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
The Centurions travelled to Bristol for this First Round Qualifying match in The Isuzu FA Vase to meet OLDLAND ABBOTONIANS – a repeat of last season’s fixture at this stage of the competition - and after a competitive match on a very hard pitch overcame their opponents to avenge last season’s 1-0 defeat and move through to the next round of the competition.
Oldland Abbotonians play their football in the Jewson Western Football League - Premier Division and prior to this match had obtained 3 points from their opening 4 games to sit in 16th place in the relevant table.
The home side kicked off proceedings on a very hard pitch, due to the prolonged dry weather, and it soon became evident that both sides were struggling to string many passes together as the higher than usual bounce provided the opportunity for a tackle to be made whilst getting it under control.
Despite this Cirencester created the first threat as a high lob from Aidan Bennett (making his 500th appearance for the First Team) into the home box was eventually cleared with some difficulty.
Almost immediately the visitors were back as Jordan Morris galloped down the left flank to the corner to deliver a cross that George Peare headed towards the top left corner where ‘keeper Kieran Perrin caught the ball.
Not to be outdone the home side then threatened as Cash Vinall headed a free kick wide of the left post before Louie O’Loughlin slipped the ball down their left flank for Mason Davis to collect and take to the front corner of the Cirencester where his progress ended.
A few minutes later Jai Macleod combined with O’Loughlin to supply Jacob Saunders but his cross-field pass towards Vinall was intercepted.
Following a ‘scrappy’ period of play a lob downfield to Saunders resulted in a corner kick that Harry Haughton sent to the back post where Ruben Nuevo-Draper headed wide of the target.
Approaching the mid-point of the half Cirencester were working forward, down their right channel, for the ball to reach Fraser Bell who saw his shot blocked and recycled to Elliott Keightley and his cross resulted in a corner kick that KYLE PITTS headed into the top left corner at the back post. 0-1.
The home side responded to the setback as Haughton delivered a free kick from their left flank to the far-right post where a corner kick was conceded – Haughton then delivered a low kick towards the near post where it was cleared for another free kick to be conceded on half-way.
This was also defended and cleared leading to a counter attack from the visitors as Theo Jeremy slipped the ball to Peare who flicked it into the path of a charging Bell who took it to the edge of the home box before slipping it left to a supporting Ethan Rose who fired over the bar.
Moments later Bell supplied Jeremy who cut left to the right channel, 25 yards out, to strike the ball towards the far-left post where Perrin dived to push it around his post. Aidan Bennett headed the resulting corner kick onto the top of the home crossbar.
Cirencester then enjoyed a period of concerted pressure that resulted in a free kick that Bell drove towards the bottom right corner but once again Perrin dived to push it around the post.
In the lead-up to the interval the home side mounted a couple of attacks as Vinall chipped the ball to the right corner for Macleod to collect – his cross was cleared to be recycled to Saunders, near the left front corner of the Cirencester box, who fired towards the bottom left corner where ‘keeper Ronnie Newbery made the required save.
Half Time: 0-1
The first half had been fairly competitive with both sides having chances to score - although Cirencester had more chances and possession than their opponents who would undoubtedly be pleased to go to the break only one goal down – but six minutes into the second half it all changed when the busy Jack Horrell delivered a free kick from near the centre circle to the right post for a defender to head over Perrin for an OWN GOAL. 0-2.
Undeterred however O’Loughlin reached the left byline to deliver a low cross into the mix on the edge of the Cirencester 6-yard box where a scramble ensued before the danger was cleared.
The home side returned immediately to feed Saunders and his low shot from the left channel of the visitor’s box was blocked by Newbery with the rebound being contested near the Penalty Spot – leaving a player from each side on the ground. The Referee decided on a ‘drop-ball’ to resume play.
As the hour mark approached substitutions began to be made and almost immediately a ball played down the Cirencester right flank was flicked on by Ross Gabriel for THEO JEREMY to collect and carry some 30 yards into the home box where he calmly slipped the ball past an advancing Perrin and into the vacant net. 0-3.
The home side reacted to the setback as Vinall shot past the left post and Davis was denied by Newbery in a 1v1 (although the flag was raised for ‘offside’).
Shortly after the mid-point of the second half Jeremy embarked on a run to the right corner before putting on the breaks, cutting back and clipping the ball to the left side edge of the home box where Bell headed it into the box to be cleared to a supporting JONTY WELCH who calmly stroked it inside the left post. 0-4.
Once again, the home side responded as Davis galloped down their left channel, with defenders giving chase either side of him, to reach the visitors box where Newbery advanced for a 1v1 but the resulting shot was over the target.
A few minutes later Ollie Pitt, Javan Matumba and Welch combined to work the right corner before delivering the ball to the left flank for FRASER BELL to cut right, along the front edge of the home box, before curling the ball through defenders and inside the far-right post past an unsighted Perrin. 0-5.
As the game was drawing to a close the home side mounted a couple of attacks on the Cirencester goal but were unable to break through.
Full Time: 0-5
A spirited performance from The Abbots but on the day Cirencester were more clinical and advance to the next round.
Attendance: ??? Referee: Jack Clark
OLDLAND ABBOTONIANS:
1. Kieran Perrin
2. Dejuan Tulloch
3. Emmanouil Athanasiou
4. Ibahima Sarr
5. Ruben Nuevo-Draper
6. Cash Vinall ©
7. Jai Macleod
8. Harry Haughton
9. Jacob Saunders
10. Mason Davis
11. Louie O’Loughlin
12. Dexter Levett (Mason Davis-85mins)
14. Caleb Pryce-Hall (Jacob SAunders-59mins)
15. Praise Amaefule (Louie O’Loughlin-59mins)
16. Logan Cassidy (Cash Vinall-85mins)
17. Luke Jordan
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
OWN GOAL 51
1. Ronnie Newbery
2. Elliott Keightley
3. Jordan Morris
4. Edward Scott
5. Kyle Pitts 21
6. Jack Horrell
7. Aidan Bennett ©
8. Ethan Rose
9. George Peare
10. Fraser Bell 80
11. Theo Jeremy 61
12. Jonty Welch (Ethan Rose-56mins) 69
14. Ollie Pitt (Jack Horrell-63mins)
15. Ross Gabriel (George Peare-56mins)
16. Javan Matumba (Theo Jeremy-75mins)
17. Jack Freeman (Aidan Bennett-69mins)