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
Match report by Dave Pyzer
THORNBURY TOWN were the latest visitors to The Talent Hire Stadium for a mid-week Uhlsport Hellenic League – Premier Division fixture and following a tight match between the teams a Penalty Kick deep into extra time secured a draw for the visitors.
Although early in the season, this match was hugely important to both sides as victory for either would provide a three-point cushion over the other - prior to the match they both had 6 points from 9 games played with the visitors having the superior ‘goal-difference (-8 compared to -16).
Cirencester were missing Lewis Thorne and Jayden Stratford from Saturday’s victory over Sporting Club Inkberrow (unavailable and injured respectively) and as a result Ogaga Edward and Dave Bampton came into the starting eleven.
The visitors kicked-off playing towards The Shed end of the ground and immediately launched the ball down their right flank for Jordan Morris to launch it back, so they tried their left flank and had no joy there either.
The Cirencester response to these early attacks saw Morris embark on a long run down the left channel before slipping the ball left for Finley Bell to cross towards the near post where it was headed clear.
Within a couple of minutes Bell collected the ball in the visitors Penalty Area, left channel, but was driven across the box by the Thornbury defence - eventually resulting in a goal-kick.
The visitors then mounted a number of attacks on the home defence as Callum Chalmers 25-yard effort was cushioned and collected by ‘keeper Ronnie Newbery, before Chalmers headed Harry Brock’s cross from the right corner over the bar, and Fraser Moss’s header was gathered by Newbery.
Thornbury had certainly come to play but after this initial surge Cirencester began to work the ball forward themselves as Dave Bampton slipped the ball to Ogaga Edward who exchanged passes with Ethan Rose before he did the same with Bell as they made ground down their right flank – resulting in a throw-in and possession that was lost as it was worked across the pitch.
It was now game on - as both sides looked to make ground and shortly after the mid-point of the half Jack Horrell and Bell combined for the former to deliver a cross to the front edge of the visitors 6-yard box – resulting in a corner kick that was eventually punched clear by ‘keeper Mackenzie Welsh enabling a quick counter attack that required the pacey Edward to leave his flank to prevent further progress.
Following a period of pressure from the home side – Jack Freeman firing wide, Horrell to the front edge of the visitor’s box and Morris a run to the left byline – Thornbury launched the ball to their right corner for Harry Brock to run to the byline and gain a corner kick that resulted in a shot that was blocked.
This action could have been a warning for what happened a few minutes later.
As Cirencester pressed again - Freeman effort parried by Welsh, followed by a free kick from the right front corner of the visitor’s box, and Freeman crossing from the left corner – Thornbury once again launched the ball down their right flank for Harry Brock to charge forward, unopposed and supported by Chalmers inside him, to produce a 2v1 with Newbery. As HARRY BROCK entered the home Penalty Area he took full advantage and smashed the ball inside the left post to open the scoring. 0-1.
A minute later Rose sent the ball down the right channel for Aidan Bennett to ‘flick’ on to Bell as he charged to the right byline to cross – caught by Welsh.
In the closing minutes of the half both sides had chances as Ash Fowler supplied Cam Drew and he sent a cross through the home box that provided a corner kick, and Ollie Rejek delivered the ball to the left channel of the visitor’s box where Bell cut inside to shoot - blocked.
Half Time: 0-1
‘The Thorns’ had looked dangerous in the first period and their defence solid so it was all to play for in the second and after an even opening few minutes Morris embarked on another long run down the left channel but his shot from the edge of the box was blocked, soon to be followed by a deep cross from Freeman towards the far-right post where Bennett was lurking – headed clear by a defender.
A couple of minutes later Rejek received the ball near the centre circle and sent it out to ETHAN ROSE in the right corner and he cut back onto his left foot as he moved towards the visitor’s box to unleash a fierce, curling strike that flew inside the far-left post. 1-1.
Cirencester pressed again and this time Rose’s cross was cleared to Morris, just outside Thornbury’s box, and he lobbed the ball back towards goal - resulting in a corner kick that was just too high for Jonathan Aitkenhead to reach at the back post, and a quick counter attack from Thornbury followed.
A Cirencester free kick from the left corner resulted in a couple of corner kicks but as Welsh punched the second one the Referee awarded a free kick to the ‘keeper – threat averted.
Around the mid-point of the half Thornbury delivered a free kick towards the right post for Drew to head wide of the target and this was soon followed by Newbery saving a shot from him and catching a Chalmers header.
Cirencester responded immediately as Rose had a shot blocked and Edward delivered a cross towards the right post that was contested by Bennett and Welch with the Referee deciding on a goal-kick.
Not to be outdone Thornbury attacked down their right flank and were awarded a corner kick that was headed back into the ‘mix’ from their left channel for Horrell to head clear.
A few minutes later a long ball to Bennett was collected just outside the visitor’s box, left channel, and as he charged forward, he clipped the ball towards goal but it took a deflection and looped towards the near left post, and as Welch advanced to collect CRAIG GRAHAM darted forward to head into the net from the edge of the 6-yard box.
Eleven minutes later, at the 90-minute mark, it was announced that there would be five minutes of ‘added-time’ so with nothing to lose the visitors pressed for Sam Moseley to fire over the bar and Cirencester countered through Bonsa Teshome for a corner kick to be awarded. The kick was defended and a counter mounted that produced a cross from the visitor’s left flank that yielded a corner kick from their right flank. This in turn resulted in a Penalty Kick being awarded seven minutes into ‘added-time’.
MARCUS WORMWELL stepped up to drive the spot-kick into the bottom right corner to level the score. 2-2.
A minute later Thornbury could have taken all 3 points when a Chalmers cross from the right was flicked over the bar from the edge of the 6-yard box.
Full Time: 2-2
A competitive game with plenty of action at each end of the pitch.
Attendance: 108 Referee: Scott Ellis
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Ronnie Newberry
2. Ogaga Edward
3. Jordan Morris
4. Dave Bampton
5. Jonathan Aitkenhead
6. Jack Horrell
7. Oliver Rejek
8. Ethan Rose 55
9. Aidan Bennett ©
10. Finley Bell
11. Jack Freeman
12. Bonsa Teshome (Dave Bampton-83mins)
14. Craig Graham (Jack Freeman-74mins) 79
16. Harley Arnold
17. James Mortimer-Jones
18. Alfie Mann (Jack Horrell-89mins)
THORNBURY TOWN:
1. Mackenzie Welsh
2. Marcus Wormwell 90+7p
3. Ash Fowler
4. Nathan Sage ©
5. Joe Guest
6. Luke Garbacz
7. Harry Brock 39
8. Fraser Moss
9. Callum Chambers
10. Jim Brock
11. Cam Drew
12. Isaac Adebo (Ash Fowler-83mins)
14. Raheim Henry (Cam Drew-85mins)
15. Sam Moseley (Jim Brock-71mins)
16. Matt Toghill
17. Adam Clark