Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
Cirencester Town FC
The home of football, corporate events, courses and celebrations
32.jpg)
Click photo to view a slideshow of photos from the match
Match photos supplied by Graham Hill
The latest Uhlsport Hellenic League – Premier Division fixture brought ‘in-form’ side LONGLEVENS to The Talent Hire Stadium and once again The Centurions were made to work hard to secure the 3-points against their mobile opponents in a well-contested match.
A review of the relative form of the sides before the match revealed that since the last encounter between the sides - LONGLEVENS had won two of their last four league matches, but had secured 3 victories in the Floodlit Cup and one in the County Cup, resulting in 6 wins from 8 matches, scoring 16 goals and conceding 10. In the same period CIRENCESTER had played 5 league matches, securing 2 wins, 1 draw and 2 defeats whilst scoring 10 and conceding 7. Suggesting that statistically the sides would be well matched for today’s encounter.
The Cirencester starting eleven had two changes from that which opened against Fairford Town last week with Jordan Morris and Ed Scott taking the places of Dan Hill and Elliott Keightley respectively – the latter two joining Theo Jeremy, Joe Turley and Rhys Wells on the bench.
Cirencester kick-off playing towards the Arena end of the ground in perfect weather conditions for football, cool but sunny, as ‘keeper Ronnie Newbery launched the ball down the centre before it found its way back to him to launch down the left flank where a throw-in was defended before the visitors were able to mount a counter to their left corner.
Six minutes into the match Cirencester were awarded a corner kick from their right flank but this was sent too long and eventually resulted in a throw-in to Longlevens on the other side of the pitch.
Leading up to the 10-minute mark Jack Beardsell collected a free kick in the right corner and darted to the byline before sending a low cross towards the front edge of the home 6-yard box where Newbery blocked with his feet, diverting it to Alex Knight, lurking on the centre front edge of the Penalty Area, who fired wide of the right post.
Almost immediately Longlevens were back as a pass down their left channel was deflected for a corner kick that Cameron Williams delivered into the ‘mix’ for Soyam Sherchan’s header to be blocked, cleared and recycled to the right-side edge of the home box for Knight to send back into the mix – cleared for a counter attack as Jordan Morris released Ieuan Bailey for a run to the left corner. Once there he cut back and crossed to the far post where Harlie Price headed wide of the target but was declared to be ‘offside’.
A couple of minutes later, following a Cirencester attack down their left flank, the visitors released Beardsell for another run toward the right corner but his progress was brought to a halt by a strong tackle from Ed Scott and a free kick awarded. The defender’s reaction to this decision prompted a Yellow Card to be issued. The free kick was delivered by Williams into the home box where it was cleared to Nick Peare and he struck an instant left-footed volley pass from the left channel, 30-yards inside the home half, into the space on the right flank 10-yards inside the visitor’s half where the ever-willing Fraser Bell charged to collect. The defender kept going towards the right corner but seeing his way blocked he cut back, 30-yards out - right touchline, and delivered a precise left-footed pass to the far-left post where an incoming IEUAN BAILEY produced the most accomplished, controlled volley that finished inside the left post to open the scoring – a sensational move and finish. 1-0.
At the mid-point of the half Longlevens mounted an attack as Williams delivered a superb pass down the left channel, behind the home defence, for Dafydd Hyett to chase and collect but confronted by Bell he laid the ball off to a supporting Mikkiel Graham who fired wide of the far-right post.
The visitors were soon back as Knight reached the right byline to deliver a low cross towards the Penalty Spot that resulted in a corner kick that was defended and recycled for an ‘offside’ decision.
As the subsequent free kick was cleared it enabled the visitors to mount a swift counter down their left flank as Lodge headed the ball on for Hyett to chase and take to the side edge of the home box. Once there he played a low pass to the supporting BEN LODGE who collected (left of centre front edge of the Penalty Area), moved right and placed a composed, curling right footed shot into the bottom right corner to level the score. 1-1.
Cirencester reacted to the setback as Nick Peare sent a cross-field pass to Bailey who charged down his left flank, cut back and crossed – cut out and in trying to win it back a free kick to the visitors was awarded.
The game had really opened up with both sides pushing forward at every opportunity and into the period leading up to the interval George Peare bundled ‘keeper Drew Brei and the ball into the net – ‘goal’ disallowed, and a Price header struck the top right corner of the goal-frame.
