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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The Centurions were on the road again as they travelled to face PERSHORE TOWN in this mid-week Uhlsport Hellenic League – Premier Division fixture – their third successive away fixture of the new season – and following a competitive match that was full of incident it was the home side that held out to secure the 3 points.
Prior to the match the home side sat in 17th place in the Premier Division table with one point from their two games - the same as Cirencester who sat in 15th place due to their goal difference being -1 to Pershore’s -2.
The home side kicked off on a very warm evening and immediately put Cirencester under pressure as they first launched the ball down their right flank for Ed Scott to head out for Lucas Colley to collect and take on Jordan Morris. The ball was recycled for another attack to the right corner where once again Scott and Morris dealt with the threat.
Pershore then switched their attention to the left flank as Jack Griffiths-Perry galloped to the corner to cross for Scott to head out of the Penalty Area for Cian Sheehan to collect and lay-off to George Hunt who fired over the bar from 25 yards.
Shortly afterwards Cirencester mounted an attack that was repelled by the home defence for Nigel Hinkulow to send a long cross-field pass, from left to right, to Colley but his progress was soon halted.
Almost immediately ‘The Plums’ came again as the ball was recycled and worked along the front edge of the Cirencester box where two strikes were blocked before a counter attack was mounted by the visitors - as Harrison Reeves charged to the left front corner of the home box, passed the ball right to Harlie Price who moved right and shot towards the bottom right post. Goal-keeper Joe Cunneen was quickly across his goal to save.
Leading up to the mid-point of the half Cirencester began to push forward more often but their progress ended with free kicks being awarded – one of which Ollie Pitt quickly played down the left channel for Reeves to run down the side edge of the home box and as he cut-right he fired into the side-netting.
A couple of minutes later Fraser Bell played the ball to Morris as he overlapped to the left corner to deliver a low cross that flew through the front of the home 6-yard box with George Peare and an incoming Price just unable to make contact.
The Centurions were soon back again as a couple of corner kicks followed, leading to a goalmouth scramble and eventually Reeves striking the bottom of the left post.
Whilst Cirencester were increasing the pressure, the home side were mounting quick counter attacks - as illustrated when Archie Thurston reached the right byline to deliver a cross towards the Penalty Spot where Scott headed clear but it was swiftly returned as Tyrese Griffin struck a sensational volley that rebounded off the crossbar to be recycled to strike the left post.
Undeterred Cirencester continued to press and were awarded a number of free kicks and corner kicks that were repelled by the home defence.
As the interval loomed Elliott Keightley supplied the ball to Jack Freeman on the right flank, near halfway, and he delivers a superb pass to the left corner where Morris crossed but once again Hinkulow defended under pressure.
In the final minutes of the half Hunt lobbed the ball over the Cirencester backline for Thurston to chase but his resulting shot failed to test ‘keeper Ronnie Newbery.
Half Time: 0-0
It had been an eventful first half with no end product for either side but it all changed within two minutes of the re-start.
Following an initial launch to their right corner by Cirencester the ball was won by Pershore and worked across the pitch and down their right flank to Jude Hill who then embarked on a long run, without challenge, towards and across the front edge of the Cirencester box, where he fired towards the right post. Ronnie Newbery parried the effort before an alert JACK GRIFFITHS-PERRY pounced to tuck in the rebound from close range. 1-0.
A couple of minutes later a Bell lob into the home box was collected by Reeves and as he worked his way across the box he was brought to ground but a well-positioned Referee rejected any appeals for a Penalty Kick.
Almost immediately a Bell strike was deflected onto the bar with the rebound being cleared and a free kick awarded. Ollie Pitt quickly fed the ball down the left channel to Reeves who worked his way into the Pershore box to be denied by Cunneen.
As Cirencester worked the ball to the right corner and into the home box it was cleared for a counter attack that Jude Hill fired over the bar.
Shortly before the hour mark Freeman sent the ball down the centre for Reeves to collect near the Penalty Spot and the ball broke to Peare who promptly put it in the net. His joy was short lived as a free kick was awarded to Pershore.
Six minutes later Pitt delivered a free kick to the centre front edge of the 6-yard box where it was headed towards the right post – a scramble followed and the ball was cleared off the goal-line.
The pressure on the home goal was mounting and the tension rising - although Jude Hill found some space to fire wide of the left post from 30-yards - as Scott headed over the target and a low cross from Reeves reached Peare who thought he had a tap-in but Cunneen recovered to smother his effort from close range.
As the game was drawing to a close Price received the ball in the right corner and his cross from near the byline clipped the top of the bar and at the 90-minute mark a Morris cross to the near post reached Peare but he was again denied by Cunneen.
In ‘added-time’ Joel Hill charged down the home sides left flank and into the Cirencester Penalty Area where he shot towards the far-right post – Newbery parried the strike and a scramble followed before the ball was cleared.
Cirencester responded as Morris galloped to the left corner before sending the ball into the home box for a Penalty Kick to be awarded for ‘handball’. Ross Gabriel stepped forward to send the spot kick low towards the left post but Cunneen dived to his right to save.
A final free kick for Cirencester was blocked with the rebound being fired over the bar and it was all over – much to the relief of the home support.
Full Time: 1-0
A competitive and entertaining match with plenty of action and incidents at both ends of the pitch.
Attendance: 121 Referee: Mark Forman
PERSHORE TOWN:
1. Joe Cunneen
2. Jack Neal ©
3. Tyrese Griffin
4. George Hunt
5. Jack Knott
6. Nigel Hinkulow
7. Lucas Colley
15. Cian Sheehan
9. Archie Thurston
10. Jude Hill
11. Jack Griffiths-Perry 47
14. Harvey White (Jack Griffiths-Perry-88mins)
16. Ewan Carter (George Hunt-82mins)
17. Yuri Quintas (Lucas Colley-55mins)
18. Joel Hill (Archie Thurston-67mins)
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Ronnie Newbery
2. Elliott Keightley
3. Jordan Morris
4. Edward Scott
5. Kyle Pitts ©
6. Ollie Pitt
7. Fraser Bell
8. Jack Freeman
9. Harlie Price
10. George Peare
11. Harrison Reeves
12. Aidan Bennett (Jack Freeman-71mins)
14. Ethan Rose (Harrison Reeves-79mins)
15. Harley Arnold
16. Harry Titchener
17. Ross Gabriel (Elliott Keightley-88mins)