Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
Cirencester made the comparatively short journey into Wiltshire to face near neighbours HIGHWORTH TOWN for their latest Uhlsport Hellenic League – Premier Division fixture and after taking an early lead they were made to battle for the points in the second half as the home side used their home ground knowledge to severely test their visitors resolve.
Earlier in the season Highworth produced two wonder strikes at The Talent Hire Stadium to defeat Cirencester (1-2) - despite being under the cosh for much of the match – and The Centurions would undoubtedly be looking to avenge that loss.
A review of current positions in the league table, prior to the match, reveals that The Worthians sat in 13th place with 21 points from 19 games played whilst their visitors sat in 6th place with 29 points from 18 games, but local derby matches have a habit of being unpredictable.
Following their impressive win against high-flying Droitwich Spa last week Cirencester named an unchanged starting eleven for this match – but there was a change to the bench as a result of Finley Bell departing for Southern League football with Melksham Town and we wish him Good Luck.
During recent days and the morning of the match there had been much rain and despite this the pitch looked good as the home side kicked-off proceedings to launch the ball to the left corner for a goal-kick. Cirencester ‘keeper Ronnie Newbery immediately returned the ball down the right channel for Harlie Price to head on, from inside the home half, to GEORGE PEARE, right channel – 25-yards out, and he controlled the ball with his chest and as it dropped produced a terrific right footed volley that flew inside the far-left post to open the scoring within the first minute of the match. A sensational start for the visitors. 0-1.
A few minutes later Price collected the ball to run down the right flank and cross but ‘keeper James Walker fumbled the ball and it rolled loose for Aidan Bennett to send it back out to Price who sent it towards the near post as Peare charged forward to challenge and a free kick was awarded – offside/foul?
Cirencester soon returned as Bennett, from the right corner, supplied Price who volleyed towards the left post – blocked by the outstretched leg of Walker, rebounding for Theo Jeremy to collect and shoot – diverted for a corner kick that Fraser Bell delivered into the ‘mix’ for Walker to punch clear.
Following this initial pressure the home side mounted a couple of quick counters that took them to the corners and yielded a couple of successive corner kicks – the first of which resulted in a header from Leon Morrison that Newbery tipped over his crossbar.
Shortly afterwards Newbery punted the ball down the pitch for HARLIE PRICE to collect, round his marker and an advancing Walker, before stroking the ball into the empty net to double the lead. 0-2.
Highworth responded to this further setback as they attacked down their left flank but the pass inside was collected by Peare who displayed some nifty footwork to evade an incoming challenge before laying it off to Joe Turley who sent it out to Jeremy for a run down the left flank.
As the mid-point of the half approached, Morrison sent the ball towards the right corner where Jordan Morris headed away but it was recycled down the right channel for Alex Parsons to collect and shoot – blocked for a corner kick that Rhys Wells delivered to the back post and was eventually fired over by Bonsa Teshome.
During the next ten minutes Cirencester tested their hosts defence as an Ed Scott effort was blocked and a determined run from Jonty Welch to reach and cross from the right byline was cleared, before Morris fired wide of the far-right post and Peare struck the bottom of the left post.
As the half was drawing to a close the home side mounted a couple of counter attacks – one of which produced a corner kick and a header from Bailey Gallagher that was wide of the left post.
The final minutes resulted in Yellow Cards and injury delays for a player from each team with the last action a Wells strike that Newbery caught.
Half Time: 0-2
After the break the home side, playing towards the clubhouse end, used their home ground knowledge to press a Cirencester defence that had to work very hard to keep them at bay.
During the early stages play was a little frantic and messy as the sides fought for control and leading up to the hour mark a Parsons effort was caught by Newbery before Teshome and Jeremy embarked on strong runs down their respective flanks.
At the hour mark another Teshome run down the right fank released Ollie Stevenson but his strike from the right front corner of the Cirencester box was blocked for a corner kick.
Around the mid-point of the half some unexpected rain arrived to liven up proceedings as the pitch became slippery and heavy – resulting in a number of Yellow Cards being issued by the Referee.
As the game entered the final scheduled ten-minutes Harry Titchener tried a snap shot from the right front corner of the Cirencester box that was just over the top right corner and a few minutes later a cross-cum-shot from the right-side edge of the visitor’s box by RHYS WELLS finished in the back of the net as Newbery was unable to catch the slippery ball cleanly. 1-2.
Encouraged by their breakthrough the home side pressed again and this time Stevenson’s strike from the right channel of the box was deflected into the path of ALEX PARSONS, near the left post, and he gleefully tucked it in from a few yards. 2-2.
GAME ON!
Almost immediately as Cirencester attacked, they were awarded a free kick from near the right front corner of the home box and when Bell delivered it to the far-left post Price headed it back across the front edge of the 6-yard box where a scramble ensued before JONTY WELCH drove it through the mass into the net. 2-3.
Back came Highworth as Wells delivered a free kick into the visitor’s box for Turley to head out, recycled to Wells - sent in to Parsons who fired over.
Another free kick for the home side soon followed as the tension rose - slipped through the hands of Newbery but cleared from near the goal-line by a covering Nick Peare.
At the 90-minute mark Walker sent another free kick, from well inside the home half, into the Cirencester box – cleared but quickly returned for Newbery to catch.
The final minutes of the game saw Nick Peare deliver a cross-field pass to Bennett in the right corner and shoot wide of the left post from 20-yards.
Full Time: 2-3
Definitely a game of two halves with the visitors getting off to the perfect start and pressing during the first, and the hosts very dangerous in the second to level with two quick goals.
Attendance: 149 Referee: ????
HIGHWORTH TOWN:
1. James Walker
2. Liam Haines
3. Jerome Daniel
4. Leon Morrison ©
19. Dan Comer
16. Ben Dodd
7. Bailey Gallagher
18. Conor Britchford-Stanley
9. Alex Parsons 85
10. Rhys Wells 83
11. Bonsa Teshome
12. Taylor-Jay Malkin
14. Oliver Stevenson (Conor B-Stanley-46mins)
15. Xavi Diaz-Butcher
17. Harry Titchener (Jerome Daniel-46mins)
GK. Oliver Gargett
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Ronnie Newbery
2. Fraser Bell
3. Jordan Morris
4. Ed Scott
5. Kyle Pitts
6. Joe Turley
7. Aidan Bennett ©
8. Jonty Welch 86
9. Harlie Price 14
10. George Peare 1
11. Theo Jeremy
12. Nick Peare (George Peare-72mins)
14. Jack Horrell (Jonty Welch-88mins)
15. Jack Freeman
16. Bryan Stalley (Theo Jeremy-78mins)
17. Alfonso Dias (Harlie Price-90mins)