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
Following their heavy defeat to local rivals Fairford Town in the FA Cup on Saturday, Cirencester returned to Uhlsport Hellenic League – Premier Division action against near neighbours HIGHWORTH TOWN and produced a much-improved performance to severely test their opponents in a highly entertaining match.
The availability of Jesse Thompson and Jordan Morris enabled Cirencester to make changes to their back-line and return Aidan Bennett to the front-line, and in addition Finley Bell, who performed in some of the pre-season friendly matches, has signed for The Centurions on a dual registration with Weston-super-Mare.
In a match that was brought forward and reversed, from The Elms Recreation Ground to The Talent Hire Stadium, it was the visitors - who finished in the play-off places at the end of last season - that kicked-off proceedings on a cool evening to launch the ball downfield but they soon lost possession for Cirencester to counter as Kyle Chester reached the visitors box where his effort was cleared by custodian Connor Johns.
Cirencester regained possession and pressed forward for a few minutes until Rhys Wells mounted a quick counter attack as he charged down Highworth’s left flank to slip the ball inside for Dan Grieve to turn and fire at the target – blocked, but recycled to their right flank where Edji Mbunga drove his shot over the bar.
A few minutes later, as Cirencester pressed forward, the ball was lost and launched down the visitor’s right flank for Grieve to collect and spotting home ‘keeper, Sam Ayres, well off his line he attempted an ambitious lob from 40 yards that drifted wide of the far-left post.
Cirencester responded with some neat passing down their right flank that enabled Finley Bell to reach the corner but his cross was just too high for an incoming Chester to make contact.
Leading up to the mid-point of the half Chester fired into the arms of Johns, and Jack Freeman over the bar after being released by Marcel Anie to cut along the front edge of the visitor’s box whilst Leon Morrison and Liam Campbell had shots blocked for Highworth.
Shortly afterwards a dangerous Mbunga cross to the home Penalty Spot was headed clear by Jesse Thompson to be recycled and a free kick awarded that Ayres punched clear.
Almost immediately the visitors were awarded another free kick from their left flank that Campbell delivered to the far-right post where it was headed back into the ‘mix’ for DAN GRIEVE to collect, turn and fire inside the right post. 0-1.
Cirencester responded as Thompson delivered a 40-yard pass from near the centre circle to the left corner leading to shots from Freeman and Chester being blocked and Highworth replied as they sent a ball into the home box for Grieve to chase but an alert Ayres managed to push it off his feet to stop his progress.
On the half-hour another long ball from Thompson was collected by Anie who slipped it to Lewis Thorne who cut inside to be brought to ground and a free kick awarded. Finley Bell took the kick and it was deflected into the grateful arms of Johns.
Cirencester continued to press and a Bell pass resulted in a corner kick from the left that Anie exchanged with Freman before crossing towards the front edge of the 6-yard box where Aidan Bennett rose to head against the cross-bar and the rebound was driven at the target by Jack Horrell to be blocked on the line by Liam Haines for a corner kick from the right. A glancing header from Bennett followed that was eventually defended.
Five minutes from the scheduled interval a Highworth counter attack reached Pryce in the right channel of the home box but his shot was deflected over the bar and the resulting corner kick punched clear by Ayres.
Half Time: 0-1
Cirencester began the second period very positively as they pressed from the kick-off with Bell slipping the ball left to Anie who cut into the visitor’s box for his shot to be blocked.
This was soon followed by some neat, purposeful passing as they worked their way out of defence and forward – eventually being awarded a free kick on their left flank 40-yards from goal. The kick was delivered to the Penalty Spot where Freeman’s header resulted in a corner kick that the visitors survived.
As the home side pressed, they lost the ball enabling Wells to slip it into the right channel of the home box for DAN GRIEVE to collect and drive inside the far-left post. 0-2.
Undeterred Cirencester produced more neat passing as they worked forward but the resulting cross from their right flank was too long – goal kick.
Leading up to the mid-point Cirencester were pressing hard, with more attractive football but no end product, as Jake Allen and Chester were denied until finally a Jordan Morris corner kick from the right was delivered to the near post where JESSE THOMPSON managed to clip it into the net. 1-2.
Encouraged by their break-through Cirencester continued to press and five minutes from the scheduled final whistle an overlapping Lewis Thorne received the ball and cut left from the right flank to send a left footed effort narrowly wide of the far-left post.
A minute later a low Morris cross from the left corner was defended and cleared leading to a counter attack from Highworth as Connor Mattimore reached their right corner but his low, firm cross rebounded off a defender into the arms of Ayres.
As the game drew to a close Morris slipped a pass into the left channel of the Highworth box for Allen to chase but Johns was quickly out to gather at his feet and the final action saw Anie gallop to the left side edge of the visitor’s box - resulting in a corner kick that Bennett headed over the bar at the near post.
Full Time: 1-2
A significantly better performance from Cirencester as the newly assembled squad showed indications of their developing understanding and quality with some superb football being played.
The visitors certainly knew they had been tested.
Attendance: 162 Referee: Ian Butler
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Sam Ayres
2. Lewis Thorne
3. Jordan Morris
4. Finley Bell
5. Jesse Thompson 72
6. Jack Horrell
7. Marcel Anie
8. Ethen Rose
9. Aidan Bennett ©
10. Kyle Chester
11. Jack Freeman
12. Oliver Rejek (Ethan Rose-76mins)
14. Jake Allen (Jack Freeman-59mins)
15. Bonsa Teshome
16. Kian McNally
17. Oakley James (Kyle Chester-76mins)
HIGHWORTH TOWN:
1. Connor Johns
2. Michael Miller
3. Liam Campbell
4. Liam Haines
5. Ash Taylor
6. Leon Morrison ©
7. Rhys Wells
8. Riegan Cook
9. Dan Grieve 25, 53
10. Sol Pryce
11. Edji Mbunga
12. Sam Packer (Sol Pryce-57mins)
14. Matt Cheetham (Michael Miller-67mins)
15. Gio Wrona (Riegan Cook-57mins)
16. Connor Mattimore (Dan Grieve-67mins)
17. Harry Hillerby (Liam Campbell-83mins)