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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Once again, The Centurions entered the Emirates FA Cup at the Extra Preliminary Round stage of the competition, this year with a home tie against READING CITY and despite plenty of goal-mouth action neither side could find a goal so the tie will be decided by a replay on Tuesday evening.
READING CITY currently play their football in the Combined Counties League – Premier Division North – the same level as Cirencester Town (Step 5) - finishing in 13th position last term so an interesting match was in prospect.
The visitors kicked off playing towards The Shed end of The Talent Hire Stadium but as they moved towards the home goal they lost the ball, enabling Cirencester to counter but they didn’t keep the ball for long either.
During the opening ten minutes Reading worked the ball down both flanks to obtain throw-ins that were launched into the home box by Eddie Lazarczuk where the threat was cleared.
Cirencester responded by working the ball down the left flank and were awarded a corner kick that Fraser Bell delivered to the back post where Harlie Price headed narrowly wide of the right post.
In this end-to-end period The Cityzens released McKoy Palmer for a run down their right flank to the corner where he sent a low cross through the home box without contact.
Cirencester were beginning to show signs of settling as they worked the ball down their right flank, across to the left and back again before slipping it to Jack Freeman, on the centre front edge of the visitor’s box, but as he moved left looking for a shooting opportunity he was crowded out and the threat was over.
Another long throw from Lazarczuk reached the Cirencester box to be cleared by Aidan Bennett but it was recycled for a corner kick that Bennett also cleared – an overhead kick followed and ‘keeper Ronnie Newbery made the catch.
Minutes later, after a Cirencester free kick had been cleared, Newbery was called into action again when an intended ‘back-pass’ was a bit short and he had to leave his area to chest the ball before launching it downfield.
Into the second quarter and Cirencester were pressing more frequently, particularly down their right flank, with Bell often involved, and around the 30-minute mark he delivered a ball into the box. The attempted clearance was collected by Bennett who worked his way past a couple of challenges before being upended, just inside the centre front edge of the Penalty Area, but the well-placed Referee dismissed the shouts for a Penalty Kick.
After another long throw from the visitors, Cirencester pressed again for a period but with no end product and as Reading cleared the ball down their right channel for Stefan Brown to reach the front corner of the home box a well-timed tackle from Ed Scott dealt with the threat.
Moments later the action was at the other end of the pitch as Price reached the right byline and sent a low cross to the back post where Ethan Rose attempted a back heel that was cleared downfield and eventually reached Palmer who fired wide of the far-right post.
Back came Cirencester – Jack Horrell slipped a free kick to Jordan Morris, as he darted down the left flank to deliver a cross towards the Penalty Spot. The ball broke to Jonty Welch who was challenged as he fired at the target with the ball being diverted past the left post. Following a delay as Welch received treatment for the contact, the resulting corner kick was delivered into the 6-yard box by Bell for ‘keeper Charlie York to punch – falling to Bennett near the left post and he headed wide.
As the half was drawing to a close Freeman delivered a Cirencester corner kick from their right flank to the back post for Horrell to head it into the ‘mix’ of the 6-yard box where Bennett and Price tried to stab it home but York was able to claim the ball whilst on the ground.
Half Time: 0-0
The Centurions continued to press from the restart but the visitors defence stood firm.
Eight minutes in, Scott delivered a 50-yard pass to the right corner for Bennett to run along the byline and cross to the back post where Lazarczuk headed out for a corner kick from the left flank. The kick was played short to Morris who delivered a cross into the mix, cleared to Freeman – shot blocked and deflected towards Rose, clipped towards goal blocked by York for another corner kick – too long.
Leading up to the hour mark Cirencester were putting the visitors under immense pressure as Rose met an Ollie Pitt free kick, from the right flank, to send a glancing header wide of the far-left post, then Oliver Bourne made a superb defensive header to deny Price an opportunity.
Cirencester worked the ball down their right flank as Bell exchanged passes with Horrell to reach the right corner - resulting in a free kick that Freeman delivered into the mix in front of the visitors 6-yard box – a scramble ensued with efforts blocked before Scott fired over the bar as he fell backwards.
Just after the mid-point of the half Bennett reached the right corner and crossed the ball but a defender managed to divert the ball behind the incoming Price.
The home side were working both flanks with fullbacks Morris and Bell prominent as they delivered crosses into the Reading box – with defenders blocking resulting shots.
Having weathered the storm Reading launched another long throw into the home box for Harrison Bailey to send a looping header towards the top right corner where Newbery made the required catch.
They were soon back as they worked the ball to their right corner for a surrounded Muhamadou Ceesay to complete an audacious back heel that released Brown to the right channel of the home box and his low left footed shot arrowed towards the bottom right post where an alert Newbery made the save.
A few minutes later an Ashleigh Artwell strike was wide of the target, and following a Cirencester attack being brought to an end by an ‘offside’ flag, the visitors countered to put the ball in the back of the home net - denied by an ‘offside’ flag.
The final action of the game saw George Peare send pass out of defence to the left corner for Morris to deliver a cross through the Reading box that the supporting Price and Bell were unable to reach.
Full Time: 0-0
A competitive game with the visitors looking dangerous in the early stages and defending resolutely throughout as the home side put them under a lot of pressure.
Both sides had chances but the defences stood firm.
REPLAY – Tuesday 5th August, 7.45pm Kick Off
at The Rivermoor Stadium, Scours Lane, Tilehurst, Reading. RG30 6AY
Attendance: ??? Referee: Emmanuel Adeeko
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Ronnie Newbery
2. Fraser Bell
3. Jordan Morris
4. Ed Scott
5. Kyle Pitts
6. Jack Horrell
7. Aidan Bennett ©
8. Jonty Welch
9. Harlie Price
10. Jack Freeman
11. Jayden Stratford
12. George Peare (Ed Scott-73mins)
14. Ethan Rose (Jayden Stratford-15mins)
15. Harry Titchener (Jack Freeman-87mins)
16. Ollie Pitt (Jonty Welch-48mins)
READING CITY:
1. Charlie York
18. Eddie Lazarczuk
3. Luke Donville
4. Tristan Campbell
5. Oliver Bourne
6. Harrison Bailey
7. Muhamadou Ceesay
8. Joe Pilling
9. Stefan Brown ©
10. Adam Cashin-Murray
11. McKoy Palmer
2. Riley Denney (McKoy Palmer-74mins)
12. Joel Valentin
14. Jenson Mansel (Tristan Campbell-82mins)
15. Ashleigh Artwell (Joe Pilling-55mins)
16. Liam Baker
17. Ben Holder (Adam Cashin-Murray-65mins)
19. Hamish Thompson