Cirencester Town FC
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Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
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The latest Uhlsport Hellenic League – Premier Division fixture brought league leaders ROMAN GLASS ST. GEORGE to The Talent Hire Stadium and after a very entertaining, end-to-end, encounter it was the visitors that secured the 3-points with a late goal.
Prior to this match ROMAN GLASS ST. GEORGE sat at the top of the Uhlsport Hellenic League – Premier Division table with 20 points obtained from their 8 games so far whilst Cirencester were in 14th place with 8 points from the same number of games.
Last season ‘The Glass’ scored a late goal to win a seven-goal thriller at The Talent Hire Stadium, having won their home fixture 6-1 in the first match of the season. However, Cirencester did gain some consolation when they defeated today’s opponents in the Semi-Final of the Wiseman Lighting (UHL) Floodlit Cup by the same 4-3 score-line.
The opening few minutes provided an insight into what was to follow as from the kick-off Cirencester attacked down their left flank and the visitors immediately countered to release Dan Stoneman to the right front corner of the home box, and he wasted no time as he fired a fierce, low strike at the right post that ‘keeper Alex Harris did well to cover in the second minute of the match.
Cirencester replied as Theo Jeremy carried the ball across the front edge of the visitor’s box in search of an opening and Finley Bell drove into the visitor’s box, left channel, where ‘keeper Rob Brown cleared the ball off the pitch for a throw-in in the left corner.
A couple of minutes later the visitors opened the scoring when Cirencester failed to secure the ball on their left flank enabling Stoneman to send a low cross towards the front edge of the home 6-yard box where JAY MALPAS arrived to force it into the net. 0-1.
Cirencester replied as Jeremy collected a free kick before cutting left to shoot from the left channel front edge of the visitor’s box towards the right post – his effort was gathered by Brown.
A little later Stoneman controlled a long ball out of defence and immediately turned and fired another fierce low shot at the target – Harris blocked the effort at his left post before picking it up.
This was soon followed by the visitors switching play from their right flank to their left as Louis Ward made ground to the corner pursued by Jeremy and resulting in a throw-in to Cirencester.
Cirencester continued to press without really threatening the visitors goal, whilst The Glass replied with quick passing, interspersed with long balls to their fluid front line, but by the mid-point of the half the home side were showing signs of settling with some neat multi-pass moves, involving several players, as they worked the ball forward.
One of which reached Jonty Welch as he moved into the left channel of the visitor’s box but his strike was caught by Brown at his right post.
A few minutes later as Cirencester worked the ball forward Finley Bell supplied his brother Fraser as he darted towards the right corner, once there he doubled back before sending a left footed cross towards the far-left post where JACK FREEMAN leapt like the proverbial salmon to bravely challenge for the ball and head into the net – getting clattered in the process. 1-1.
The game became ‘end-to-end’ as both sides attacked, defended, counter attacked – The Glass sending a cross-field pass to release Joe McLennon for a run to the left corner and a cross that Harris caught, whilst Jack Horrell released Welch into the right channel of the visitor’s box to shoot – caught by Brown.
Another break from the visitors as Malpas burst into the home box, left channel, was brought to an end by a superbly-timed challenge from Kyle Pitts.
As the interval loomed Cirencester mounted a quick counter attack as Price slipped the ball to Jeremy, back to Fraser Bell who once again crossed towards the far-left post where Freeman headed towards the left post – caught by Brown.
Cirencester then worked the ball from right to left – Fraser Bell to Jeremy who moved left before firing narrowly over the bar from a central position 20 yards out.
Into the final minutes of the half and The Glass were awarded a corner kick that was cleared by Fraser Bell at the near post to Jeremy who promptly galloped down the left channel to the side edge of the visitor’s box but his cross towards a supporting Price was intercepted.
Half Time: 1-1
From the re-start The Glass worked the ball across their back four and back to Brown who launched it down their right flank but it was soon returned to Brown as a Cirencester pass proved to be too long.
Almost immediately however Cirencester regained possession to supply Price, on the centre front edge of the visitor’s box, and as he dug the ball out of his feet in preparation for shooting it rolled to Freeman who struck a fierce shot from alongside him that Brown managed to parry for a corner kick into the ‘mix’ that he managed to drop onto.
