Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
32.jpg)
The fourth Pre-Season match for the Cirencester squad took them back to Oldends Lane for a ‘Third Place Play-off’ match in the SEVERN SPORT SHIELD against TUFFLEY ROVERS and a solitary goal was enough to secure victory for the ‘Rovers’ in a tight game.
As in the previous match there were a number of new faces as Manager James Mortimer-Jones explores his options in the search for a squad for the 2024-25 season in the Uhlsport Hellenic League.
Cirencester kicked-off and within a few minutes they had been awarded a couple of free kicks – the first was sent to the left flank for Jordan Morris to drive forward down the left channel and shoot wide of the far-right post and the second (after a move of multiple passes was brought to a halt) drew a fine save from custodian Luke Merchant as he pushed a Jack Freeman effort, that looked destined for the top right corner, over his crossbar.
The Centurions had started positively and a few minutes later made progress down their left flank as Marcel made ground from just outside the Cirencester box before switching play to the right flank. He was soon in the action again as Freeman sent a cross-field pass to Morris who supplied him for a run to the left corner that resulted in a throw-in to Cirencester.
At the 15-minute mark Tyrel Roberts darted forward to the left side edge of the Cirencester box where he was confronted by a charging ‘keeper Ronnie Newberry who bundled him to the ground resulting in a free kick and an early Yellow Card. The ‘keeper made amends as he dived to his right to parry Kieran Alder’s low free kick.
Shortly after Eli Simpson sent the ball across the 6-yard box without contact as he made another strong run down the left flank.
A few minutes later Josh Seller launched the ball to the right corner for Alex Bell to chase and cross towards the Penalty Spot where it was returned to him to be worked to Jack Horrell who struck a firm low shot from just outside the box into the grateful arms of Merchant.
Just after the mid-point Freeman and Horrell exchanged passes on half-way before sending a pass towards the Penalty Spot where Jayden Stratford was darting forward but an alert Merchant got there first to clear the danger.
As both sides pressed forward and lost the ball it became ‘end-to-end’ with Mino Marquez-Espada cutting left to shoot at Newberry and Horrell firing wide of the right post.
With three minutes to the interval Cole Clinton sent the ball down the right flank for Marquez-Espada to take it to the side edge of the Cirencester box before slipping it inside to a supporting Karnell Chambers who under pressure struck the side-netting.
Almost immediately Lewis Thorne found himself with the ball just outside the Tuffley box but he struck his shot over the bar.
Half Time: 0-0
It had been a busy first period without any end product and the second was going the same way until around the hour mark a long ball down the right channel reached KARNELL CHAMBERS who smashed it into the roof of the net from 12 yards to break the deadlock. 1-0.
As in the first half neither side kept possession for long and threats were dealt with and as the game entered the final 15-minutes Oliver Rejek slipped the ball to Stratford who moved it on to Bell as he overlapped to the right-side edge of the Tuffley box but the resulting cross was behind the goal.
A minute later Chambers replied as he fired a low shot towards the bottom right corner where Newberry’s dive pushed it around the post.
Three minutes later Jake Allen retained the ball under pressure to move left along the edge of the Tuffley box before shooting over the bar.
Shortly before the final whistle a chance to prolong the game went begging as a corner kick from the right reached the back post where Josh Seller just failed to make contact.
Full Time: 1-0
A game full of endeavour as neither side retained the ball for long with chances few and far between although Tuffley managed to convert one of theirs to secure third place in the competition.
TUFFLEY ROVERS
Luke Merchant (GK), Cole Clinton, Eli Simpson, Josh Stevens, Macauley Herbert, Dean Turner, Kieran Alder, Mino Marquez-Espada, Karnell Chambers, Sammy Hicks, Tyrel Roberts.
Substitutes:- Connor Walters, Brad Bevan, Liam Smith, Harley Mustoe, Rio Spencer, Callum Blackford, Marty Lee.
CIRENCESTER TOWN
Ronnie Newberry (GK), Lewis Thorne, Jordan Morris, Jack Horrell, Aidan Bennett ©, Josh Seller, Alex Bell, Jayden Stratford, Kyle Chester, Jack Freeman, Marcel.
Substitutes:- Charlie Hardiman, Jake Allen, Bonse, Ed Taylor, Oliver Rejek, Harry Edwards.