Cirencester Town FC
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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 for a mid-week fixture against league leaders Biggleswade Town and came away with the 3-points following a tetchy affair in pouring rain as Willem Pooley scored the winner deep into ‘added-time’.
In terms of league positions and current form prior to the match – Biggleswade Town sat in 1st place in both the league table and the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table with 56 points from 28 games played and 15 points from their last 6 games respectively, whilst Cirencester were in 8th place with 41 points from 30 games played in the league table and 15th place in the ‘6-Match Form Guide’ table with 5 points.
In the reverse fixture just over 2-weeks ago The Waders secured a 4-1 victory at The Talent Hire Stadium so another tough game was anticipated.
Starting Eleven – Cirencester travelled to the fixture with several players still unavailable due to injury – Will Christopher (Knee), George Peare (Achilles), Jordan Morris (Groin) and Dan Hill (Knee) whilst Cameron Walters was unavailable.
Despite the 3-hour journey and fairly late arrival of some of the squad Cirencester opened proceedings in light rain (getting heavier as the evening progressed) and immediately took the game to their hosts as Charlie Johnson and Felix Miles combined to good effect several times down the left flank.
Two minutes into the match Johnson crossed from the left corner to Ben Whitehead at the back post and he laid it into the path of an incoming Reegan Messenger who drove his shot into the ground with the ball bouncing up towards the top left corner of the goal-frame where ‘keeper Jack Berman managed to push it out to be cleared.
The home side countered with a pass behind the visitor’s defence but too strong for the intended recipient to catch.
Back came Cirencester as Johnson supplied Miles who cut in from the left flank to shoot – blocked, then Whitehead fed Messenger - shot blocked, before Messenger released Luca Robinson who crossed from the right with Whitehead’s header tipped onto the right post for a corner kick that ended with a shot wide of the right post.
The Waders responded as a pass down their right flank was collected by Harry Draper who pushed it past the incoming Nick Peare who unceremoniously brought him to ground and was awarded a Yellow Card. Jonathan Lacey delivered the free kick from the flank, 40-yards from goal, into the mix near the Penalty Spot where HARRY DRAPER rose to head inside the left post. 1-0.
After such a positive start from the visitors a setback that their hosts took advantage of as they pressed forward for a few minutes whilst Cirencester re-grouped with Luke Andrews firing wide and Lacey making a run down the right channel before slipping the ball to Draper who saw his shot collected by Cirencester custodian Stuart Nelson.
Having recovered their composure Cirencester pressed again as the Johnson/Miles combination reached the home box for the latter’s shot to be blocked and recycled by Jake Lee to the right corner for Robinson to cross – defended.
Cirencester continued to press as the ball was worked from right to left for Miles to slip it to HARRY BURNS who struck a fierce shot into the top left corner from 25-yards out, left channel. 1-1.
The game became end-to-end for a few minutes, including a period of ‘head-tennis’, as both sides tried to get control before a delay to treat a stricken Luke Andrews - who was replaced by Charles Miller who soon contributed a free kick to Cirencester that Lee delivered into the home box for Burns shot to be blocked and during the following scramble there was a shout for handball that was denied by the Referee followed by a couple of corner kicks.
The Waders responded as Draper headed wide of the right post before Rohdell Gordon slipped the ball down the right flank for Rhys Hoenes to cross towards the back post where another shout for handball was denied by the Referee.
Within a minute, as Cirencester were moving the ball down their left touchline, an incensed Gordon clattered into an opponent and was dismissed by the Referee resulting in a melee as both sides reacted.
Half Time: 1-1
After the interval with their extra man advantage Cirencester dominated possession, whilst The Waders sat back waiting to pounce with quick counter attacks, and this was amply demonstrated in the opening couple of minutes as Cirencester worked the ball from right to left – Aidan Bennett - Miles – Johnson – Miles - cross blocked followed by a counter attack to the right corner from Biggleswade that Peare and Johnson combined to bring to a halt.
Lots of back and forth passing followed from the visitors with no threat until shortly before the hour mark Robinson charged to the right front corner of the home box to cross for Whitehead and Burns to have shots blocked from near the 6-yard box.
As play continued it was getting more fractious as players became frustrated due to lack of progress, broken play and decisions they disagreed with.
Shortly after the 70-minute mark Lacey broke clear down the centre before slipping the ball left to a supporting Miller who had his shot blocked by a determined Bennett.
Ten minutes later Josh Keyes delivered a cross towards the near left post where Whitehead arrived to head narrowly wide of the target.
As Cirencester started to work the ball forward Bennett slipped on the now treacherous surface and Lacey pounced to release Draper who shot from the edge of the box – blocked by Nelson.
Moments later Lacey reached the edge of the visitor’s box again where Lee blocked his progress for Bennett to clear the danger.
The 90-minute mark was fast approaching and Draper chased the ball to the right corner before cutting back onto his left foot to shoot – saved by Nelson at his left post.
Into ‘added-time’ and Cirencester pressed for Burns to launch a throw-in into the home box – defended but recycled for a Burns cross to the far-left post where it rebounded off Whitehead wide of the post.
A delay followed and the Referee awarded a Yellow Card to ‘keeper Berman, soon to be followed by another, and a Red as he was dismissed.
Biggleswade immediately made a substitution to bring on ‘keeper Kyle Forster in place of Rhys Hoenes and almost immediately Johnson launched the ball to the far-left post where Robinson headed it back across goal, a scramble followed on the edge of the 6-yard box before WILLEM POOLEY drove it home - his first goal of the season – to secure victory for The Centurions.
Full Time: 1-2
A contentious, tetchy game in difficult playing conditions but a battling performance from The Centurions with everyone playing their part to secure the 3-points against their table-topping hosts.
Attendance: 99 Referee: John Perry
Biggleswade Town:
1. Jack Berman
3. Jack Morrell
4. Kieron Forbes
5. Lewis Thorpe
6. Charles Briggs
7. Rohdell Gordon
8. Luke Andrews ©
9. Harry Draper 8
10. Jonathan Lacey
11. Callum Wilson
14. Rhys Hoenes
12. Bernard Christie
13. Kyle Forster (GK) (Rhys Hoenes-90+10mins)
15. Liam Brooks (Jonathan Lacey-90+1mins)
16. Charles Miller (Luke Andrews-35mins)
17. Marcus Gouldbourne
Cirencester Town:
1. Stuart Nelson
2. Aidan Bennett
3. Charlie Johnson
4. Reegan Messenger
5. Jake Lee ©
6. Nick Peare
7. Luca Robinson
8. Joseph Turley
9. Harry Burns 25
10. Ben Whitehead
11. Felix Miles
12. Willem Pooley (Reegan Messenger-81mins) 90+11
14. Joshua Keyes (Felix Miles-70mins)
15. James Mortimer-Jones