During the next few minutes The Glass worked the ball down their right flank to the corner but their progress came to an end as Aidan Bennett won the ball to start a counter attack that eventually reached the right corner where Welch’s cross was blocked and cleared for a counter attack from the visitors.
Leading up to the hour-mark a Cirencester free kick was blocked and cleared to a waiting Bennett and he quickly played it to Price who struck a low shot towards the left post where Brown scrambled across his goal to save.
By this stage of the contest both sides were going for a result and it was back to being ‘end-to-end’ – Cirencester reached the right corner but lost the ball as Jeremy cut inside resulting in a counter that Bennett brought to an end as he won the ball off a charging Stoneman.
The visitors were soon back as they reached the left byline (goal-kick), and were awarded a free kick (defended and cleared) and at the mid-point of the half Aaron Ward-Baptiste reached their left corner before pulling the ball back towards Joe Budd but he fired over the target from 20-yards, left channel.
Cirencester responded as Harrison Reeves sprinted to the left corner before delivering a cross to the front edge of the 6-yard box – cleared for a throw-in to Cirencester and as they continued to press the ball broke to Nick Peare who attempted a 35-yard strike but it was wide of the right post.
Moments later Jeremy cut along the front edge of the visitor’s box, right to left, to strike a low shot narrowly wide of the right post when he reached the centre.
A minute later Price burst through for a 1v1 with Brown and the ‘keeper managed to parry the first strike but it rebounded for a second that hit the side-netting from a narrow angle.
More threatening runs from Jeremy and Reeves followed resulting in a corner kick - but before it could be taken Elliott Keightley replaced Nick Peare, who had been injured a little earlier in a strong tackle - that was cleared to the half-way line, left channel, where DAN STONEMAN collected, turned and charged towards the home goal with Keightley in hot pursuit. As he entered the box he fired his first effort at the target – blocked by an advancing Harris but rebounding back to Stoneman who tucked it into the empty goal. 1-2.
Six minutes later Bennett delivered a cross from the left flank to the right post where an incoming Fraser Bell’s effort travelled across the goalmouth and wide of the left post.
As Cirencester pressed another run and cross from Reeves resulted in a quick counter attack from Ward-Baptiste and a corner kick that Ward headed over the target at the right post.
It was then Cirencester’s turn for a corner kick that was delivered to the far-right post where Pitts headed into the arms of a well-positioned Brown.
In a desperate effort to equalise Cirencester were hurrying their passes and stretched, enabling The Glass to counter and in the final minutes they were able to threaten but the final corner kick was for Cirencester and after the visitors cleared the danger it was all over.
Full Time: 1-2
An entertaining match for the neutrals and an encouraging performance for The Centurion supporters to see their team go ‘toe-to-toe’ with the league leaders who, based on their shouts of joy/relief at the final whistle, recognised they had been in a tough game.
Attendance: 126 Referee: Craig Davenport
Cirencester Town:
1. Alex Harris
2. Fraser Bell
3. Aidan Bennett ©
4. Ed Scott
5. Kyle Pitts
6. Jack Horrell
7. Theo Jeremy
8. Jonty Welch
9. Harlie Price
10. Jack Freeman 28
11. Finley Bell
12. Nick Peare (Jack Horrell-64mins)
14. Jordan Morris (Finley Bell-83mins)
15. Elliott Keightley (Nick Peare-77mins)
16. Ethan Rose (Theo Jeremy-79mins)
17. Harrison Reeves (Jack Freeman-58mins)
Roman Glass St. George:
1. Rob Brown
2. Harvey Tierney
3. Loui Ward
4. Joe Budd
5. Keith Kearney
6. Tom Anthony
7. Joe McLennan
8. Jennison Williams ©
9. Owen Punselie
10. Jay Malpas 6
11. Dan Stoneman 79
12. Aaron Ward-Baptiste (Joe McLennon-61mins)
14. Charlie Boorman
15. Nathan Hall (Owen Punselie-46mins)
16. Connor Hartley (Jay Malpas-61mins)
17. Jordan Williams (Tom Anthony-74mins)