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
The Centurions second home match of the week, their third Hellenic League – Premier Division match of the new season, brought neighbours MALMESBURY VICTORIA to The Talent Hire Stadium and after a hard-fought battle it was the visitors that secured a narrow victory.
The Cirencester starting eleven had a few changes from that which produced such a positive performance against Highworth Town in mid-week due to unavailability. Lewis Thorne was serving a one-match suspension following his Red Card at Fairford, Jesse Thompson is taking up a scholarship in America and Jack Horrell had other commitments. As a result, Ehan Rose moved to right back in place of the suspended Thorne, Kian McNally replaced Horrell at left centre back and Aidan Bennett dropped into the right centre back berth in place of Thompson with Oliver Rejek and Bonsa Teshome returning to fill the other vacancies.
The visitors kicked off playing towards The Shed end of the ground and after moving the ball across their backline they launched it towards the far-left corner to create a sprint race between Zac Skinner and Ethen Rose that the home player dealt with as he coolly sent the ball back to custodian Sam Ayres to clear.
The action quickly returned to the Malmesbury end of the pitch as Kyle Chester collected the ball in the left channel before moving it left to Jordan Morris who sent it towards the visitors Penalty Spot where it was cleared to a supporting Finley Bell but his shot from 25 yards was wide of the right post.
Almost immediately the busy Bell was involved in the action again as he sent a superb cross-field pass, from right to left, to Marcel Anie who was adjudged to be ‘offside’.
Cirencester then tried their right flank as Rose released Bonsa Teshome who had his shot blocked enabling Martin Sinclair to send a long ball for the speedy Skinner to collect, left flank- 30 yards out, he made ground into the home box before his control allowed Ayres to gather.
Malmesbury then tried their right flank as Danny Gudger reached the corner to cross to the back post where Teshome covered to prevent Skinner collecting.
It had been a busy opening ten minutes and three minutes later Teshome received the ball on the right flank, half-way, and laid it back to Rose who sent a measured pass down the right channel for Chester to collect and burst into the visitor’s box – cutting left he fired a left footed strike narrowly wide of the far-left post.
The visitors responded as a free kick from their right flank reached Skinner, left channel-15 yards out, who moved forward and sent a low cross-shot wide of the far-right post.
Around the mid-point Cirencester pressed again with Marcel Anie showing some quick feet before releasing Finley Bell to the right-side edge of the Malmesbury box but his resulting cross passed through without contact.
The Vics replied with another long ball through the home defence for Skinner to collect and take into the home box but his shot was parried by Ayres.
A couple of minutes later following more Cirencester pressure Bell supplied Teshome who broke into the visitor’s box but his shot was parried by ‘keeper Macawley Brown and cleared and shortly afterwards Andy Baker made ground down the left flank before slipping the ball inside for Jack Smith to fire a snap-shot wide of the left post.
During the five minutes leading up to the interval there was plenty of goal threat as Steve Robertson headed a long cross wide of the left post for the visitors, quickly followed by a deep cross from Anie on the left for the hosts that was fired into the side-netting at the back-post.
The Vics then countered as they supplied Skinner who moved inside the home box, left channel, before ‘chipping’ the ball towards the far-right post where Kian McNally headed it away but it was quickly recycled and sent into the ‘mix’ in front of the home 6-yard box where a scramble ensued and as the ball broke free JACK SMITH was the quickest to react as he clipped the ball into the net from 6-yards. 0-1.
In the final minutes of the half Smith fed Skinner who once again delivered to the back post where an incoming Gudger volleyed and Ayres parried to concede a corner kick that was defended.
Half Time: 0-1
The first half had certainly been busy with Cirencester pressing and Malmesbury countering quickly and from the re-start Cirencester pushed forward as Bell supplied Teshome who cut left when he reached the front edge of the visitor’s box to shoot wide of the left post.
During the next couple of minutes Jack Freeman was heavily involved as he delivered a cross-field pass behind the Malmesbury defence for Anie to race with Matthew Jones who sent the ball back to Brown to clear. The busy Freeman then received the ball inside the visitor’s box and as he reached the left by-line his cross was blocked for a corner kick that Brown punched clear to start a counter attack as Skinner reached the left corner to cross into the box – headed away by Morris, recycled and fed back in by Gudger – headed away by Bennett.
Following a free kick to Cirencester on their left flank the ball was worked down the line and across to the right flank before being moved back into the centre where McNally fired over from 30 yards.
Around the hour mark Malmesbury put Cirencester under some pressure as Jones launched a couple of ‘throw-ins’ into the home box but both were defended.
A few minutes later Cirencester worked the ball to their right corner for Rose to cross to the back post where Chester headed back across the goal but it was cleared, they were soon back however, as Freeman delivered a corner kick from the right to the far-post where Anie headed wide of the left post.
Cirencester were increasing the pressure on their visitors who were digging-in to protect their slender lead – another corner kick defended, a Morris punt to the left corner chased by Jerzy Marszalek for a desperate clearance, soon to be followed by a strong run from Morris to the corner for another corner kick which was delivered from the left to the back post where Jake Allen’s volley was saved by Brown.
The home side pressed to the left corner a couple more times through Morris before Malmesbury were awarded a free kick that they sent into the home box to be cleared to Jake Love, just outside the area, who volleyed well over the target.
Once again Cirencester responded as Freeman delivered another corner kick from the right into the ‘mix’ for Marszalek to strike the left post.
As the game approached the final five minutes Morris sent a deep cross to the right channel of the Malmesbury box where Allen struck another fierce volley at the target – blocked by Brown for another corner kick that Freeman delivered into the ‘mix’ defended but as it was recycled to Allen just outside the box, left channel, he landed awkwardly in a challenge and damaged his shoulder and after some delay was replaced. Finley Bell sent the free kick over the defensive ‘wall’ towards the far-right post where Brown pulled off a magnificent diving save to deny him.
Into ‘added-time’ and Cirencester were pressing hard and Anie slipped the ball to Chester who turned sharply and shot from the right channel front edge of the visitor’s box – saved by Brown.
Charlie Hardiman then tried a shot from the right channel, 20 yards out, blocked by Brown who then parried the follow-up shot from Chester.
In the final minute Bennett had a couple of efforts blocked near the 6-yard box and it was all over.
Malmesbury had survived the onslaught.
Full Time: 0-1
A committed performance from The Centurions, who were unlucky not to secure at least a draw, as they tested the resolute defence of The Vics.
Attendance: 159 Referee: Andrew Wertheim
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Sam Ayres
2. Ethan Rose
3. Jordan Morris
4. Finley Bell
5. Kian McNally
6. Oliver Rejek
7. Bonsa Teshome
8. Jack Freeman
9. Aidan Bennett ©
10. Kyle Chester
11. Marcel Anie
12. Jerzy Marszalek (Bonsa Teshome-65mins)
14. Jake Allen (Olliver Rejek-72mins)
15. Charlie Hardiman (Jake Allen-88mins)
16. James Griffiths
17. Ronnie Newberry (GK)
MALMESBURY VICTORIA:
1. Macawley Brown
2. Matthew Jones
3. Andy Baker
4. Biagio Mazzotta
5. Kyle Pitts ©
6. Martin Sinclair
7. Danny Gudger
8. Chalmers Phinn
9. Jack Smith 44
10. Stephen Robertson
11. Zac Skinner
12. Harrison Archer (Jack Smith-53mins)
14. Tom Wynne-Davis (Chalmers Phinn-49mins)
15. Lewis Toop (Martin Sinclair-46mins)
16. Jake Love (Zac Skinner-72mins)
17. Anthony Brown