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
Match report produced by Dave Pyzer
For their final Uhlsport Hellenic League – Premier Division match of the season The Centurions made the short journey to The Flying Monk Ground for a mid-week fixture against neighbours MALMESBURY VICTORIA and after a hard-fought match on a very firm pitch the visitors recorded a narrow victory to avenge their early season defeat.
Malmesbury are in the midst of a heavy period of fixtures due to the flooding problems they experience every year and despite this schedule they are still three games behind teams around them - having played 35 games to obtain 24 points. Other results at the weekend confirmed relegation at the end of the season as they currently sit in 19th place and cannot catch the teams above them in their remaining games. However, they will undoubtedly be fully charged for this local derby fixture due to the close connection between the Clubs.
Prior to the game Cirencester sat in 16th place in the league table with 36 points from their 37 games played knowing that the 3 points would move them above Slimbridge in the table on goal difference.
From the start the match was competitive, and end-to-end, as the very firm pitch made control and ball retention difficult for both sets of players but it was the home side that kicked off proceedings to work the ball down their left flank before clipping the ball to the right post where Jonathan Peachey-Score miscued to miss the target.
Immediately Malmesbury worked the ball forward again to reach the right corner before slipping it inside to Anthony Brown who sent it to the left corner for Peachey-Score and George Evatt to combine and supply Biagio Mazzotta who crossed it to the far-right post – headed clear.
A few minutes later the home side were back again as they sent the ball down the right channel to supply Tom Moore in the Cirencester box and he unleashed a fierce strike that custodian Ronnie Newbery parried away from his goal.
In between Cirencester had mounted counter attacks but had struggled to keep the ball as they adjusted to the hard playing surface and twelve minutes into the contest, following a free kick, Jack Freeman slid the ball down the left channel, behind the home defence, for Harrison Reeves to cut inside from his left flank in the hope of collecting but under pressure from an advancing Oliver Gargett the Referee awarded a goal-kick.
This prompted a period of pressure from the visitors as a Reeves cross resulted in a corner kick that was recycled back to Finley Bell and defended at the back post but they were soon back again as another cross, this time from their right flank had to be defended.
A long punt downfield followed and this time Jack Coward launched it off the pitch as Jayden Stratford closed him down for a Cirencester throw-in in the left corner.
A minute later a high lob towards the far-right post was cleverly played with the outside of his right foot by Reeves towards the bottom right post where Gargett dived to push it out for a corner kick that was initially cleared but recycled for Fraser Bell to send back into the danger zone.
With 20-minutes on the clock Ethan Rose delivered a low cross from the left flank that passed through the 6-yard box to be collected by Finley Bell who drove it goalwards – Gargett pushed it wide to his right flank and a counter attack followed that reached the left corner.
At the mid-point of the half Finley Bell spotted a darting run across the front of the home box and delivered a superbly weighted pass down the right channel for JAYDEN STRATFORD to collect, just inside the home box, and produce a composed finish as he tucked the ball inside the far-left post as Gargett moved to cover his left post. 0-1.
Around the half hour mark Cirencester were working their right flank as Dave Bampton supplied Stratford who laid it back to Freeman but his strike was safely collected by Gargett..
In the lead-up to the interval it became more ‘end-to-end’ with quick counter attacks from both sides but when Jack Smith chased a ball down the left channel into the Cirencester box Newbery advanced to block his left footed strike.
In the closing minutes of the half Rose slipped the ball to Reeves and his left-footed shot was blocked in the goalmouth but a minute later a clearance fell to Reeves, centrally – 25 yards out, and he instantly volleyed it back at the target – saved by Gargett.
Half Time: 0-1
After the break Malmesbury came out ‘guns blazing’ as they quickly won the ball, after Cirencester kicked-off, to reach their left corner where the ball was crossed to the right post for Peachey-Score to slice his effort over the bar.
