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 first ‘home’ Uhlsport Hellenic League – Premier Division fixture of the new season for The Centurions brought local rivals HIGHWORTH TOWN to The Talent Hire Stadium and despite a dominant performance in terms of possession from Cirencester, two superb strikes secured victory and the points for The Worthians.
Prior to the match both sides sat at the wrong end of the league table with only 2 points to show from their games so far – Highworth having played 5 games to Cirencester’s 4 – so it took on added importance.
The Worthians kicked off, defending The Arena end of the ground, and immediately attacked the home side to the right corner where Jordan Morris dealt with the threat enabling Cirencester to counter as they worked the ball down their own right flank as the Bell brothers combined to supply Jack Horrell who switched play back to the left flank for Harrison Reeves to charge towards the left corner.
When the ball was lost Highworth mounted a quick counter that ended with a free kick to the visitors, followed by a corner kick that was defended and cleared by Ed Scott to start a period of possession as Cirencester worked the ball backwards and forwards across the pitch searching for an opening – eventually Fraser Bell burst forward to the right byline to send a low cross through the visitors 6-yard box without contact.
A few minutes later Kyle Pitts delivered a deep pass to the Penalty Spot where Aidan Bennett’s header was blocked and cleared, soon to be followed by another neat passage of play as Horrell, Jack Freeman and the Bell brothers combined for Finley to cross into the visitor’s box – caught by ‘keeper Oli Gargett.
Within minutes Freeman powered through a couple of tackles on half-way, charged forward and released Finley Bell to cross the ball – cleared by Leon Morrison.
Cirencester then tried their left flank as Reeves reached and cut along the byline to deliver a low cross to Bennett as he pulled away from the line of the left post, 12-yards out, to turn sharply and fire towards the far-right post where Gargett parried it across the goalmouth to be cleared.
The home side continued to dominate possession as they pressed forward as Gargett saved another Bennett strike and Finley Bell fired over the target.
Cirencester then attacked down their left flank as Morris overlapped to the left corner to pull the ball back to Reeves, inside to Ollie Pitt who struck a shot from the left channel towards goal – blocked but recycled to Reeves who fizzed a shot narrowly wide of the right post.
As is often the case when one side is attacking the other counters quickly and this was the case as at the mid-point of the half Rhys Wells delivered a pass down the right channel for OLLIE STEVENSON to collect, ride a challenge, move forward and unleash a thunderbolt that flew into the top left corner of the home goal. 0-1.
Almost immediately as Cirencester responded by attacking to their left corner the ball was lost and fed to RHYS WELLS on half-way, right channel, and he took stock of the situation – noticing that ‘keeper Ronnie Newbery was out of his box anticipating a through ball behind his defence – to launch the ball over the stranded Newbery and into the net. 0-2.
Encouraged by their breakthrough Jacob Newdick played the ball right to Liam Haines who sent it down the right flank for Bailey Gallagher to charge to the corner where his progress ended.
Following the setback Cirencester mounted another attack down their right flank as Pitts supplied Finley Bell who headed on to Freeman and he headed to Bennett who delivered the ball to Pitt as he moved across the front edge of the visitors box looking for an opening and just as he was about to release the ball he was brought to ground but the well-placed Referee rejected calls for a Penalty Kick.
The home side were soon back again as their free kick was cleared out of the visitor’s box to Horrell and he returned it from the left channel, with the outside of his right foot, to the centre front edge of the 6-yard box where it was headed out for a corner kick that was headed over the target by Pitts.
More pressure from Cirencester followed and ten minutes from the scheduled interval Fraser Bell delivered a cross to the far-left post for Bennett to send a bullet header towards the target – Gargett launched himself to his left to push it over his goal.
As the half drew to a close Gallagher charged to the right corner and crossed the ball to the Penalty Spot where it was cleared to Newdick and won by Fraser Bell who mounted another attack.
Half Time: 0-2
It had been a busy first half for The Centurions who had nothing to show for their efforts thanks to the stubborn defending and two superb strikes from their visitors.
During the interval Cirencester made a couple of substitutions and from the re-start they pressed to the right corner and then left flank for Morris to deliver a cross into the Highworth box eventually resulting in a corner kick from their right flank that Fraser Bell headed back across goal for Pitts to head – blocked, cleared, recycled and cleared again.
Almost immediately Cirencester were back again as Reeves supplied Fraser Bell in the left corner and he crossed to the back post where George Peare was just unable to make contact.
Another Cirencester attack came to nothing as Reeves and Peare both had shots blocked.
More Cirencester pressure followed but they could not break through the resolute visitor’s defence and shortly after the hour mark a Morris cross-field pass reached Finley Bell in the right corner and he sent it to the back post where Reeves fired wide of the far-right post
Another Cirencester move, involving Pitt, Peare and Reeves on the left flank produced a corner kick from the left and this led to a goalmouth scramble before it was cleared.
At the mid-point of the second half Pitts delivered an astute pass to the right channel of the visitors Penalty Area for Fraser Bell to collect and slip past an advancing Gargett but it also passed the far-left post.
As the game entered the final 15-minutes Finley Bell struck a firm shot, from the centre front edge of the Highworth box, towards the bottom left corner – Gargett parried the strike and an incoming Ross Gabriel challenged for the rebound with the ball breaking to GEORGE PEARE who managed to poke it home from close range before the ‘keeper could re-gather. 1-2.
A few minutes later Wells supplied Stevenson, right channel front edge of the home box, and he struck another fierce shot past the top left corner.
As the 90-minute mark approached Cirencester worked the ball to the left flank for Morris to cross – out for a corner kick from the right flank that was delivered into the ‘mix’ at the near post where Scott headed it over the line – much to the delight of his team-mates – but their rejoicing was cut short as the Assistant Referee had his flag raised. The Referee consulted with his Assistant and disallowed the goal – it is thought for ‘offside’ but as there were two defenders on the line it is unclear what reason was given for the decision.
Cirencester continued to press but were thwarted as shots were parried or caught by Gargett and then four minutes into ‘added-time’ a swift counter attack from Highworth as Gallagher galloped down their right channel ended when Newbery denied him in a 1v1.
There was still time for one more Cirencester attack as Scott launched the ball for Peare to head at the back post resulting in a corner kick from the right that Gargett blocked.
Full Time: 1-2
An entertaining game for the neutral spectator, but a frustrating one for home supporters as the amount of possession Cirencester had should have secured the 3 points but the Highworth defence had other ideas and their two strikes were a bit special.
Attendance: 179 Referee: James Curran
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Ronnie Newbery
2. Fraser Bell
3. Jordan Morris
4. Ed Scott
5. Kyle Pitts
6. Jack Horrell
7. Finley Bell
8. Ollie Pitt
9. Aidan Bennett ©
10. Jack Freeman
11. Harrison Reeves
12. Ethan Rose
14. Elliott Keightley (Jack Freeman-46mins)
15. George Peare (Aidan Bennett-46mins) 76
16. Ross Gabriel (Harrison Reeves-70mins)
17. Harry Titchener
HIGHWORTH TOWN:
1. Oli Gargett
2. Liam Haines
3. Zac Berry
4. Leon Morrison ©
5. Dan Comer
6. James Griffiths
7. Bailey Gallagher
8. Rhys Wells 25
9. Ollie Stevenson 23
10. Edji Mbunga
11. Jacob Newdick
12. Jordan Murray
14. Harvey Scholes (James Griffiths-72mins)
15. Ryan King (Edji Mbunga-53mins)
16. Jerome Daniel (Jacob Newdick-84mins)
17. Riley Bailey (Oli Stevenson-89mins)