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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A much-changed Cossham Street was the destination for The Centurions for their latest Uhlsport Hellenic League – Premier Division fixture, where they would face long-standing, and currently high-flying, rivals MANGOTSFIELD UNITED on their recently completed, 3G pitch - and following a very competitive match the visitors returned with the 3-points.
Whilst their new facility was being prepared The Mangos had played their league fixtures up to Mid-November away from Cossham Street and since the opening all their fixtures had returned to their home base and during this time they have won 9, drawn 3, lost 2 enabling them to rise to 2nd place in the Premier Division table with 60 points from 30 games played.
As is common knowledge Cirencester did not have the greatest of starts upon their return to the Hellenic League – losing their first seven matches - but the New Year and recent games have shown something of a ‘Phoenix rising from the ashes’ with 3 wins and a draw in their last 4 matches, and as a result they now sit in 15th place with 29 points from 29 games prior to this encounter.
The match started very competitively as a strong challenge in the opening minutes left Finley Bell limping and another on Aidan Bennett near the edge of the home box resulted in a Yellow Card for the culprit.
In between these challenges Olly Sully headed wide of the target at the back post and shortly after Michael Barry played a square pass to Lewis Powell, who didn’t make the contact he would have liked, enabling ‘keeper Ronnie Newbery to collect.
Back came Cirencester as Bell placed his shot from distance narrowly wide of the post and a few minutes later Bonsa Teshome fired a rising shot over the bar.
The home side then pressed as bodies charged into the visitor’s box and in the scramble that followed the ball bounced onto the bar and out for a corner kick.
Within minutes Mangotsfield were back as Sully and Powell combined but determined defending from Ed Scott blocked the resulting shot from Sully.
As is often the case when one side presses the other counters quickly to take advantage and this Cirencester did to perfection as Ogaga Edward cleared the ball out of defence, and over the rearguard of the home side, for the enthusiastic FINLEY BELL to chase and latch onto near the front edge of the home box, and as defenders converged on him, he calmly tucked his shot inside the right post to open the scoring. 0-1.
As the interval loomed Sully, who had been causing problems for the visitors throughout the first half, delivered a ball into the Cirencester 6-yard box where a diving Newbery collected to eliminate the threat.
Half Time: 0-1
Almost immediately from the re-start Powell and Sully combined again as the former flicked the ball through to provide a 1v1 between Sully and Newbery with the ‘keeper throwing himself at it to prevent further progress.
Cirencester responded as Teshome fired over the bar again, and Harrison Reeves whipped a free kick into the home box that found Bennett, but his strike was deflected for a corner kick.
As Reeves delivered the corner kick to the near post Bennett darted forward to ‘back-head’ it over the group and towards the back post where EDWARD SCOTT was fast arriving to head inside the left post. 0-2.
A few minutes later Bennett laid the ball into the path of Reeves but his shot was blocked by a defender and within minutes Newbery was called into action at the other end to deny Powell from close range.
The game became a little tetchy with several Yellow Cards issued but there was still time for another tremendous double save from Newbery to deny the hosts once again.
Full Time: 0-2
Another superb all-round team performance from The Centurions to return with the 3-points from their second placed opponents – well done lads.
Attendance: 285 Referee: Samuel Lomas
MANGOTSFIELD UNITED:
1. Ellis Parker
2. Stuart Tovey
3. Jeffrey Barimah
6. Aaron Parsons
7. Harley Purnell ©
8. Joe Porton
12. Archie Morris
14. Michael Barry
15. Mircea Ilea
17. Olly Sully
19. Lewis Powell
4. Tom Warren (Stuart Tovey-82mins)
9. George Neill (Joe Porton-65mins)
10. James White (Michael Barry-65mins)
11. Joe Cattermole (Archie Morris-76mins)
18. Kyrese Morrison (Harley Purnell-65mins)
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Ronnie Newbery
2. Ogaga Edward
3. Jordan Morris
4. Edward Scott 58
5. Kyle Pitts
6. Jack Horrell
7. Bonsa Teshome
8. Jack Freeman
9. Aidan Bennett ©
10. Finley Bell 31
11. Harrison Reeves
12. Dave Bampton
14. Ethan Rose (Harrison Reeves-79mins)
16. Edward Taylor
17. Harry Titchener
18. Harley Arnold (Bonsa Teshome-88mins)