Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
For their final match of 2025 The Centurions played host to near neighbours ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT TOWN and it was the visitors that secured victory for the second time this season at The Talent Hire Stadium with a performance of pace and effort against a strangely subdued Cirencester.
A review of the sides positions in the League Table prior to the match revealed that the visitor’s sat in 18th position with 18 points secured from 21 games whilst the hosts were in 5th place with 38 points from 22 games – however the sides have already met twice this season, at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground in the second league match of the season (drawing 1-1) and at The Talent Hire Stadium in the League Cup when ‘Bassett’ won 1-2 to move into the next round of that competition.
There were a few changes to the Cirencester squad as the victory at Mangotsfield last week had come at some cost with Kyle Pitts and Jayden Stratford injured (replaced by George Peare and Bryan Stalley respectively), and Aidan Bennett unavailable (replaced by Jonty Welch). Jordan Morris (returning from injury) and Afonso Dias (U18’s) were added to the squad and took seats on the bench.
The game began in very open fashion with both sides reaching their opponents Penalty Areas during the early exchanges before Cirencester reached the right corner to obtain a corner kick that was defended but recycled for a free kick to be awarded. This kick was defended but led to a second, from near the right front corner of the visitor’s box, that Theo Jeremy drove towards the right post where ‘keeper Callum Godfrey blocked - rebounding to an incoming Jonty Welch who poked it goalwards – blocked on the line and cleared.
Cirencester then had to defend some pressure from the visitors as a Lewis Hayward free kick and a fierce Ollie Smith cross were sent into the home box before Nat Bell slipped the ball to Ben Cleary who had it taken off his toe by Ed Scott.
The home side responded as they reached the right front corner of the visitor’s box where Harlie Price was fouled as he laid off the ball and a free kick awarded that he took himself. It rebounded back to him off the ‘wall’ so he fired at the target again - deflected for a corner kick that was cleared.
The game was certainly ‘end-to-end’ as a Rhys Wells cross was caught by Godfrey and a cross from Gabriel Reivers at the other end was just too far in front of an incoming Rudi Hopkins – soon to be followed by Wells slipping the ball behind the visitor’s defence for an overlapping Fraser Bell to collect and cross (caught by Godfrey) and another Fraser Bell cross just evading Welch.
At the half-hour mark Bassett’s Ed Taylor carried the ball to the front edge of the home box before cutting right and then delivering a clever ‘reverse’ pass into the path of a supporting Smith who took it down the left channel to the byline before sending a low cross through the 6-yard box to strike the right post – rebounding to a lurking RUDI HOPKINS who promptly tucked it into the net from a couple of yards. 0-1.
Almost immediately home ‘keeper Ronnie Newbery was called into action as he dived left across his goal to push a Hopkins free kick wide of the target.
As the interval loomed Newbery punted the ball towards the right corner where Fraser Bell produced superb touch to control the ball before crossing towards the near right post where Welch was arriving at pace but his instant flick-volley just cleared the top right corner of the goal-frame.
Half Time: 0-1
Immediately after the re-start Cirencester worked the ball down their right flank to the corner for Price to slip it inside to Jeremy, right channel of the visitor’s box, but he took too long to shoot and the ball was taken off him - this proved symptomatic of the home team’s performance as their quicker opponents constantly shut them down and countered quickly.
Moments later the ball was at the other end of the pitch as Taylor combined with Nat Bell before Harry Messenger released Hopkins to ‘win’ a corner kick that Newbery punched clear.
Back came the visitors as Cleary and Nat Bell reached the centre front edge of the home box to have a bout of head-tennis with Elliott Keightley and George Peare before Peare headed into the grateful arms of Newbery.
The introduction of Jordan Morris at the interval had provided an outlet down the left flank for the home side and as the hour approached a series of passes involving several players resulted in a Wells strike that was deflected and cleared.
A few minutes later Cirencester tried their right flank as Price reached the byline but his cross was too firm for a supporting Welch to connect/control and as the visitors launched the ball down their right flank Taylor produced a superb piece of skill to keep the ball in play on the touchline whilst moving it further down the line in the process.
Just after the hour-mark as Cirencester pressed the ball was lost for Hopkins to charge down the centre to supply NATHANIEL BELL who worked his way to the edge of the home box with neat footwork before firing the ball into the top right corner. 0-2.
Despite this further setback Cirencester kept working their flanks but the visiting defence stood firm as they mounted quick counter attacks through Messenger, Dylan Griffin and Cleary.
As the game entered the final scheduled 15-minutes a Cirencester corner kick from the right was headed wide of the target by Nick Peare but they were soon back again to be awarded a surprising free kick that Jordan Morris delivered from the left side edge of the visitor’s box to the far-right post where AFONSO DIAS volleyed the ball into the ground for the bounce to beat the defensive cover and enter the net inside the far-left post. 1-2.
The goal provided a frantic finish to the game with Cirencester creating a couple of opportunities but lacking accuracy in their haste.
Full Time: 1-2
A ‘bitty’ game from a Cirencester viewpoint as their usual accuracy was not evident due in part to the speed that their opponents closed them down to deny them time and space but generally it was not their day.
The visitors Ed Taylor and Rudi Hopkins deserve mention – the former was industrious and skilful throughout and the latter provided pace and a direct approach.
Attendance: 225 Referee: Anthony Brewerton
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Ronnie Newbery
2. Fraser Bell
3. Elliott Keightley
4. Ed Scott
5. George Peare
6. Joe Turley
7. Rhys Wells
8. Jack Horrell ©
9. Harlie Price
10. Jonty Welch
11. Theo Jeremy
12. Nick Peare (Rhys Wells-63mins)
14. Jack Freeman (Jonty Welch-80mins)
15. Bryan Stalley (Joe Turley-63mins)
16. Jordan Morris (Jack Horrell-46mins)
17. Afonso Dias (Elliott Keightley-81mins) 83
ROYAL WOOTTON BASSETT TOWN:
1. Callum Godfrey
2. Ollie Smith
3. Kian McNally
4. Lewis Hayward
15. Ciaran Walsh
6. Harry Messenger
7. Rudi Hopkins 31
20. Gabriel Reivers
9. Ben Cleary ©
10. Nathaniel Bell 63
21. Ed Taylor
12. Lewis Clark (GK)
13. Henri Parry-Williams (Gabriel Reivers-58mins)
19. Alan Griffin (Ed Taylor-89mins)
22. George Cook (Ben Cleary-82mins)
17. Dylan Griffin (Nathaniel Bell-66mins)