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 long journey across the country to meet STOTFOLD FC and returned ‘empty-handed’ as their hosts scored the winner in ‘added-time’.
In terms of league positions and current form prior to the match – Stotfold FC sat in 12th place in the league table with 34 points from 26 games played, whilst Cirencester were in 7th place with 40 points from 28 games played.
Examination of current form reveals that Stotfold have secured 9 points from their last 6 games, and Cirencester 5 points, resulting in ‘The Eagles’ sitting in 7th place and ‘The Centurions’ in 16th place in the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table
Stotfold entered the Division at the start of this season and the reverse fixture, late in August, resulted in a 2-2 draw so a tough afternoon was anticipated.
Starting Eleven – Cirencester travelled to the fixture with several players still unavailable due to injury – Will Christopher (Knee), George Peare (Achilles), Cameron Walters (Calf) - and a couple carrying knocks that meant their performances would be limited.
Nick Peare returned after a two-game absence due to a golf tournament.
Cirencester kicked-off and opened with their usual positive start as they worked the ball down their left flank to the corner and after a number of throw-ins Harry Burns slid the ball down the left channel into the home box for a sliced clearance to result in a corner kick. Felix Miles delivered the kick to the back post and the clearance led to a throw-in to Cirencester in the right corner that resulted in a catch from home custodian Kyle Forster above Ben Whitehead’s head.
As the two sides tested one another there was a period of ‘head-tennis’ as the ball went back and forth across the half-way line before Mitchell Gooch embarked on a run down the right channel that ended in a free kick to the home side. Henry Snee drove the kick towards the top right corner where ‘keeper Stuart Nelson appeared to tip it onto and over his crossbar – although a goal kick was awarded.
During the next few minutes Callum Kane sent a couple of crosses into the visitor’s box but both were comfortably defended and cleared as was one from Snee.
Cirencester responded as Luca Robinson embarked on a couple of charging runs down the right flank before play returned to the left flank, where Charlie Johnson had been very busy supporting Miles and defending counter attacks from the hosts, to be worked infield by Miles to Joe Turley, back to Nick Peare who launched a 50-yard cross-field pass to Robinson, in the right corner, that resulted in a free-kick to Cirencester. Felix Miles delivered the kick to the edge of the 6-yard box where Forster punched it clear.
The action then switched to the other end of the pitch as Lewis Franklin reached the Cirencester box to clip the ball to the centre front edge of the 6-yard box where an incoming Ashley Kersey met it with his head to bring out a stunning reflex save from Nelson as he managed to push it over his crossbar.
At the mid-point of the half Burns slid the ball down the right channel, behind the advanced home defence, for Miles to chase, collect and run towards the home box for a 1v1 with the advancing Forster and from 25-yards out he chipped over the ‘keeper and the goal.
Around the 30-minute mark a period of ‘orbit-football’ ensued as both sides tried to see who could kick it the highest but when it came back down to earth it landed in the left corner (from a Stotfold point of view) and Kane and Dan Hill met in a committed challenge with the Cirencester player needing treatment that ultimately resulted in him leaving the pitch on a stretcher.
Shortly after play resumed Whitehead broke free in the right channel of the home box but his touch enabled Forster to collect.
As the interval loomed Cirencester pressed in earnest as a free kick reached Miles, near the left front corner of the home box, who cut right to shoot – blocked but led to a scramble before it was cleared for Aidan Bennett to fire over the target.
Following another corner kick that Forster punched clear the home side charged to their left corner for Kane to send a low cross into the Cirencester box but it eventually culminated in a goal-kick.
The game was now deep into added-time when Reegan Messenger competed for the ball with an opponent, 40 yards from goal – right channel, enabling BEN WHITEHEAD to collect the loose ball and hold off a couple of challenges as he moved towards the centre of the pitch before unleashing a sensational strike from 30+ yards that flew into the top right corner. 0-1.
Almost immediately the whistle indicating ‘half-time’ was blown.
Half Time: 0-1
When play resumed Cirencester soon had the ball as Johnson released Miles to the left corner where he delivered a low cross that passed through the home box to be cleared to Bennett who fired over the bar from 30-yards.