This was followed by a couple of passing exchanges down the right flank involving Aidan Bennett, George Peare, Price and Bell that were repelled by Longlevens before they countered to be denied by Kyle Pitts.
Half Time: 1-1
The visitors had shown their mobility and speed of attack in the first half so the question was could Cirencester contain them whilst playing up the slope in the second period?
Moments before the interval Nick Peare was sent to the ‘Sin-Bin’ for 10-minutes for his strong response to a decision that went against Cirencester so the team would have to play with ten-men until he was released.
As a result of the dismissal Cirencester started the second period in determined mood and were rewarded within a few minutes when they were awarded a free kick that Bailey delivered from the right corner to the back post where a couple of efforts were blocked before it fell to ED SCOTT who forced it home from a couple of yards to regain the lead. 2-1.
During the next few minutes Longlevens pressed and were awarded a couple of free kicks as they worked the ball down their left flank – the first resulted in a header from Tom Spencer that Newbery gathered and the second into the ‘mix’ was defended.
Back to their full-compliment Cirencester were awarded a free kick from their right flank that Bell sent to the far-right post where Pitts volleyed it to ‘keeper Brei.
At the hour mark Nick Peare clipped a pass towards the left corner for Theo Jeremy to chase and collect and as he neared the byline, he sent a low cross through the visitors 6-yard box despite the best sliding efforts of George Peare to make contact.
As the mid-point of the half approached, Nick Peare produced another cross-field pass for Jeremy to chase down the left flank - but this time his cross was caught by Brei at the near post.
Cirencester were certainly pressing their opponents at this stage as Bennett and Price combined to work the right flank before a Newbery punt was volleyed by Price to Jeremy who in turn slipped it to an overlapping Nick Peare but his cross was intercepted.
Moments later Jeremy ‘won’ the ball in a tight situation on the left touchline, slipped it inside to Price and galloped forward for the return pass but when he collected it the Assistant Referee flagged for ‘offside’.
As the game approached the 75-minute mark Longlevens produced a period of pressure on their hosts with a couple of corner kicks that were defended and a throw-in from the left corner that eventually broke to Spencer who fired his snap-shot wide of the target.
Six minutes from the end of the scheduled ninety - Bell delivered the ball to the Penalty Spot for Price to collect and with great awareness he back-heeled it into the path of Rhys Wells who shot narrowly wide of the right post.
Immediately Longlevens replied as a free kick was delivered towards the left post where Spencer headed wide.
With nothing to lose Longlevens threw caution to the wind during the 9-minutes of ‘added-time’ as they sent free kicks and crosses into the home box but Cirencester were not to be denied their victory as Pitts and Scott blocked for all they were worth to clear any threat.
In the final minutes Cirencester ran the clock down as Jeremy produced some trickery in the right corner and as it broke free Price clipped the top of the bar with a surprise effort from the right-side edge of the visitor’s box.
Full Time: 2-1
A game full of commitment with glimpses of the talent on the pitch.
Cirencester battled hard to deny their mobile opponents and took their limited chances.
Attendance: 173 Referee: Anthony Brewerton
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Ronnie Newbery
2. Fraser Bell
3. Jordan Morris
4. Ed Scott 50
5. Kyle Pitts
12. Nick Peare
7. Aidan Bennett ©
8. Bryan Stalley
9. Harlie Price
10. George Peare
11. Ieuan Bailey 18
6. Elliott Keightley
14. Theo Jeremy (Ieuan Bailey-59mins)
15. Dan Hill (Aidan Bennett-82mins)
16. Joe Turley (George Peare-69mins)
17. Rhys Wells (Bryan Stalley-76mins)
LONGLEVENS:
1. Drew Brei
2. Daniel Roddis
3. Mikkiel Graham
4. Thomas Spencer
5. Jay Wells
6. Soyam Sherchan
7. Jack Beardsell
8. Cameron Williams ©
9. Ben Lodge 27
10. Alex Knight
11. Dafydd Hyett
12. Oliver Long (Mikkiel Graham-46mins)
14. Jack Holmes (Soyam Sherchan-75mins)
15. Shaun O’Connor (Cameron Williams-75mins)
16. Keelan Drury (Alex Knight-63mins)
17. Gino Valentin (Thomas Spencer-85mins)