Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
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 made the comparatively short trip to Glevum Park to face TUFFLEY ROVERS in their latest Uhlsport Hellenic League – Premier Division fixture and after scoring a very early goal they were put under pressure by the home side before adding a second to secure the points.
Comparison of the league records of the two sides before this contest revealed that the home side sat in 9th place in the table with 18 points from their 11 games played whilst Cirencester were in 14th place with 10 points from the same number of games.
The visitors kicked off proceedings, playing from the Clubhouse end of the ground with the wind behind them, and this proved very useful as they took full advantage with a goal in the opening minute when from the kick-off the ball was sent back to ‘keeper Ronnie Newbery who launched it down the left channel – the wind-assisted ball travelled to an area 5-yards in front of the home Penalty Area where it was allowed to bounce over the home back line and as it dropped an alert HARLIE PRICE nipped in to head over the advanced and stranded home ‘keeper Luke Merchant. 0-1.
Encouraged by their early success Cirencester pressed as Jack Freeman took a pot at goal but it was part-blocked for Merchant to pick up.
A few minutes later the visitors defended a free kick down their right flank and countered as Jonty Welch slipped the ball to Jack Horrell who sent a precise left footed 50-yard cross-field pass to Harrison Reeves and he immediately darted inside the home box but his progress was brought to an abrupt end.
Leading up to the 10-minute mark Tuffley began to work the ball forward with some urgency as Oli Barnes released Brad Bevan to the right corner and the resulting low cross was safely collected by Newbery but they were showing signs with another attack deemed to be ‘offside’.
The game was becoming end-to-end as the sides pushed forward and their opponents countered quickly – with neither side retaining the ball for long
Following another home free kick Fraser Bell won the ball and sent it down his right flank for Price to collect, back to Fraser Bell to cross – diverted for a corner kick that Merchant caught.
Back came Tuffley as Barnes released Bevan to the left corner but the cross that followed his darting run to the left byline was too long.
As the mid-point approached the home side pressed again but couldn’t find a way through a stubborn Cirencester defence as Price and Aidan Bennett defended a free kick and corner kick respectively.
Moments later a determined tackle from Ed Scott provided another opportunity for the home side but Elijah Simpson headed Corey Warrington’s corner kick wide at the left post.
During the next few minutes Warrington and Kieran Alder had shots from the edge of the visitor’s box blocked and shortly afterwards a dangerous low cross from their right flank, delivered by the busy Karnell Chambers, passed through the Cirencester box without contact from three incoming home players.
As the interval loomed the home side worked the ball across the front edge of the visitor’s box but couldn’t find a way through and shortly before the break a Cirencester corner kick delivered by Freeman to the near post, from their right flank, was flicked goalwards by Price to be blocked for a scramble to ensue, followed by a strike from Welch that was cleared off the goal-line.
Half Time: 0-1
Upon the restart the ball was launched down the centre for Kyle Pitts to head clear and shortly afterwards Finley Bell carried the ball across the pitch, right to left, before supplying Bennett who exchanged passes with Reeves before overlapping to the left by-line to cross – caught by a back-pedalling Merchant at his left post.
A minute later Scott cleared the ball to the left corner where Reeves obtained a corner kick that Freeman delivered towards the Penalty Spot for Scott to head – blocked and cleared for a counter attack that Chambers fired against the left post from 15-yards, left channel.
Moments later Alder rode a number of challenges as he carried the ball across the pitch before a final heavy touch enabled an opponent to collect - but it was soon recycled for a Bevan strike to be blocked by Scott and a scramble in the visitor’s box.
Around the hour mark Cirencester stepped up their offensive as Price supplied Reeves, back to Finley Bell and a cross towards the far-right post caught by Merchant.
A couple of minutes later the home ’keeper was in action again after Finley Bell, Reeves and Bennett combined to send a cross to the far-right post where an incoming Welch headed back across goal for the ‘keeper to catch as Price darted forward in support.
A couple of minutes later Cirencester mounted a break down their right flank as Theo Jeremy reached the corner before squaring the ball across to the right channel front edge of the home box where Welch controlled and volleyed the ball goalwards – deflected for a corner kick. The kick was sent to the near post for Welch to lay off to Scott – deflected for another corner kick and header that was caught by Merchant.
Shortly after both sides had made substitutions Cirencester attacked down their right flank to reach the corner where Fraser Bell delivered a cross towards the Penalty Spot for U18’s player ALFONSO DIAS to dart forward to firmly head inside the right post - his first goal for the First Team. 0-2.
Encouraged by this Cirencester pressed forward – another Jeremy run to the right byline followed by a corner kick and Welch header that was blocked, a Dias strike that was narrowly wide of the far-right post.
A scrappy period of aerial football followed before Cirencester countered to their left corner for Price to lay the ball back to Dias – who fired wide of the target.
As Cirencester probed again through Finley Bell and Jeremy the ball was lost and a counter attack followed to their right corner with Newbery collecting the resulting cross at his right post.
In added-time Merchant was called into action again to punch clear a corner kick and free kick.
Full Time: 0-2
A very early goal and solid defensive performance provided the foundation for the result - despite a spirited reaction from the hosts – with glimpses of the football the sides are capable of.
Attendance: 117 Referee: Joshua Marchant
TUFFLEY ROVERS:
1. Luke Merchant ©
2. Callum McLean
3. Ellis Clifford
4. Elijah Simpson
5. Mark Pritchett
6. Callum McGuirk
7. Corey Warrington
8. Brad Bevan
9. Karnell Chambers
10. Kieran Alder
11. Oli Barnes
12. Connor Walters (Ellis Clifford-81mins)
14. Jamie Creed (Oli Barnes-69mins)
15. Harley Mustoe (Callum McLean-69mins)
16. Joss Lynden (????-81mins)
17. Kaelan Venna (????-81mins)
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Ronnie Newbery
2. Fraser Bell
3. Aidan Bennett ©
4. Ed Scott
5. Kyle Pitts
6. Jack Horrell
7. Finley Bell
8. Jonty Welch
9. Harlie Price 1
10. Jack Freeman
11. Harrison Reeves
12. Ethan Rose (Harlie Price-86mins)
14. Theo Jeremy (Jack Freeman-55mins)
15. Elliott Keightley (Jack Horrell-76mins)
16. Alfonso Dias (Harrison Reeves-69mins) 72
17. Josh Sawyer (GK)