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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DROITWICH SPA were the latest visitors to The Talent Hire Stadium for a Hellenic League - Premier Division fixture and after conceding a goal mid-way through the first half the home side recovered to score five second-half goals to take the 3-points.
Examination of the league table before the game revealed that the visitors were in second place with 39 points from the 18 games they have played so far – the same number of points as the league leaders Roman Glass St. George - they have also won 4 of the 5 games they have played so far in November – suffering the loss in their County Cup competition - so a tough match was expected.
Cirencester are also in a good run of form – unbeaten in their last 8 league matches with 5 wins and 3 draws – and following their mid-week defeat in the Floodlit Cup to Malmesbury Victoria it was hoped the ‘rested’ players would return to continue this run. Examination of the team-sheet, prior to the game, confirmed that there was only one change to the starting eleven from their last league performance as the bustling George Peare replaced the skilful Finley Bell who took a seat on the bench.
Cirencester kicked-off in heavy rain playing towards The Arena end of the ground and immediately launched the ball to their left corner before working it across the pitch to their right flank where it was won by the visitors and fed to their right flank for Sam Hurdman to slip it inside to Josh Hurdman who attempted a pass down the right channel - but it was intercepted for Joe urley to supply Theo Jeremy for a counter attack down the Cirencester left flank and eventually worked across the pitch again via Jonty Welch to Fraser Bell. The full-back then delivered an arcing cross towards the far-left post for Jeremy to collect but his cross from the left corner was blocked and recycled back to the right flank for Kyle Pitts to deliver into the visitor’s box – defended and cleared.
A few minutes later Josh and Sam Hurdman combined again down their right flank before play was switched to their left flank.
A positive opening 10-minutes that gave an indication that regardless of the weather both sets of players were up for the challenge ahead as Josh Hurdman laid the ball to Cory Rudd who fired well over the bar from 20-yards.
Cirencester soon pressed again down their right flank as Aidan Bennett and Harlie Price combined for the former to deliver a low cross towards the Penalty Spot that was cleared to be recycled back to the right flank via Jeremy, Welch and Bennett to Fraser Bell who delivered another cross towards the far-left post that prompted ‘keeper Dominic Rogerson off his line to punch it off the top of Price’s head.
The visitors replied with a strong run from Jack Brighton that took him to the home penalty area where his cross was blocked by Jeremy for a corner kick that was defended and led to a counter that was stopped abruptly and a free kick awarded, right channel – 25-yards out. Harlie Price drove the kick through the ‘wall’ towards the bottom left corner where Rogerson made a superb diving save to push it out - the rebound being sent over the goal-frame.
The action was by now ‘end-to-end’ as Droitwich mounted a quick break from just inside their half as Joe Clayton was released for a run to the left corner where his cross was blocked by Pitts but within a minute the visitors were awarded a free kick, left channel – 10 yards inside the home half, that Jamie Sauntson sent to the left corner for Reiss Taylor-Randle to cut right before shooting – blocked by Fraser Bell but looping out for a corner kick from their right flank. The corner kick was delivered into the ‘mix’ in front of the home goal and eventually cleared to a lurking SAM HURDMAN who volleyed it from a central position, 20-yards out, through the crowd and inside the left post. 0-1.
The home side reacted to the setback positively as Welch made a determined run to the right corner to collect and cross the ball – blocked for a corner kick that Jeremy sent to the back post where Ed Scott headed it goalwards – pushed out by Rogerson and cleared.
A few minutes later Cirencester were back again as they worked the ball to the right corner again for Welch to cross to the back post where Price’s header struck the top left corner of the goal-frame and his follow-up strike the bottom for a corner kick that Rogerson punched clear.
Cirencester produced another multi-pass move five minutes later, involving several players, as they worked across from left to right for Fraser Bell to cross towards the left post where an incoming Price headed narrowly wide of the right post.
The home side had ramped up the pressure since conceding the goal but the visitors had survived and as the game entered the ten-minute period leading up to the interval Alex Dugmore burst down their left channel to be stopped by a well-timed tackle from Pitts who conceded a corner kick in the process. When the kick was taken Pitts headed away and George Peare cleared but it was recycled and delivered towards the Penalty Spot where a scramble ensued before ‘keeper Ronnie Newbery was able to gather.
Theo Jeremy then ran across the pitch to supply Fraser Bell who crossed towards the far-left post where an incoming George Peare made contact but wide of the goal.
Cirencester were finishing the half strongly as a low Bennett cross passed through the Droitwich box and a Jordan Morris cross was blocked.
Half Time: 0-1
The first half had been busy - with periods of quick passing football from both sides and action in both goal-mouths - but no-one could have anticipated what was to unfold in the second half.
