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 travelled to HEREFORD PEGASUS for an Uhlsport Hellenic League – Premier Division fixture - the second in their run of three successive ‘away’ fixtures in March – and were on the wrong end of a Red Card decision for the second time in five days, but despite this setback returned with the 3-points.
Investigations into the current league position of HEREFORD PEGASUS prior to the match revealed that they sat in 12th position in the league table with 39 points from 30 games whilst Cirencester sat in 6th place with 54 points from 32 games played.
The reverse fixture, played in September, resulted in a 4-4 draw and at that time Hereford sat in 6th place in the league table and Cirencester 14th.
Both sides have secured two wins and suffered three defeats in their last five league fixtures.
The Cirencester squad had a number of changes from that which took on Droitwich Spa on Tuesday evening – Theo Jeremy has joined Corsham Town, whilst Kyle Pitts and Bryan Stalley were unavailable. They were replaced by Jordan Morris, Nick Peare and Jack Horrell and some positional changes made. The bench saw the return of Jonty Welch and the inclusion of Sam Brown (U18’s) for Aidan Bennett and George Peare (both unavailable) in addition to Afonso Dias, Kevin Sawyer and Josh Sawyer.
The home side kicked-off in warm weather and immediately attacked to their left corner but as Cirencester tried to work the ball down their right flank it was lost for a quick counter by their hosts that reached the right corner for a throw-in that yielded a corner kick that was sent low towards the near post where it was cleared and instantly lobbed back to the right post where Jamie Price dribbled at his opponents before the ball was cleared for another throw-in that ‘keeper Ronnie Newbery caught.
Moments later Jamie Price embarked on a run down the right flank that took him to the byline but his cross into the visitor’s box was too long and the danger averted.
Cirencester replied by attacking down their left flank to the left corner to ’win’ a throw-in that reached Ieuan Bailey who crossed it towards the Penalty Spot where it was instantly cleared.
It had been a busy opening few minutes as both sides had tested their opponents defensive resolve but it was the visitors that drew first blood when Jordan Morris cleared the ball down his left flank to yield a throw-in on half-way that was supplied to Bailey who charged to the byline where his subsequent cross towards the Penalty Spot was blocked for a corner kick. Jack Horrell sent the kick from the left flank low and hard, towards the centre front edge of the home box, and after a step-over from Ed Scott it reached an incoming NICK PEARE and he smashed it through a crowded box into the net. 0-1.
Hereford immediately attacked down their right flank for another long throw from Harrison Summers into the box – Peare headed it out and Joe Turley completed the clearance downfield for Harlie Price to chase and challenge for possession.
Another long ball down the centre from Hereford was headed away by Elliott Keightley and swiftly returned by Harry Pitman as he sent the ball left, inside Fraser Bell, for Ossie Owen to collect, near the left channel front edge of the Cirencester box, but as he cut right to shoot his connection was weak enabling Newbery to save.
At the 15-minute mark a neat Cirencester move created space for a shot from Horrell that passed wide of the right post – throw to Rhys Wells, left to Horrell, forward to Turley, back to Horrell as he moved left to the right channel – 22-yards out to shoot.
A couple of minutes later it all changed from a Cirencester perspective as a bout of inter-passing, left channel - just inside their half, was returned to Ed Scott who was caught flat- footed enabling the ball to break away, encouraging an opponent to dart forward in an attempt to collect, but instead he caught the out-stretched leg of Scott, as he looked to recover the ball, and fell to ground.
The Referee blew his whistle and began to sort out his next move which was to dismiss the young defender with a straight Red Card. The second such decision in five days for Cirencester – Tuesday’s, against Droitwich Spa, should have been a Red Card for their ‘keeper but instead a Yellow was awarded, and this one should have been a Yellow but a Red was awarded.
Cirencester re-organised as Nick Peare dropped into the back-four and five minutes later Harlie Price collected the ball and moved forward to the right front corner of the home box where he unexpectedly struck a fierce right footed shot at the target – ‘keeper Matt Gwynne reacted by parrying the ball onto his bar before gathering.
During the next ten-minutes both sides mounted attacks but the final ball was caught by their opponents ‘keeper or punched away.
