Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
32.jpg)
For their latest Uhlsport Hellenic League – Premier Division fixture The Centurions travelled to the DOADC Stadium to face WORCESTER RAIDERS and after a competitive, scrappy, game they tied with their hosts for the third time in the last two seasons.
Investigation of the current records for the two sides before the match reveals that Worcester Raiders sat in 6th place in the league table with 15 points from their 6 games whilst Cirencester were in 15th place with 8 points from 9 games.
Last season both games were tied – at The Talent Hire Stadium 3-3 and in the away fixture 2-2.
The home side kicked-off playing down the slope on the Worcestershire FA Headquarters ground to launch the ball down their right flank for it to be returned and fed to Theo Jeremy who mounted a run to the right corner. The ball was won by Jake Donnelly who sent it down their left flank – Kyle Pitts controlled the ball on his chest before sending it left to Harrison Reeves who charged forward but conceded a free kick in his enthusiasm.
After a brief period of possession for the hosts Fraser Bell tested the home ‘keeper Charlie Emery with a cross from the right flank to the front edge of the 6-yard box – Emery punched the ball clear under pressure from Harlie Price. The ball was recycled back to Bell who clipped it to the right corner for Jack Freeman to chase – Emery left his box to punt it off the pitch.
Within minutes Bell was involved again as he chased a charging Emmanuel Olaloko down his flank to end his progress with a well-timed challenge. This brought the first glimpse of the long throw-in from Donnelly – into the visitor’s box where Ed Scott headed it out, leading to a counter attack as Jeremy galloped down the right channel. His progress was brought to an abrupt end and a free kick awarded to Cirencester.
During the next five minutes Donnelly launched another couple of long throws into the visitor’s box but both finished in the hands of ‘keeper Alex Harris.
Cirencester then mounted another attack down their right flank as Jeremy exchanged passes with Jonty Welch before cutting left from his flank and working his way to the centre front edge of the home box where he shot towards the right post – Emery made the required save.
The Raiders then produced their best move of the match as several players combined to work the ball down their left flank, including a couple of throws, to release Isaac Cooper but his touch as he rounded an advancing Harris was too heavy and the ball ran out for a goal-kick.
Undaunted Cooper was soon back again for a 1v1 with Harris who made a block but the ball was recycled and fired into the empty net – but it was disallowed for ‘offside’ earlier in the move.
A ‘Drinks Break’ followed and on the resumption of play Cirencester went on the offensive – a Bell clip down the right flank resulted in a free kick that was headed out for Jack Horrell to shoot over the bar from 25 yards.
A Bell free kick to the far-left post then produced a series of headers before it was cleared for a counter attack and throw from Donnelly into the visitor’s box and a header that was caught by Harris.
A couple of minutes later Cooper latched onto a ball down the left channel, carried it forward and around an advancing Harris, before sending a low cross towards the far-right post but his incoming support was unable to make contact – goal-kick.
Into the final five minutes Welch won the ball on half-way and released Jeremy for another run, from right to left, and a pass to Reeves who took it to the left byline before slipping it towards the near post where Price’s toe poke was wide of the post.
Just before the interval Freeman delivered a corner kick into the home box – Emery puinched for another corner kick from the opposite flank that Horrell sent to the far-right post where Scott’s header was eventually cleared.
Half Time: 0-0
Cirencester launched the ball down their right flank from the re-start and when it was returned Reeves slipped it left to Jeremy who made ground down the left flank but his cross was intercepted.
The visitor’s returned to be awarded a corner kick that Horrell delivered to the Penalty Spot – cleared to Aidan Bennett who was quickly surrounded for a scramble to follow before it was cleared.
A couple of minutes later Jeremy was released for another run down the right flank before cutting inside to the home box but his pass towards Freeman was intercepted.
The home side responded as Liam Banks exchanged passes with Jordan Murphy before sending a low cross towards the far-left post where it passed wide without contact.
Almost immediately a header from a home defender was instantly fired at the target from 30 yards by Price with the bounce nearly deceiving Emery.
Leading up to the hour mark Cirencester pressed as Jeremy embarked on another run down the right flank and Bennett intercepted to release Reeves down the left channel, and moments later Bennett sent the ball to Price who collected his own header before slipping the ball to Horrell who fired a right-footed curler towards the top right corner from 25 yards that tested Emery’s agility as he pushed it wide for a corner kick.
The host’s response was a strike from Cooper that passed wide of the right post.
Back came Cirencester as Jordan Morris delivered a couple of dangerous crosses into the home box and then Reeves retained the ball under pressure, rode two tackles and burst forward to send a low strike that brought another save from Emery.
During the next ten minutes the visitors really pressed their hosts – Morris run, Bell to right corner, Jeremy left footed shot deflected for a corner that was cleared to Horrell for a cross to be headed over by Price.
Jonty Welch then chased and collected a ball down the left flank, inside to Morris and a cross towards the far-right post where Price headed narrowly wide of it.
As the game entered the final ten scheduled minute play became more physical with several Yellow Cards issued - one of which was a second and resulted in the offender leaving the contest.
In the final minutes a dangerous cross from Kiyan Baker-McKay passed wide of the left post and Jeremy made another darting run to the right corner and into the home box - his pull-back was behind the incoming support.
Full Time: 0-0
A competitive and scrappy game as the defences were on top but the home ‘keeper was certainly tested more often by the visitors.
Attendance: ??? Referee: Ben Whittick
WORCESTER RAIDERS:
1. Charlie Emery
2. Taylor Eades
3. Jake Donnelly
4. Owen Giles
5. Jordan Stoddart
6. Dan Noke
7. Liam Banks
8. Dan Cottrill
9. Isaac Cooper
10. Jordan Murphy ©
11. Emmanuel Olaloko
12. Henry Dyde
14. Connor Jakeways (Isaac Cooper-80mins)
15. Bruce Minaker (Jordan Murphy-80mins)
16. Kiyan Baker-McKay (Liam Banks-66mins)
17. George Parkinson (Emmanuel Olaloko-53mins)
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Alex Harris
2. Fraser Bell
3. Aidan Bennett ©
4. Edward Scott
5. Kyle Pitts
6. Jack Horrell
7. Theo Jeremy
8. Jonty Welch
9. Harlie Price
10. Jack Freeman
11. Harrison Reeves
12. Jordan Morris (Jack Freeman-62mins)
14. Ethan Rose (Jonty Welch-80mins)
15. Elliott Keightley (Harrison Reeves-82mins)
16. Harry Titchener
17. Harley Arnold