‘The Saltmen’ kicked-off and attacked down their right flank but immediately lost the ball to Morris who sent it down the home sides left flank for Jeremy to chase and deliver a low cross from the corner that passed through the goalmouth to be collected by an incoming Bennett and he returned it to the 6-yard box for HARLIE PRICE to finish from a couple of yards. 1-1.
The perfect start to the half for the home side, a goal in the first minute. GAME ON.
A few minutes later Droitwich reacted to the setback as Sam Hurdman slipped the ball to Taylor-Randle who reached the left byline before crossing – left wing corner kick, blocked for another corner kick that was defended by Turley but recycled to their left corner for a throw-in followed by a goal-kick.
The next goalmouth action came about as Ben Tilbury sent a free kick from the half-way, right channel, to the left channel of the home box where the ball was headed high into the air but as ‘keeper Newbery advanced to catch he was baulked and the ball broke free but the attempt at a shot from the incoming ‘Saltman’ was ‘scuffed’ enabling Morris to clear.
Moments later Price collected a high clearance and laid the ball off to Welch who struck a fierce shot from the right channel of the Droitwich box that Rogerson did well to parry.
At the hour mark there was action at both ends as Newbery left his box to clear a threat before the ball was slipped behind the Droitwich defence by the busy Welch for Jeremy to collect and send a low cross into the visitor’s box – corner kick followed by a goalmouth scramble.
Cirencester then produced two charging runs down their left flank – the first from Jeremy resulted in a Price effort that was wide of the right post and the second from Morris resulted in a block and throw-in that was defended.
After surviving the pressure from the home side Droitwich mounted a couple of attacks of their own as Perry Moss and Dugmore had shots blocked before they managed to get the ball in the net – only to see the officials ‘disallow’ it for an infringement.
At the mid-point of the half Price toe-poked an effort wide of the right post and Jeremy had a low cross diverted to Rogerson but a few minutes later the breakthrough came as Fraser Bell delivered a free kick from near the left front corner of the Droitwich bow towards the far-right post where HARLIE PRICE leapt ‘like the proverbial Salmon’ to head down and inside the post. 2-1.
Four minutes later, following a throw-in on their left flank, Price supplied the ball to Morris and he sent a deep cross towards the far-right post where an incoming and determined AIDAN BENNETT arrived to power his header into the net. 3-1.
Another couple of attacks to the right corner followed before the home side tried the left again as Turley released Jeremy for a run and low cross that resulted in two efforts from Price being blocked before a corner kick was awarded from the right flank. The kick was sent low into the box and after a couple of step-overs from Scott and Pitts it reached HARLIE PRICE who drove it goalwards from left of the Penalty Spot – an attempted clearance on the goal-line by a defender sent it into the prone Rogerson to rebound into the net. 4-1.
Three minutes later Cirencester scored again when a Morris free kick, left flank - 10-yards inside the Droitwich half, was delivered to the far-right post where KYLE PITTS arrived to head home. 5-1.
At the 90-minute mark Bennett intercepted a Droitwich pass and supplied Jack Freeman who entered the visitor’s box, left channel, to shoot – blocked for a corner kick but before it could be taken ‘keeper Rogerson needed to be treated for an injury which resulted in him leaving the pitch. Substitute William Livesey took the gloves and as his side had already used all their substitutes Droitwich played the final minutes with ten men.
Full Time: 5-1
A very entertaining game with glimpses of neat play from the visitors and a determined performance from their hosts with quick incisive play.
Attendance: 110 Referee: George Bielby
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Ronnie Newbery
2. Fraser Bell
3. Jordan Morris
4. Edward Scott
5. Kyle Pitts 88
6. Joe Turley
7. Theo Jeremy
8. Jonty Welch
9. Harlie Price 46, 72, 85
10. George Peare
11. Aidan Bennett © 76
12. Nick Peare (George Peare-87mins)
14. Finley Bell (Jonty Welch-85mins)
15. Jack Horrell (Theo Jeremy-85mins)
16. Jack Freeman (Joe Turley-88mins)
17. Oliver Fisher (Aidan Bennett-90mins)
DROITWICH SPA:
1. Dominic Rogerson
2. Jack Brighton
3. Joe Clayton
4. Cory Rudd
5. Jamie Sauntson ©
6. Ben Tilbury
7. Josh Hurdman
8. Charlie Tilley
9. Alex Dugmore
10. Sam Hurdman 24
11. Reiss Taylor-Randle
12. Perry Moss (Josh Hurdman-62mins)
14. Joe Hurdman (Reiss Taylor-Randle-75mins)
15. Soms Sibanda (Sam Hurdman-67mins)
16. Rohan Levy (Joe Clayton-88mins)
17. William Livesey (Alex Dugmore-83mins)