Ten minutes from the interval Cirencester worked the ball down their left flank before a throw-in enabled Bailey to slip the ball into the path of Joe Turley, central position – 25 yards from goal, (a rare advanced position for Joe) and he struck a firm right footed shot that looked destined for the top right corner until Gwynne intervened to push it wide for a corner kick that Peare headed wide of the left post from near the Penalty Spot.
As the half was drawing to a close the home side increased the pressure on their visitors but there was no further score.
Half Time: 0-1
The questions at the interval were - Could Cirencester hold on for another 45-minutes and would the next goal, if it came, prove crucial?
A minute into the second period a Horrell pass down the centre released Harlie Price for a 1v1 with Gwynne but as he cut right a recovering defender robbed him of the ball.
Hereford responded as Summers reached the right-side edge of the Cirencester box to deliver a low cross towards the centre front edge of the 6-yard box where Keightley cleared it for a Hereford throw-in near half-way.
A couple of minutes later as the home side worked their left flank the ball was sent across the pitch by Matt James for Summers to collect and send towards the far-left post where Newbery made the catch despite being clattered by Pitman.
As the hour-mark approached Newbery launched the ball down the centre for Harlie Price to head on and Wells to chase but Gwynne had spotted the danger and kicked the ball off the pitch for a Cirencester throw-in that saw Morris and Price exchange passes before the former delivered a cross into the home box to be cleared.
Hereford then pressed as Sam Griffiths sent a cross through the Cirencester box for Summers to send it to the back post – cleared but recycled and sent back into the visitor’s box where Peare powerfully headed clear.
Both sides had been pressing without success but at the hour mark it changed as Bailey was released for a run down the left channel and as he approached the edge of the home box, he struck a firm shot at the target that Gwynne pushed around his right post for a corner kick.
Jack Horrell delivered the kick to the far-right post where HARLIE PRICE produced a delicate flick to divert it into the net. 0-2.
During the next few minutes Hereford pressed, working the ball down their right flank for Kyle Panniers to cross into the Cirencester box where Peare intercepted and launched down the left flank and one of these clearances was collected by Harlie Price who quickly switched the ball from left flank-halfway to a charging Wells, right channel – halfway, and after a few steps he sent it down the centre for JACK HORRELL to collect further down the pitch and as he approached the front edge of the home box he calmly placed his shot inside the right post. 0-3.
Immediately from the re-start Hereford lost possession enabling Cirencester to counter again as the ball was quickly fed to RHYS WELLS who charged forward to the right front corner of the home box to fire his shot across the advancing Gwynne and into the net off the inside of the far-left post. 0-4.
Despite the scoreline the home side continued to press forward, with the hard-working Summers and busy Jamie Price often involved, but they could not find a way through the Cirencester defence.
Full Time: 0-4
A disciplined and hard-working performance from The Centurions who reacted positively to the early Red Card - with some clinical finishing and resolute defending.
Attendance: 96 Referee: ?????
HEREFORD PEGASUS:
1. Matt Gwynne
2. Connor Campbell
3. Matt James
4. Michael Burgess
5. Joe Davies
6. Rory Thompson
7. Jamie Price
8. Jordan Williamson ©
9. Harrison Summers
10. Harry Pitman
11. Ossie Owen
12. Carlos Moreira (Matt James-51mins)
14. Jack Calville-Howes (Jordan Williamson-67mins)
15. Sam Griffiths (Ossie Owen-55mins)
16. Kyle Panniers (Joe Davies-55mins)
17. Shay Sterry
CIRENCESTER TOWN:
1. Ronnie Newberry
2. Fraser Bell
3. Jordan Morris
4. Ed Scott
5. Elliott Keightley
6. Joe Turley
7. Rhys Wells 68
8. Jack Horrell 67
9. Harlie Price © 61
10. Nick Peare 7
11. Ieuan Bailey
12. Jonty Welch (Jack Horrell-68mins)
14. Afonso Dias (Ieuan Bailey-83mins)
15. Sam Brown (Harlie Price-81mins)
16. Kevin Sawyer (GK)
17. Josh Sawyer