Cirencester Town FC
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Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
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The Centurions were involved in another entertaining ‘game of two halves’ at The Talent Hire Stadium in the Wiseman Lighting (UHL) Floodlit Cup when WESTFIELDS FC recovered from a 2-goal deficit to level the First Leg tie of the Final to take home advantage back to Allpay Park for the Second Leg.
To provide some context to the tie in terms of their relative league positions – prior to this game Westlands sat in 12th position in the league table with 44 points from 35 games whilst Cirencester were in 16th place with 35 points from the same number of games played.
The game started at a fast pace as within the first five minutes both sides had been awarded free kicks and caught ‘offside’ - but playing towards The Arena end of the ground Cirencester took the initiative to press with their fluent passing game, forcing the visitors to counter quickly.
Very early in the game Jack Horrell combined with Jack Freeman to release Harrison Reeves who struck a firm shot from the left front corner of the Westfields box for ‘keeper Shay Sterry to save.
A minute later Finley Bell darted down the left channel to collect a through ball in the box but his touch provided the chance for Sterry to pounce and collect and whilst Bell managed to jump over the ‘keeper a team-mate made contact with the prone Sterry who was injured in the process.
After a period of treatment Sterry opted to continue and immediately Dan Stoneman, Zac Powell and Ben Brooks combined to work the ball from left to right, before it was lost in the corner for a Cirencester counter attack that reached the left corner before it too was lost for a counter in the opposite direction as Stoneman made ground down the left flank to slip the ball to Brooks who rounded custodian Ronnie Newbery to cross towards the back post – cleared.
Cirencester continued to press as another Reeves effort passed narrowly wide of the left post before Bell, Jordan Morris and Reeves combined down the left flank to send a pass towards Ross Gabriel for Sterry to intervene.
A forceful Aidan Bennett header from the centre circle to Reeves soon followed but after slipping two challenges his shot was diverted for a corner kick.
Back came Cirencester as Horrell and Freeman combined again to release Ethan Rose to the right corner and his resulting cross was headed over the target by Gabriel.
Just before the mid-point of the half the visitors were awarded a free kick, left channel – 30 yards from goal, and Brooks strike dipped dramatically late to clip the top of the home bar.
Minutes later a well-timed tackle from Horrell secured the ball, as Westfields broke down their left channel, and he quickly supplied Bell who sent a pass down the centre towards Reeves but it was intercepted at full stretch to start a counter to the right corner.
A sliced defensive clearance into the air was latched onto by Gabriel but his header was comfortably saved by Sterry.
A high lob from Bennett to the visitor’s box was collected by Bell who slipped it right to Rose and his right foot shot on the turn cleared the bar.
A minute later the action was at the other end of the pitch as a cross from the right corner reached the back post where it was sent wide of the target. During the scramble Drew Heffernan was injured and following the delay, as he received treatment, Westfields substituted Sterry.
Shortly afterwards a Cirencester free kick from the right flank was headed over by Ed Scott, to be quickly followed by Gabriel laying the ball back to Freeman who crossed towards the far-right post where Rose stretched to test replacement custodian Kieron Blackburn.
Almost immediately Cirencester finally opened the scoring as the ball was worked down their left flank before being sent into the path of ROSS GABRIEL who rifled it into the bottom right corner from the edge of the visitor’s box. 1-0.
A couple of minutes later a Bell cross from the right flank passed through the Westfields 6-yard box - although Rose came close to making contact.
A run down the right flank from Rose followed and his cross was diverted for a corner kick that Reeves delivered into the ‘mix’ in front of goal and after a scramble I am advised that KYLE PITTS got the final touch. 2-0.
The response from the visitors was immediate as a swift counter attack found DAN STONEMAN who cut along the left byline to shoot/cross with his effort being deflected past home custodian Ronnie Newbery. 2-1.
In ‘added-time’ Reeves supplied Rose who fired past Blackburn but a covering defender cleared the danger.
Half Time: 2-1
It had been a hectic first half with Cirencester creating many chances, but Westfields had scored a late goal to keep them in the game, so who would come out for the second half ‘fired-up’ after the interval discussions.
The answer was supplied soon after the re-start as Westfields worked both flanks leading up to the hour mark but the home defence stood firm to repel them, including a Brooks near-post header that was pushed out by Newbery.
A few minutes later Stoneham latched onto a loose ball to fire over the bar from 25-yards.
Shortly afterwards Freeman provided some excellent cover to ‘win’ the ball on half-way, left flank, before slipping the ball behind the visitor’s defence for Reeves to chase, collect and deliver into the box - but behind the supporting Bell to be cleared.
Just before the mid-point of the half Westfields were awarded a free kick, left flank, 25-yards out, that was delivered to the back post where it was headed out of play for a corner kick. The busy Stoneman delivered the kick to the far-left post where BRANDON JENNINGS rose to head into the top left corner to equalise. 2-2.
Encouraged Westfields continued to press and dominated possession up to the 80-minute mark, but the home side responded as they pressed with some neat play of their own, down their right flank in particular, to reach the corner a couple of times but without breaking through.
In ‘added-time’ Westfields were awarded a couple of corner kicks and Stoneman fired another long-range effort over the bar.
Full Time: 2-2
A game of two halves with Cirencester having the better of the first half but not converting the chances they created, whilst the visitors were encouraged when scoring their late goal and came out with all guns blazing in the second period to secure the draw and take the tie back to their home ground with all to play for in the second leg.
Attendance: ??? Referee: Andrew Wertheim
Cirencester Town:
1. Ronnie Newbery
2. Aidan Bennett ©
3. Jordan Morris
4. Ed Scott
5. Kyle Pitts 42
6. Jack Horrell
7. Finley Bell
8. Ethan Rose
9. Ross Gabriel 37
10. Jack Freeman
11. Harrison Reeves
12. Ogaga Edward
14. Edward Taylor
16. Dave Bampton
17. Fraser Bell (Jack Horrell-59mins)
18. Harry Titchener
Westfields FC:
1. Shay Sterry
2. George Clarke
3. Drew Heffernan
4. Brandon Jennings © 65
5. Nathan Davies
6. Mason Godsall
7. Dan Stoneman 44
8. Zac Powell
9. Ben Brooks
10. Owen Taylor
11. Ryan Hillier
12. Archie Muirhead (Ben Brooks-78mins)
14. Cam Davies (Owen Taylor-46mins)
15. Luke Williams (Drew Heffernan-89mins)
16. Jake Bevan
13. Kieron Blackburn (GK) (Shay Sterry-32mins)