Five minutes into the half Burns released Miles for a 30-yard run to the home Penalty Area for another 1v1 with Forster but this time Forster held his ground and safely gathered the low shot from his opponent.
The home side responded immediately as they pressed to win a corner kick from their left flank – Franklin delivered the kick to the back post where Kersey had his shot blocked for a corner kick from the right that Turley headed away to be recycled for another corner kick from the right that reached Kersey – shot blocked before the Snee follow-up from 6-yards was parried by Nelson and sent back across the goalmouth towards Kersey who was unable to make contact.
A couple of minutes later Johnson made a double tackle to win and retain the ball as he came out of defence before slipping it to Whitehead but his attempt to switch play from right to left as Miles burst forward was intercepted.
Shortly after the hour-mark Cirencester mounted a neat move as Johnson exchanged passes with Burns before releasing Miles into the left channel of the home box to shoot – saved by Forster.
Around the mid-point of the second half Stotfold worked the ball down their right flank for Franklin to reach the by-line and obtain a corner kick that he delivered to the back post and into the goal-mouth before a handball decision was made ending the threat.
They were soon back again as Ryan Frater slipped a Franklin corner kick left to Kersey who fired wide of the far-right post.
Around the 75-minute mark Stotfold were severally testing the Cirencester defence who defended and mounted counters that were short-lived before Stotfold were back again.
Moments after defending a Cirencester attack Franklin sent the ball towards the far-left post where Kersey entered into an aerial challenge with ‘keeper Nelson that resulted in the ball rebounding from Nelson’s hands for a supporting MATTHEW BALL to head into the net from the edge of the 6-yard box. 1-1.
Cirencester responded to the setback to press in the left corner and this led to a corner kick that passed through the home 6-yard box and out for goal-kick. They were soon back as Whitehead slipped the ball to Miles on the edge of the Penalty Area and he danced past a couple of challenges before shooting over the bar.
As the final whistle loomed Burns sent the ball down the left channel for Miles to chase but Forster got there first to gather.
A minute later Stotfold bundled the ball into the net following a free kick but it was disallowed for ‘offside’.
The home side were soon back as they increased the pressure with Kane cutting back from the left corner to send a cross to the back post where Kersey headed back across the goal for Ball to send his effort over the bar.
Into ‘added-time’ and Cirencester attacked to both corners but were repelled for Stotfold to counter as a long ball was sent towards the left-post where Kersey sent it across the box for LEWIS FRANKLIN to battle for possession before shooting from 8-yards, with the ball taking a deflection en-route to the back of the net. 2-1.
Cirencester immediately attacked as Robinson exchanged passes with Whitehead to reach the right byline and cross to the back post for Burns effort to be cleared from the edge of the 6-yard box.
Full Time: 2-1
This was not a game of quality but more of endeavour and commitment and from a Cirencester viewpoint missed chances.
Attendance: 152 Referee: Jamie Stevenson
Stotfold F.C.:
1. Kyle Forster
2. Lewis Franklin 90+1
3. Callum Kane
4. James Peters ©
5. Daniel Sears
6. Ryan Frater
7. Mitchell Gooch
8. Callum Donnelly
9. Ashley Kersey
10. Henry Snee
11. Alexander Coppin
12. Conor Clarke
14. Kade Bagge
15. Robbie Buchanan (Henry Snee-57mins)
16. Matthew Ball (Mitchell Gooch-72mins) 78
17. Samuel Gibson (Callum Donnelly-43mins)
Cirencester Town:
1. Stuart Nelson
2. Dan Hill
3. Charlie Johnson
4. Reegan Messenger
5. Jake Lee ©
6. Nick Peare
7. Luca Robinson
8. Joseph Turley
9. Harry Burns
10. Ben Whitehead 45+4
11. Felix Miles
12. Aidan Bennett (Dan Hill-35mins)
14. Jordan Morris
15. Willem Pooley (Harry Burns-90mins)
16. James Mortimer-Jones
17. Ronnie Newberry (GK)