A few minutes after a long-range strike from Freeman the home side launched the ball down their right channel to the edge of the Cirencester box where the high bounce deceived the defence for Peachey-Score to collect and clip over an advancing Newbery – but it rebounded off the crossbar to be cleared.
During the next few minutes, the busy Peachey-Score was released a couple of times – the first for a 1v1 that was saved by Newbery and the second required a strong, well-timed challenge from Ed Scott, as he neared the right byline, to prevent further progress and this brought a loud appeal for a Penalty Kick from home players and fans alike that the Referee over-ruled.
Leading up to the hour mark Malmesbury continued to press as Moore and Peachey-Score fired over the bar and Smith lobbed the ball into the path of Peachey-Score who saw his strike, from the edge of the box, deflected for a corner kick.
At this point Cirencester made the first of their substitutions and a neat passing move followed for Aidan Bennett to cross from the left corner – caught by Gargett.
The home side continued to press their visitors and at the mid-point a free kick from their left corner was delivered into the Cirencester goalmouth where Kyle Pitts headed it away from near his goal-line, but it was recycled to Coward who drove it narrowly wide of the far-left post from the right channel of the Cirencester box.
Shortly afterwards Bonsa Teshome mounted a strong run down the centre before passing the ball right to Finley Bell who slipped it behind the home defence for him to collect as he continued his run to reach the left byline. Once there he laid it back to Bell who crossed into the goalmouth for Gargett to catch.
A few minutes later Smith produced some skilful play in the centre circle before sending the ball down the right flank for Tyler Jaggers to collect, cut left and shoot – saved by Newbery.
As the game entered the scheduled last ten minutes Freeman fired another long-range effort narrowly wide of the far-left post and both sides defended quick counter attacks.
At the scheduled 90-minutes Jordan Morris combined with Finley Bell to clip the ball from the left corner to the back-post where Bennett battled and Gargett collected.
A minute later Cirencester were awarded a free kick on the left side edge of the home box and Finley Bell delivered it to the front edge of the 6-yard box where Scott headed it down but it rebounded into the waiting arms of Gargett.
In the closing minutes Cirencester pressed with some neat football and Teshome chased after a ball into the home box but the bounce eluded him.
FULL TIME: 0-1
A determined performance from The Centurions against committed opponents, who were certainly dangerous on the counter in the first half and threatened for much of the second, but were unable to break through The Centurions resolute defence.
It has been a long, roller-coaster season for The Centurions - after the Voluntary Relegation from the Southern League decimated the squad - with many young players given their chance of First Team football.
The squad has stuck to the task to finish in a respectable 15th position - after an awful start to life in the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division (seven successive defeats) - and won some silverware as Winners of the Wiseman Lighting (UHL) Floodlit Cup.
Well done to Jonah, Tom and everyone involved during the season.
Attendance: 115 Referee: Sam Wilmott
MALMESBURY VICTORIA:
1. Oliver Gargett
2. Terry Francis
3. George Evatt
4. Anthony Brown
5. Jack Coward
6. Zac Berry
7. Jake Love
8. Biagio Mazzotta
9. Jack Smith
10. Jonathan Peachey-Score
11. Tom Moore
12. Marcus Toop (?????-??mins)
14. Tyler Jaggers (?????-??mins)
15. Josh Hughes (?????-??mins)
16. Harry Webster (?????-??mins)
17. Jake Allen (Biagio Mazzotta-83mins)
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Ronnie Newbery
2. Fraser Bell
3. Ethan Rose
4. Edward Scott
5. Kyle Pitts
6. Dave Bampton
7. Finley Bell
8. Harry Titchener
9. Jayden Stratford 23
10. Jack Freeman
11. Harrison Reeves
12. Ogaga Edward (Fraser Bell-75mins)
14. Bonsa Teshome (Jayden Stratford-69mins)
15. Harley Arnold (Harry Titchener-75mins)
16. Jordan Morris (Dave Bampton-63mins)
17. Aidan Bennett (Harrison Reeves-63mins)