Cirencester Town FC
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Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
Click photo to view a slideshow of photos from the match
Match photos supplied by Graham Hill
The fourth successive ‘away’ Uhlsport Hellenic League – Premier Division fixture took The Centurions to THORNBURY TOWN and after a difficult match on a very firm pitch, in warm and windy conditions, the points were shared.
Prior to the match THORNBURY TOWN sat in 13th position in the league table with 3 points, whilst CIRENCESTER TOWN were in 18th place with 1 point.
Last season Cirencester secured a 3-0 victory at The Mundy Playing Fields but were held to a 2-2 draw at The Talent Hire Stadium.
The visitors kicked-off and immediately took the game to their hosts as they worked the right flank to the corner but once defended Thornbury launched the ball down the centre for Callum Chalmers to chase but ‘keeper Ronnie Newbery caught the ball above his head.
Within minutes Ollie Pitt lobbed the ball from the right channel. 10 yards inside the home half, towards the back post where a defensive header resulted in a corner kick from the left. Fraser Bell took the kick and sent it to the back post where it was pushed out by ‘keeper Mackenzie Welsh and retrieved by Ed Scott who struck a low shot goalwards – blocked on the line and cleared.
Cirencester continued to press but were repelled by a determined home defence and 15-minutes into the contest Harry Brock slid a pass down the right channel for Callum Chalmers to chase, collect and cross from the byline to the front edge of the visitors 6-yard box where it was cleared.
A few minutes later, following a Cirencester attack, Thornbury launched the ball to just outside the centre front edge of the Cirencester box - requiring Newbery to enter into a challenge with Chalmers and the resulting high collision injured the ‘keeper and a free kick was awarded.
Leading up to the mid-point of the half Thornbury produced some neat play to reach the right corner where Scott cleared the ball to be collected by Will Fowler but as he worked the ball to his left, it was lost to be fed down the Cirencester right flank to the corner. Spotting the danger Ash Fowler darted across to clear the ball off the pitch.
A few minutes later Jack Freeman bulldozed his way past would-be challenges from the front edge of the home box to reach the right byline where his shot was blocked and a goal-kick awarded.
Either side of a ‘Drinks Break’ Thornbury produced some neat football as Brock played the ball to Josh Oliver who carried it to the right corner before squaring towards an incoming Chalmers but his heavy touch brought the threat to an end.
Following the ‘Drinks Break’ Thornbury collected a Cirencester launch to work the ball back up the right flank as Joe McLaughlin supplied Brock, inside to Oliver, back to Brock who crossed to Chalmers and under challenge the ball broke to Zak Kempster and eventually it was cleared from the visitor’s box.
Within minutes Cirencester worked the ball down their right flank before crossing to the back post to be played back for JACK FREEMAN to collect on the edge of the home box. He shrugged off a couple of challenges before unleashing a fierce right footed strike that finished in the back of the net despite ‘keeper Mackenzie Welsh getting a hand to it. 0-1.
After Sam Moseley delivered a free kick to the left channel of the Cirencester box it was headed out to Oliver who fired over the bar.
Leading up to the interval Cirencester increased the pressure as Scott headed wide of the left post and Peare headed over following corner kicks.
Throughout the first half Cirencester struggled with weight of pass due to the wind and this brought many promising attacks to an end.
Half Time: 0-1
After the half-time interval it was more of the same with Cirencester dominating possession and the home side countering quickly.
Within minutes of the re-start Kyle Pitts delivered a free kick into the home box to be headed out to Pitt and he instantly fired a left footed strike past the left post.
Cirencester were soon back again as Finley Bell received the ball in the left corner before embarking on a run along the byline, riding or evading challenges as he travelled, to cross – headed out for a corner kick that resulted in an ‘offside’ decision.
Leading up to the hour-mark Peare battled to retain the ball before firing over, and Fraser Bell twisted and turned to reach the right channel before firing over the bar.
More pressure followed with Harrison Reeves firing wide of the right post and Pitts heading wide of the left post.
Thornbury replied as McLaughlin delivered a long cross from their right flank to the Penalty Spot for Oliver’s header to crash against the woodwork (top right corner).
The action then returned to the other end of the pitch as Ross Gabriel saw two headed efforts pass wide of the target (the first past the right post and the second bounced over the bar).
A couple of minutes after the second ‘Drinks Break’ the home side were back on level terms – following a cross from Finley Bell being caught by Welsh the ‘keeper launched the ball down the right flank to be collected by HARRY BROCK and he promptly lobbed an advanced Newbery. 1-1.
The response from Cirencester was immediate as a free kick on their right flank led to a couple of corner kicks and a Gabriel header that was wide of the right post.
Not to be outdone Moseley then released Brock for a run to the right corner which resulted in a corner kick that Pitt headed clear but it was soon recycled for Moseley to ride a couple of challenges before firing a fierce strike past the left post from just outside the Cirencester box, right channel.
In the final minutes of ‘added-time’ Reeves had a couple of pots at the target – the first fizzed past the right post and the second was saved by Welsh.
Full Time: 1-1
Despite dominating possession Cirencester wasted numerous chances to score and Thornbury defended with determination so the points were shared.
Attendance: 120 Referee: Pshtiwan Ali
THORNBURY TOWN:
1. Mackenzie Welsh (GK)
2. Joe McLaughlin
3. Cam Drew
4. Ash Fowler
5. Louis Singfield
6. Will Fowler
7. Harry Brock 78
8. Sam Moseley
9. Callum Chalmer ©
10. Josh Oliver
11. Zak Kempster
12. Tom Manley (Will Fowler-69mins)
14. Tom Warren (Zak Kempster-60mins)
15. Connor Parkhill
16. Nathan Sage
17. Adam Clark (GK)
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Ronnie Newbery
2. Fraser Bell
3. Aidan Bennett ©
4. Edward Scott
5. Kyle Pitts
6. Jack Horrell
7. Finley Bell
8. Ollie Pitt
9. George Peare
10. Jack Freeman 33
11. Harrison Reeves
12. Ethan Rose (Harrison Reeves-71mins)
14. Harry Titchener
15. Christian Oliver
16. Ross Gabriel (George Peare-71mins)
17. Charlie Sutton