Cirencester Town FC
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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
Cirencester were on the road for their latest Uhlsport Hellenic League – Premier Division fixture - to face long term rivals MANGOTSFIELD UNITED at their Cossham Street home and after a well-fought encounter it was The Centurions that took the 3-points on offer.
Prior to this match Mangotsfield United sat in 12th place in the Uhlsport Hellenic League – Premier Division Table with 26 points from their 20 matches whilst Cirencester had obtained 35 points from their 21 games to sit in 5th place.
With regard to the Cirencester starting eleven Elliott Keightley continued at left back (having replaced an injured Jordan Morris in last week’s match against Cinderford Town), whilst Jack Horrell and Harlie Price replaced Jonty Welch and George Peare respectively (Price having served his one match suspension for receiving 5 Yellow Cards when he missed the Cinderford game), Both Jonty Welch and George Peare taking seats on the bench.
The visitors kicked-off and immediately worked the ball down their left flank to be awarded a free kick that was initially blocked but recycled to be caught by ‘keeper Josh Dempsey.
Having survived the first attack from Cirencester the home side then took the game to their visitors as they pushed forward with ‘keeper Ronnie Newbery knocked over in their first foray before George Kellow tested the young ‘keeper with a firm strike from near the Penalty Spot that he blocked - resulting in a corner kick that was defended and recycled back to the right corner where it was delivered to the edge of the 6-yard box where Spike Weaver headed over the goal.
As Cirencester mounted a reply – Fraser Bell charging down the right channel – the ball was intercepted and fed to Kyrese Morrison who galloped down the right flank to the corner to yield a corner kick that Newbery caught.
As is often the case when one side is pressing the other counters to score and this was the case here as a neat set of quick passing near the right front corner of the home box between Bell, Jack Horrell and Aidan Bennett released the latter to deliver a firm low cross towards the near post where an alert HARLIE PRICE bust towards the ball to produce a superb flick/strike to divert it past Dempsey before he could react. 0-1.
A couple of minutes later Cirencester were back again as they delivered a corner kick from the right into the ‘mix’ for Dempsey to palm it off the toe of Theo Jeremy as he shaped to shoot, then Horrell’s effort was blocked before the ball was cleared to Morrison for another strong run down the centre but following a heavy touch in the Cirencester box Newbery stepped forward to collect the ball to be clattered and a free kick awarded.
Cirencester responded as Jeremy was released down the left channel but he fired wide of the near post from 20-yards.
When The Mangos mounted another attack down their right channel Newbery left his box to clear the threat but within a couple of minutes the home side were back again as a loose pass was collected for Kyle Tooze to supply the busy Morrison who darted to the right corner before crossing the ball towards the far-left post where an incoming SPIKE WEAVER arrived to finish from just outside the 6-yard box. 1-1.
Encouraged Mangotsfield worked their left flank as Tooze supplied an overlapping Jamea Sharkey but his cross was blocked and subsequently the danger cleared.
A couple of minutes later Rhys Wells released Jeremy for a run that took him to the left byline before he sent a low cross towards the Penalty Spot where HARLIE PRICE drove the ball home as he avoided an incoming challenge. 1-2.
At the mid-point of the half Tooze burst through to the right channel of the visitor’s box to unleash a fierce strike that Newbery parried wide of his goal for a corner kick from the left flank. During this action the ‘keeper sustained an injury that delayed the match for some time – requiring a replacement shirt presumably for a blood injury. When play resumed Newbery punched the kick away from his goal to be cleared down the left flank by Horrell for Jeremy to mount another run.
A few minutes later Elliott Keightley clipped the ball down the left channel towards the front edge of the home box for Jeremy to chase, collect and fire narrowly wide of the far-right post.
During the next seven minutes the home side pressed with Morrison charging to the right corner a couple of times – the first ended as a goal-kick was awarded and the second a free kick to Cirencester – but undeterred they tried again to send a corner kick from their left flank into the ‘mix’ for Newbery to punch clear. James White then delivered a free kick and a corner kick into the ’mix’ but Cirencester survived.
As the half was drawing to a close both Wells and Horrell had shots blocked, and following some nimble footwork just outside the visitor’s box by Morrison resulted in a free kick Tooze fired the kick straight at Newbery who made the required catch.
Half Time: 1-2
It had certainly been a competitive first half and from the home sides restart they soon lost the ball for Cirencester to reach the right corner to be awarded a corner kick that was cleared to Joe Turley who returned it but a deflection enabled Dempsey to collect.
Cirencester had returned in positive mood as they mounted another attack down their right flank before trying their left to be awarded a free kick just out side the home box. Theo Jeremy stepped up to send the kick towards the far-right post where it was cleared to Bennett and clipped, from the byline, towards the right post where Kyle Pitts headed against the bar with the rebound effort from Scott deflected over for a corner kick to be awarded – caught by Dempsey.
A few minutes later Price collected a defensive clearance and immediately laid the ball into the path of a supporting Bennett but his strike was deflected onto the bar and a corner kick awarded.
Cirencester were soon back again as Bell crossed towards the far-left post for Wells to head wide of the right post following a home touch – corner kick cleared.
It had been a very positive opening to the second half for the visitors and before the hour mark it got better as a Bell cross from the right corner towards the Penalty Spot was sent back towards the right post by Wells for HARLIE PRICE to volley into the net from 6-yards. 1-3.
Leading up to the mid-point of the half The Mangos mounted three attacks but none troubled the Cirencester defence who replied by working the ball down their right flank for Price to deliver a low cross towards an incoming Jeremy who fired wide of the right post.
At this stage the substitutions started for both sides.
Into the final quarter and The Mangos pressed forward for Pitts to clear with a corner kick being awarded, followed by another run from Morrison who fed an overlapping Sharkey – cross blocked, soon to be followed by Morrison firing into the side netting and a back post header going wide. In this last action Kyle Pitts was injured and had to be replaced.
Home substitute Michael Barry was proving a tricky opponent with bursts down the left flank but his only shot at goal was wide of the left post and other attacks leading up to the final whistle failed to provide the breakthrough sought by the home side.
Full Time: 1-3
A competitive match with both sides having a go in the first half but Cirencester were more clinical and after a very positive start to the second for the visitors provided a two-goal cushion, the home side mounted a spirited response but were unable to break through a resolute Centurion defence.
Attendance: 231 Referee: Rob Herrett
MANGOTSFIELD UNITED:
1. Josh Dempsey
18. Cosmo Browne
3. James Sharkey
15. Mircea Ilea
5. Jacob Spence
6. Aaron Parsons ©
7. Kyrese Morrison
16. George Kellow
9. Spike Weaver 17
10. James White
11. Kyle Tooze
4. Frankie McKay (James White-90+1mins)
8. Joe Porton (George Kellow-59mins)
12. Owen Punselie (James Sharkey-77mins)
14. Michael Barry (Spike Weaver-70mins)
17. Josh Jenkins (Mircea Ilea-89mins)
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Ronnie Newbery
2. Fraser Bell
; 3. Elliott Keightley
4. Edward Scott
5. Kyle Pitts
6. Jack Horrell
7. Aidan Bennett ©
8. Jack Horrell
9. Harlie Price 9,22,58
10. Rhys Wells
11. Theo Jeremy
12. Nick Peare (Jack Horrell-77mins)
14. George Peare (Kyle Pitts-83mins)
15. Jonty Welch (Rhys Wells-69mins)
16. Jack Freeman (Theo Jeremy-90+3mins)
17. Jayden Stratford (Aidan Bennett-77mins)