MATCH REPORT CIREN VS OXFORD

Friendly Sat 04 August 2007 3pm

Cirencester Town 0 Oxford City 2

Cirencester: Matt Bulman, Kevin Davies, Dan Hilder [Dan Bishop 77], Alex Stanley, Lee Molyneux, Chris Collins (c), Nathan Haisley [Steve Robertson 75], Michael Jackson, Phil Hall [Lance Lewis 67], Nick Stanley, Harry Etheridge [Mark Sheppard]
subs: Ollie Holder, Dan Wallington, Jon Else

Oxford City: Gareth Tucker [Hasan Ille 76], George Redknap, Rob Weirich [Mark Janes 60], James Salisbury, Darren Pond [Mark Janes 60]Jon Gardner [Jetmir Kemberi 76], Mark Bell [Mark Jones 60], Alex Stewart [Chris Hill 60], Jermaine McSporran, Steve Davis

Ref: Mr S Lewis Att: 112

Both teams fielded something approaching their preferred squads, although with mix and match during the game it was still very much a pre-season friendly. Mr Viveash and Oggy Hunt were watching carefully as they move towards their final squad decisions.

What they saw will have given them pause for thought - there was some ropey stuff out there and drills practiced in training were not being completed effectively. Big lesson to learn, there.

Oxford, with a number of seasoned incomers from Banbury and Thame now coming together well, are set to make a challenge in the Southern Division. And certainly in the early stages and very much more so in the second half, their experience showed.

Cirencester are still looking for that final blend up front and paired Nick Stanley first with Phil Hall and then with Lance Lewis. It did not come off. In spite of Snaky making run after run first half to get himself on the ball deep in Oxford territory he was not being supported and the hooped marauders were swarming to close down the midfield support.

But - and this is a positive - after that early battering the defence was sorted and kept Oxford well away from the danger area. Though maybe at the cost of our lads continuing to send it long and give the ball back to them more than we would have wanted.

In spite of Harry E doing well to keep himself in contention, the Ciren defence were being pressed by forwards quick to challenge so time after time the ball was having to be sent up the channels for Snaky to roar off in pursuit. He made himself one chance by sheer persistence, getting free of the limpet like Mark Avery and lobbing Gareth Tucker only to see his effort shave the post

Jermaine McSporran had no such problem up front for Oxford, constantly switching with ex-Puritan Jon Gardner and for the first hour using the flick ons from the gigantic Alex Stewart. Who may not have as good a first touch as Peter Crouch but is probably a better dancer. Or kick boxer. One lump taken out of Chris Collins early on was a bit tasty.

Early second half McSporran was first to a Gardner cross, drawing a good save by Matt Bulman from a Jon Gardner cross, after a mix up deep in the Ciren defence.

Indeed, that department was off song all day. Solid enough in their tackling, their covering and distribution was a tad wayward, especially in the second half.

And, sorry to say this, but Moly had a real stinker today. At least he knew it and no doubt would not have needed Adi, or Chris Collins, to remind him. But - typical Moly - he never threw in the towel.

When on 63 minutes, a mix up between Alex Stanley and Dan Hilder ended with a desperate attempt to get the ball back to Matt Bulman all that happened was an awful deflection off one of the pair of defenders that left Jermaine McSporran free in front of goal. He notched easily from 15 yards.

The ref overruled the linesman, who had signalled offside as the ball went into the middle. Excellent decision by the ref. While earlier McSporran had not been interfering with play his intervention after that was off a back pass, it was allowable and he had taken full advantage. Good example of play to the whistle.

It was a vital advantage because Oxford then relaxed visibly while Ciren tightened up and became anxious. Overhit and inaccurate passes just made it easy for Oxford.

Ciren could not find a way through the Oxford midfield where veteran ex-Puritan George Redknap, switched from right back to replace Pond, was now playing calmly in front of his defence and sending simple passes out to his speedy forwards.

Credit to Ciren - it may have been a stuttering display but they never lacked effort or commitment. Moly may have been off with his passing today but there were 2 stupendous tackles, one in each half, that stopped flowing attacks just as they were about to go into a strike on goal.

And Kevin Davies 9 times in the match got down the right and swung in absolutely deadly crosses, dropping in the zone outside the keeper’s box and screaming out to be attacked. That is sure to be a drill Oggy and Adi will be working on in the final 2 weeks of pre-season.

Snaky drilled a shot wide after trying to bustle through, Lance Lewis twice got himself into half a space beyond the defence only to be crowded out (a lot of short sharp, sprint work to come, Lance) and Dan Bishop, in his few minutes on the pitch at one time showed enough composure on the ball to thread Snakes in for a blocked shot.

Equaliser or go down by two? It was still in the balance. Alex Stanley connected with a good header off a corner but, typical of our day, the loose ball went behind Lance Lewis with their defnce wrongfooted.

Then, on 82 minutes a quick counter up the right saw McSporran collect, look up and see an enormous gap in the middle. His long cross found sub Jetmir Kemberi unmarked outside the area.

He was lucky. His first touch sent the ball 10 yards forward, Matty Bulman was out like a rocket but got there just as Kemberi got in an effective toe poke and trickled the ball on into the net. Neat enough but oh dear, shredded cover and far too easy.

Ciren MoM: Kevin Davies