Cirencester Town FC
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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
Cirencester made the short trip down the A419 to face long-time adversaries HIGHWORTH TOWN for the ‘return’ Uhlsport Hellenic League – Premier Division fixture against their near neighbours with plenty of expectation, due to their recent victories against two top-five sides and their narrow defeat in the reverse fixture in August, but unfortunately left their ‘shooting-boots’ behind and paid the price.
Prior to the match Highworth sat in 8th place in the league table with 16 points from 10 games whilst Cirencester were in 18th place with 7 points from the same number of games.
Cirencester kicked off playing down the slope and immediately launched the ball down their right flank and once the attack broke down the home side worked the ball back up the slope and into the Penalty Area but were adjudged to be ‘offside’.
Five minutes into the game Jayden Stratford intercepted a pass just outside the home box (right front corner), moved forward and slipped it to Finley Bell as he burst into the right channel of the box to shoot – caught by ‘keeper Connor Johns.
Almost immediately Cirencester were back again as Bell cut right from the left front corner of the home box to shoot – narrowly wide of the left post.
The home side responded by mounting a break to their right corner where the ball was played inside to former Centurion, Owen Windsor, who moved inside, to right of the Penalty Spot, before shooting - blocked and cleared
In this lively opening spell Cirencester worked the ball down their right flank and after a challenge involving Stratford the ball broke to Aidan Bennett, who cut left into the home box and attempted a ‘chip’ over the advancing ‘keeper but it cleared the bar.
A minute later Cirencester were undone as a punt to the left corner was collected by Windsor and he wasted no time in delivering a cross towards the Penalty Spot for CONNOR MATTIMORE to collect, cut left and neatly tuck into the bottom left corner. 1-0.
Encouraged by their break-through Highworth mounted a number of attacks during the next six minutes or so – strong run from Liam Haines to the right front corner of the Cirencester box, long ball to Windsor that was defended by Lewis Thorne, Haines pass to the right corner for Sol Pryce to chase that was defended by Jordan Morris.
Leading up to the mid-point of the half Cirencester pressed again – Stratford chase, collect and pass left for Bell to collect and shoot – gathered by Johns, followed by a neat passing move involving several players that reached the right channel front edge of the home box before it was lost.
Around the half-hour mark Highworth launched the ball to the right corner where Jonathan Aitkenhead and Windsor competed for possession, the defender attempted to send the ball back to ‘keeper Ronnie Newbery to clear but it was intercepted by Mattimore and laid off to a supporting Pryce, near the centre front edge of the visitor’s box, who blasted over the bar as defenders charged towards him.
During the next five minutes Cirencester had to replace two players due to injury, Jayden Stratford and Jordan Morris, and this resulted in a shuffle of the pack with Thorne moving to left back as Ogaga Edward came in a right back, and Craig Graham taking up the advanced position vacated by Stratford.
Almost immediately both full backs were involved in the action – Edward a pass to Bennett in the right corner but his cross was caught by Johns, and Thorne who conceded a corner kick when he took the ball off Mattimore’s toe as he burst forward to collect a pass at the left post.
Cirencester continued to press forward but were unable to break through the home defence and in ‘added-time’ Highworth countered as Johns launched and Windsor collected, right corner, to play the ball inside to Pryce (centre front edge of the Ciren Box) where Dave Bampton blocked.
In the closing minutes of the half Bell displayed his clever footwork to keep the ball in the left channel of the home box before it reached a supporting Thorne who took it to the left byline to ‘win’ a corner kick that was ultimately defended.
Half Time: 1-0
It had been a busy half for Cirencester with plenty of possession and threat but no end product – would it get better in the second half?
From the re-start Highworth immediately launched the ball to their left corner for Luke Whelan to give chase and send back to Harry Hillerby who delivered the ball towards the far post for Rhys Wells to pop up and head wide of the right post.
Cirencester responded as the ball was fed to Bennett, right channel – 20 yards out, but he fired narrowly wide of the far-left post.
The game continued in this manner as the teams took it in turns to attack and shortly before the hour mark a long ball from Highworth to the left corner resulted in a race between the pacey Whelan and Edward – ultimately cleared by Bampton.
On the hour mark Newbery launched the ball for Bennett to head on for Bell to collect, left side edge of the Highworth box, and after a tussle with Haines it resulted in a corner kick that was returned to Bell to cross to the Penalty Spot where Bennett headed over the target.
A couple of minutes later the ball was at the other end of the pitch for Hillerby to deliver a corner kick to the right post where Ash Taylor headed wide from 10 yards.
Around the mid-point of the half Highworth pressed as Pryce slipped the ball to Wells as he burst into the right channel of the visitor’s box – shot saved by Newbery.
The busy Wells was soon involved again as he stretched to reach a low cross from Windsor at the left post but poked it wide. He then delivered a deep cross-field pass to Mattimore but the resulting cross was blocked and cleared up-field for a Cirencester counter attack.
Around the 75-minute mark Edward delivered a long ball down the right flank for Ethen Rose to chase and collect but as he cut left into the home box, he was tackled to the ground but despite the appeals from his team-mates the Referee awarded a free kick only. Another free kick soon followed as Edward reached the right byline – Bell’s kick being parried and gathered by Johns.
A few minutes later Pryce supplied Mattimore who crossed from the right corner to reach Windsor, left channel - 12 yards out, but his right-footed shot was narrowly wide of the left post.
Once again Cirencester responded as Newbery launched the ball down their left channel for Ross Gabriel to head on to Graham who in turn flicked it towards the centre front edge of the home box where Bennett and Hillerby competed for the ball. Bennett volleyed the ball but some of the power was taken out by Hillerby’s challenge but it still required a diving save from Johns to keep it out of the net at his left post.
Around the scheduled 90-minute mark Cirencester pressed but the home defence refused to be breached and deep into added-time Whelan slipped the ball right to Michael Miller who fired a curling effort from 25 yards, left channel, that required a diving save from Newbery to keep it out – but it was recycled into the Cirencester box where Matt Cheetham’s shot, from right of the Penalty Spot, was blocked by the ‘keeper but rebounded to RHYS WELLS who managed to drive it inside the left post. 2-0.
A few seconds later it was game over.
Full Time: 2-0
A disappointing result for the Centurions as they worked hard and had plenty of possession, but unfortunately couldn’t find their shooting boots.
Attendance: 143 Referee: Aaron Baker
HIGHWORTH TOWN:
1. Connor Johns
2. Liam Haines
3. Harry Hillerby
4. Matt Cheetham ©
5. Dan Comer
6. Ash Taylor
7. Connor Mattimore 12
8. Rhys Wells 90+5
9. Owen Windsor
10. Sol Pryce
11. Luke Whelan
14. Matty Grabe (Sol Pryce-88mins)
15. Michael Miller (Connor Mattimore-88mins)
16. Liam Campbell (Harry Hillerby-85mins)
17. Ash Edenborough
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Ronnie Newbery
2. Lewis Thorne
3. Jordan Morris
4. Dave Bampton
5. Jonathan Aitkenhead
6. Jack Horrell
7. Finley Bell
8. Ethan Rose
9. Aidan Bennett ©
10. Jayden Stratford
11. Jack Freeman
12. Craig Graham (Jayden Stratford-32mins)
14. Ogaga Edward (Jordan Morris-35mins)
15. Bonsa Teshome (Ethan Rose-82mins)
16. Ross Gabriel (Jack Freeman-71mins)
17. James Mortimer-Jones