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
This Fourth-Round fixture in the Marsh Sports Insurance (UHL) Challenge Cup took The Centurions to the home of CLANFIELD 85 and after an extra time equaliser took the cup-tie to a Penalty shoot-out the result was decided by the 22nd spot-kick in favour of the hosts.
The hosts play their football in Division 1 of the Uhlsport Hellenic League and currently sit in 6th place in the table with 42 points from 24 games played whilst their visitors sit in 15th place in the Premier Division with 35 points from 33 games played.
The two sides met in a pre-season friendly match at The Talent Hire Stadium in July and the game ended with honours shared at 3-3.
Following an overnight frost the ground was in the process of thawing-out in the daylight sun and was getting softer by the minute and as a result made balance, sharp turning and weight of pass an issue as the game progressed.
Cirencester kicked off and launched the ball down their right flank where Ogaga Edwards took advantage of a poor touch from an opponent to mount a charge to the corner where he delivered the ball to Aidan Bennett, near the centre front edge of the home box, but his pass to the left for a shooting opportunity was intercepted.
During the early stages the visitors were having much success down their right flank with Bonsa Teshome making ground several times to the corner and Harley Arnold showing quick feet and good balance to evade a couple of challenges to release him.
One of these expeditions resulted in a corner kick that Jack Freeman slipped to Jack Horrell who returned it so that Freeman could deliver a cross from a different angle to the near post where Bennett’s effort was narrowly wide of the right post.
At the 15-minute mark the home side mounted their first counter attack down their right flank as Endri Stathi and Jozef Fullerton exchanged passes to make ground but the attack came to a halt as Clanfield were awarded a free kick on half-way. Nathan Kimber sent the kick towards the left front corner of the Cirencester box where it was cleared for Edwards to release Teshome for another run down the right touchline.
At the mid-point of the half Horrell sent a free kick from the left flank to the far-right post where Andy Lewis headed it across the box for Ed Scott (left of the Penalty Spot) to shoot – blocked to rebound for a goal-kick.
Around the half-hour Clanfield mounted another attack down their right flank that involved several players and this was soon followed by an impressive display of neat passing on the sticky pitch as they worked their way out of defence, left flank, to reach their right flank – signs that they were beginning to work their way into the game after Cirencester had dominated possession thus far.
Five minutes later Tyger Hall released Reuben Harry down their right flank - resulting in a corner kick that Finn Baker delivered into the ‘mix’ on the edge of the 6-yard box. The header from Fullerton was blocked in front of the goal and rebounded for Kimber to shoot on the turn and this produced an incredible reflex save from ‘keeper Ronnie Newbery.
The home side were growing in confidence as a Baker strike from 35 yards was caught by Newbery.
As the half was drawing to a close Clanfield worked the ball down their left flank as Stathi, Fullerton and Hall combined for the latter to cross from the byline – resulting in a scramble near the right post before it was cleared.
The final action of the half saw Freeman win the ball and switch play from the left to the right flank for Teshome to reach the corner but the home side survived the threat.
Half Time: 0-0
It had been a busy first half for the visitors but they had nothing to show for it and almost immediately from the re-start the home side were awarded a free kick that Kimber headed into the grateful arms of Newbery.
Shortly afterwards Horrell sent the ball down the centre towards the home box where Bennett gave chase to close down ‘keeper Luke Haley and as a result the clearance was recycled to Arnold who produced quick feet to get past three opponents and reach the edge of the home box where he was brought to ground. The Referee awarded a free kick outside the box, left channel, and Horrell struck it over the top right corner.
Ten minutes into the half Edward played the ball down the right channel to Bennett and this resulted in a free kick that Horrell delivered into the ‘mix’ on the edge of the 6-yard box where after Scott’s initial header it bobbed about until ANDY LEWIS produced a spectacular overhead, scissor-kick that sent the ball from the left channel front edge of the box into the top right corner of the goal. 0-1.
The game became more open with Cirencester working the ball forward at the mid-point as some neat play involving Arnold, Lewis, Bennett and Freeman ended when an ‘offside’ flag was raised.
The home side replied as Jamie Wyatt darted to the right corner before crossing to the far-left post where Hall laid the ball to Stathi but his shot from left of the Penalty Spot was blocked by Kyle Pitts on the goal-line and cleared.
Clanfield then tried their left flank as Kian Burrows, Stathi and Hall combined before it ended as a free kick was awarded to Cirencester.
A few minutes later Clanfield returned to their right flank but as Wyatt made ground to the corner Arnold chased after him to prevent the cross.
With ten scheduled minutes remaining Edward completed a run to the right byline and crossed to the back post for Arnold to collect and ‘win’ a corner kick that was cleared to Horrell who clipped it back into the box where Pitts volleyed over the bar.
There was still time for Scott to display clever footwork on the touchline to work the ball inside under pressure, and for Lewis to strike the bottom of the right post (from the edge of the box), following a corner kick, and for Haley to push the follow-up shot from 8 yards by Bennett over his bar.
As the game was drawing to a close a Clanfield free kick was cleared for a throw-in from the left corner. With the last throw of the dice Kimber launched the throw into the Cirencester box where the initial shot was blocked, a scramble ensued, before ENDRI STATHI tucked it into the net. 1-1.
FULL TIME: 1-1
The competition did not allow for extra-time so it was straight to a Penalty Shoot-Out.
Cirencester went first and after three pairs of Penalty Kicks they were leading 3-1 but at the end of the compulsory five each it was all square at 3-3 so on to ‘sudden death’.
Cirencester scorers:- Bonsa Teshome, Ethan Rose, Aidan Bennett.
Clanfield scorers:– Reuben Harry, George Seacole, Finn Baker.
On to ‘sudden death’ territory:-
Cirencester scorers:- Edward Taylor, Kyle Pitts, Ed Scott, Ogaga Edward.
Clanfield scorers:– Endri Stathi, Jamie Wyatt, Theo Tyson, Craig Connor, Luke Haley.
After another five pairs it was still all square at 7-7 so it was the turn of the goalkeepers – Ronnie Newbery was first and his kick was saved by the outstretched leg of Haley.
Luke Haley stepped forward and smashed the ball into the net and Clanfield had won 8-7.
Attendance: 122 Referee: ???
CLANFIELD 85:
1. Luke Haley
2. Finn Baker
3. Kian Burrows
4. Tom Taylor
5. Charlie Trinder-Sage
6. Nathan Kimber ©
7. Endri Stathi 90+1
8. Jordan Okwesa
9. Jozef Fullerton
10. Tyger Hall
11. Reuben Harry
12. Jamie Wyatt (Jordan Okwesa-69mins)
14. George Seacole (Jozef Fullerton-69mins)
15. Theo Tyson (Tom Taylor-83mins)
16. Craig Connor (Kian Burrows-83mins)
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Ronnie Newbery
2. Ogaga Edward
3. Edward Scott
4. Kyle Pitts
5. Andy Lewis 56
6. Jack Horrell
7. Bonsa Teshome
8. Ethan Rose
9. Aidan Bennett ©
10. Jack Freeman
11. Harley Arnold
12. Edward Taylor (Jack Freeman-76mins)
14. Javan Matumba
15. Harry Titchener
16. Freddie Whitehead
17. Dave Bampton