunate for Cirencester who reacted gamely but did not really threaten the home goal.
Attendance: 202 Referee: ???
Ware F.C.:
1. Frederick Burbidge ©
2. Alex Warman
3. David Sota
4. Ekow Coker
5. Darion Furlong
6. Jack Grosvenor
7. Theophilus Ofori
8. George Ironton
9. Jon Clements 60p
10. Jack Dreyer
11. Richard Ennin
12. Kieran Bishop (Jon Clements-80mins)
14. Mitchel Hahn (George Ironton-83mins)
15. Freddy Moncur
16. Joe Dearman (Theophilus Ofori-75mins)
19. Matthew Walsh
Cirencester Town:
1. Stuart Nelson
2. Dan Hill
3. Charlie Johnson
4. Reegan Messenger
5. Jake Lee ©
12. John Dennis
7. Luca Robinson
8. Willem Pooley
9. Aidan Bennett
10. Felix Miles
11. Jordan Morris
14. Charlie McCrae (John Dennis-73mins)
15. Joseph Turley (Reegan Messenger-73mins)
16. Josh Seller
17. James Mortimer-Jones