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 returned to Uhlsport Hellenic League – Premier Division action for their latest fixture at The Talent Hire Stadium with a match against THORNBURY TOWN and after scoring an early goal went on to secure a solid victory.
A review of the league table prior to the match reveals that THORNBURY TOWN were in 17th place with 10 points from the 13 games they have played so far whilst CIRENCESTER were in 13th place with 16 points from the same number of games.
The reverse fixture played in August ended as a 1-1 draw despite Cirencester dominating much of the game.
The Cirencester starting eleven had five changes in personnel – when compared to the previous match against Millbrook in the Isuzu FA Vase – with Elliott Keightley, Harlie Price, Alfonso Dias, Jordan Morris and returning Centurion Joe Turley replacing Theo Jeremy, Ethan Rose, George Peare, Finley Bell and Harrison Reeves.
The visitors kicked-off playing towards The Shed end of the ground but soon lost possession enabling Cirencester to work the ball down their right flank to the corner before it was brought back and slipped inside to Joe Turley (who re-signed in midweek from Bishops Cleeve), and he instantly delivered a superbly weighted pass down the right channel into the visitors box for an alert HARLIE PRICE to dart behind the defence to collect, round the advancing ‘keeper and tuck into the bottom right corner from 10-yards. 1-0.
Thornbury reacted to the setback as they launched the ball to their right corner to ‘win’ a corner kick that was headed clear by Turley at the near post but eventually led to a free kick that home ‘keeper Ronnie Newbery caught.
During the next few minutes Thornbury cleared a couple of balls into their box before a long ball from Kyle Pitts reached Harlie Price, left channel – 12 yards out, and he laid it back to Alfonso Dias (making his first start for the First Team) who shot towards the far-right post where Mackenzie Welsh dived to save.
As the mid-point approached Camen Harvey latched onto a loose ball – following a strong tackle by his team-mate – and immediately darted down the right touchline before sending a low cross that passed through the home box without contact for a goal-kick.
At the mid-point Ed Scott was called into action to defend a long ball down the visitor’s right channel as facing his own goal, with Tom Black closing in at pace, he calmly turned and played the ball back down the flank.
A couple of minutes later Scott sent a long cross-field pass to Fraser Bell on the right flank but a charging Jonty Welch was but just unable to collect his downward header.
The visitors were closing down Cirencester quicker at this stage and play became untidy for a while as Thornbury threatened the home defence - Ash Ozua sent a cross into the home box for Newbery to catch and a cross from Ash Fowler resulted in a corner kick that Jordan Morris cleared.
Cirencester responded immediately as Welch sent the ball down the right channel for HARLIE PRICE to collect, near the front edge of the visitor’s box, move forward into the box, shimmy to create space and fire a left footed strike inside the left post. 2-0.
Once again play became a little scrappy but nine minutes after the goal Welch released Morris for a run down the left flank and as he neared the corner he delivered a cross to the area in front of the 6-yard box where Price rose to head towards the top right corner – Welsh jumped and pushed the ball away from his goal but it was collected by a supporting FRASER BELL who cut back left from the line of the right post before calmly tucking the ball into the net from a few yards. 3-0.
Half Time: 3-0
Cirencester began the second half positively as Aidan Bennett mounted a strong, forceful run to the left corner where it was lost for Thornbury to counter – resulting in a free kick from their right flank but when Harvey delivered it to the Penalty Spot Welch cleared the danger.
A few minutes later as Cirencester pressed the visitor’s mounted another counter attack down their left flank as Ozua sent the ball down the flank for Callum Chalmers to chase – Newbery spotted the threat and left his box to clear but almost immediately Ozua had the ball again and his cross led to a corner kick that reached the ‘mix’ in front of the goal where a ‘stab’ from Nathan Sage was blocked by Newbery who then saved the close-range follow-up from Louis Singfield.
Not to be outdone Cirencester responded as Dias slipped the ball inside from the left channel for Price to produce an instant ‘wall-pass’ into the path of Welch as he darted into the visitor’s box, right of the Penalty Spot, for a 1v1 with Welsh that the ‘keeper won due to a block with his legs.
The action then returned to the other end of the pitch as Thornbury were awarded a corner kick that Newbery caught at full-stretch above a crowded 6-yard box.
As the hour approached Thornbury were awarded a free kick in a central position 25-yards from goal that was supplied to Harvey, right channel – 12 yards out, and his shot was pushed over the goal by Newbery.
At the hour mark Cirencester were awarded a corner kick from the right that Theo Jeremy sent low towards the Penalty Spot – Scott produced a dummy run and step-over to confuse the defence and the ball was cleared to Fraser Bell outside the box, right channel – 25 yards, and his shot fell to Scott who fired it narrowly wide of the right post from 15-yards, right channel.
At the mid-point of the half the Bell brothers combined for Fraser to deliver a cross to the Penalty Spot where Price rose to head against the top left corner of the goal frame.
Shortly after a strong run from Welch was brought to an abrupt end the visitors were working the ball down their right flank when the ball was lost for Cirencester to counter – Finley Bell to Price, who produced a clever flick to release Jeremy who galloped down the left flank to send a low cross through the Thornbury box without contact.
A few minutes later Joe Guest launched a couple of deep crosses from the right flank into the home box where Elliott Keightley headed clear.
As the game was drawing to a close Guest fired wide of the left post following a free kick and Finley Bell wide of the right post and in the final minutes a George Peare header was narrowly wide of the target.
Full Time: 3-0
Cirencester made the perfect start to the game with a superb early goal and as the visitors sought to get into the game they were hit with two more quality goals, and try as they did, they could not find a way through the resolute home defence whilst being kept on the back-foot as Cirencester pressed forward in a solid team performance.
Attendance: 126 Referee: Rob Herrett
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Ronnie Newbery
2. Elliott Keightley
3. Aidan Bennett ©
4. Ed Scott
5. Kyle Pitt
6. Joe Turley
7. Fraser Bell 42
8. Jonty Welch
9. Harlie Price 3, 33
10. Alfonso Dias
11. Jordan Morris
12. George Peare (Harlie Price-74mins)
14. Theo Jeremy (Alfonso Dias-55mions)
15. Finley Bell (Jordan Morris-55mins)
16. Ethan Rose (Joe Turley-80mins)
17. Jack Lewis (Kyle Pitts-88mins)
THORNBURY TOWN:
1. Mackenzie Welsh
2. Joe Guest
3. Ash Fowler
4. Nathan Sage ©
5. Louis Singfield
6. Tom Warren
7. Camen Harvey
8. Tom Black
9. Callum Chalmers
10. Josh Oliver
11. Ash Ozua
12. Rueben Johnson (Josh Oliver-79mins)
14. Harry Brock
15. Fraser Morgan (Tom Black-71mins)
16. Alfie Thornell (Ash Ozua-85mins)