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 journey to near neighbours MALMESBURY VICTORIA for this mid-week Quarter Final fixture in the Wiseman Lighting (UHL) Floodlit Cup and two strikes in the final quarter secured their place in the next round of the Competition.
The Cirencester starting eleven saw the return of Jordan Morris (injury) and Finley Bell (mid-term break from his studies in the USA), and it also took Kyle Pitts back to the Club he was playing for earlier in the season.
On a cold evening the hosts kicked off proceedings and immediately attacked down their left flank before progress ended following a foul on ‘keeper Ronnie Newbery.
Cirencester responded by working their flanks and it didn’t take long for Finley Bell to combine with Ethan Rose on the right flank before Harrison Reeves was released for a run down the left that resulted in a corner kick. The very young home custodian, Will Tubbs (on loan from Forest Green Rovers Academy), punched the ball away from his goal for it to be cleared downfield.
With 14-minutes on the clock The Vics were awarded a free kick on their right flank, 15-yards inside the visitor’s half, and following a scramble the ball was cleared.
Five minutes later the goalmouth scramble was at the other end of the pitch as Bell exchanged passes with Bonsa Teshome to reach the right corner and ‘win’ a corner kick that Reeves delivered into the ‘mix’ where it bobbed about before Aidan Bennett turned sharply to fire over the right post.
Shortly after the mid-point of the half Malmesbury countered with Andy Baker reaching the left corner to cross for Jake Allen’s header, from near the front edge of the 6-yard box, to be cleared. This was soon followed by Jake Love delivering a superb pass behind the Cirencester defence to the left corner for the speedy Tom Moore to chase, collect and cross towards the near post where an alert Kyle Pitts blocked, conceding a corner kick in the process that was defended.
Around the half-hour mark Reeves reached the left byline to pull the ball back to Bell who slipped it right to Bennett, left channel front edge of the home box, and his firm strike was partially blocked for Tubbs to collect.
A couple of corner kicks soon followed before a long clearance brought Newbery out of his box to clear but his kick was collected by Allen who instantly shot at the empty goal – wide of the left post.
In the final minutes of the half both sides tested their opposing defences but without success.
Half Time: 0-0
Whilst there had been action at both ends of the pitch it had inevitably (given the local derby cup-tie that it was) been a competitive and scrappy first period.
Cirencester started the second half very positively as they pressured their hosts from the kick-off, with Bell producing some neat footwork just inside the home half to release Rose to the right corner where his cross was blocked for an early corner kick and volley from Bennett.
As the hour mark approached Teshome embarked on a strong run down the left channel and it took a well-timed tackle from Marcus Toop to stop his progress. A similar tackle from Ed Scott brought a driving run from Love to an end after Josh Hughes had released him down the hosts right flank.
As the mid-point of the half approached a cross from the right corner brought a strong appeal for a Penalty Kick from Cirencester for ‘handball’ - but these were waved away by the Referee, and when Reeves collected the loose ball to charge down the right channel of the box he was brought to ground as two defenders converged on him – another ‘Penalty’ shout as the ball broke to Ross Gabriel who saw his strike rebound off the underside of the crossbar and down – another appeal.
A minute later Bennett crossed from the right flank for Reeves to collect, left channel – 15 yards out, but he hurriedly sliced his shot wide of the left post.
Cirencester were enjoying a ‘purple patch’ as Bell reached the left byline to cross to the near post where Bennett’s effort was blocked for a goal-kick to be awarded.
A few minutes later Jack Horrell delivered a superb pass from the centre for Bell to collect and charge down the left side edge of the home box, and following some tricky footwork as he attempted to cut-right he was brought to ground and this time the Referee did award a Penalty Kick. Ross Gabriel stepped forward and drove his kick towards the bottom left post where Tubbs made a full-length dive to push it around the post for a corner kick. The kick was delivered to the back post by Bell and a scramble followed before KYLE PITTS bundled the ball over the line from close range. 0-1.
Encouraged by their breakthrough Cirencester pressed again as Reeves made another driving run down the left channel to the home box where his shot was deflected for a corner kick.
At the 75-minute mark Cirencester were awarded a free kick that was sent by Bell from the left flank, 35-yards out, into the home box where it was cleared to KYLE PITTS who was lurking on the right side edge of the box and from there he cut left into the box to unleash a fierce left-footed strike that bounced over the diving Tubbs to finish inside the far-left post. 0-2.
As the game entered the final ten scheduled minutes Reeves produced another quick-footed run into the home box that resulted in a corner kick and a header from Gabriel into the side-netting at the near left post.
Malmesbury countered with a charge from Love to the right corner and a pass inside to a supporting Allen who turned and fired over the bar from 25 yards.
FULL TIME: 0-2
A determined performance from The Centurions against committed opponents who were unable to break through The Centurions resolute defence.
Attendance: ??? Referee: James Curran
MALMESBURY VICTORIA:
1. Will Tubbs (GK)
2. Marcus Toop
3. Andy Baker ©
4. Harry Dowling
5. Jack Coward
6. Harry Clark
7. Jake Love
8. Josh Hughes
9. Jake Allen
10. Biagio Mazrotta
11. Tom Moore
12. Jack Smith (Jordan Okwesa-69mins)
14. Anthony Brown (Jozef Fullerton-69mins)
15. Rhys Simpkins (Tom Taylor-83mins)
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Ronnie Newbery
2. Ogaga Edward
3. Jordan Morris
4. Edward Scott
5. Kyle Pitts 73, 77
6. Jack Horrell
7. Bonsa Teshome
8. Ethan Rose
9. Aidan Bennett ©
10. Finley Bell
11. Harrison Reeves
12. Ross Gabriel (Bonsa Teshome-63mins)
14. Dave Bampton
15. Harley Arnold (Jordan Morris-81mins)
16. Harry Titchener (Ethan Rose-78mins)
17. Christian Oliver (Harrison Reeves-88mins)