FA CUP FIRST QUALIFYING ROUND REPLAY

Wed 19 Sept 2007 7.45pm

Cinderford Town 1 Cirencester Town 2

Mr Viveash had released Ollie Holder and Mark Draycott after Tuesday night training and had rejigged his team, not only to cut out the tactical errors from Saturday but also to make sure that Ciren would do the simple things, and do them right.

He had the bonus of having Lee Molyneux back in defence and put Harry Etheridge back in the team to bolster the midfield. The real bonus was agreeing with W S M that he could play Andy Chapman at left wing back. He made a big difference.

First half his touch, pace and passing was simply far too good for a sturdy but workaday Foresters defence. Three times, freed by astute passes, his crosses found Steve Robertson, Harry Etheridge and Nick Stanley all bringing good saves out of Matt Bath in the Cinderford goal.

Pinned in their own half, even with the strong wind at their backs, Cinderford hardly troubled Matt Bulman. Daryl Addis could not find a way through and, with Nathan Haisley and Harry Etheridge much sharper in midfield than Tim Haddock and Richard Kear, this time Danny Wallington looked as if he had been freed to play further upfield and give Ciren width.

Within 10 minutes, Snaky Stanley had hit the net. Robbo collected a neat ball played on the deck, coming back to meet the pass so Thompson had no chance of dispossessing him, turned and immediately slotted across to Snaky who had come on the run wide of him.

First time left foot plonk in the net. I was dead in line and for the life of me the only reason I could see for the lino flapping his flag was the fact that Robbo had turned and gone for goal after his lay-off. Interfering? Hmm.

In spite of being on the front foot, Ciren were not really getting through up front and it looked very much as if the game would be won by the team that could last the pace better and finally work a clear opening. Or, make a mistake.

On 45 minutes, Danny Wallington did not get in close enough to stop Jukes lobbing a ball forward to whereTim Haddock neatly turned Lee Molyneux on the edge of the Ciren box and fired The Foresters into the lead. There was the mistake – right on half time was not a good time to concede.

The Centurions roared back second half and refused to allow Cinderford to get the boss hand, as they had done on the Saturday. On 56 minutes Nick Stanley broke onto a clever pass by Steve Robertson to get goal side of Marvin Thompson and stayed in front of him in the race for goal. From the corner of the box he fired in a stunning shot that Matt Bath did not see until it bounced off the stanchion behind him.

With Cirencester still having the majority of the dangerous possession, Harry Etheridge went close with a header before Stanley again tested Bath with another snap shot on the turn. Flurries of attacks from Cinderford were repelled, with Daryl Harris forcing Bulman to tip over a cunning shot on 65 minutes.

But, with Stanley and Robertson lively up front and Chapman probing with pace and a good touch up the left, it always looked likely that Ciren would score. Their shape stayed good, they were patient and there was very little chance of Cinderford getting through the Ciren blanket.

It needed a move that would unpick the cover and get a player in the clear for a shot. That's what winning footy is all about but boy oh boy, it sure ain't easy to achieve. Then it happened on 86 minutes.

Steve Robertson was first to a measured upfield pass from Alex Stanley and nodded down to Andy Chapman. Turned left, went inside. His defender ball watched as Chapman exchanged crisp, on target passes with Michael Jackson. And Robbo was now at the edge of the D in front of the Cindy goal.

Jacko has never been noted for pace. But he has always had determination and a nice sense of a pass. And the placement of Chapman's pass invited a burn to the bye-line. Jacko got there and his deadly low cross was aimed for the penalty spot where Steve Robertson was all on his ownio and first timed a left foot shot past the helpless Bath.

At long last, this time we'd got something from bossing a game. Snaky tried to make sure but, having been led to a blind alley by Griffiths he went down like a sack of spuds the moment the Cindy skipper grabbed his shirt. Not elegant and the ref could well have done him for a 1.1 dive.

A flurry of late attacks from the home team saw Richard Kear cross fruitlessly for the far post when his field position suggested he should have shot. And the same player rose to a speculative long cross from Nathan Jukes on 89 minutes only to head wide from 8 yards, under pressure from the magnificent Lee Molyneux.

The Foresters: Matt Bath, Greg Lewis, Nathan Jukes Y 33, Neil Griffiths (c) Y21, Jamie Addis, Marvin Thompson Y21, Steve Cowe [Ben Gascoyne 80], Craig Tait, Daryl Addis, Richard Kear, Tim Haddock
other subs: Jimmy Cox, Keith Knight, Dave Wilikinson, Jamie Hammond

Centurions: Matt Bulman, Dan Wallington, Andy Chapman, Alex Stanley, Kevin Davies, Lee Molyneux, Nathan Haisley, Michael Jackson (c), Steve Robertson, Nick Stanley [Paul Hunt 88], Harry Etheridge [Phil Hall 75]
other subs: Ian McSherry, Jon Else, Adi Viveash

Ref: Mr A Mathews Att: 120 - the usual suspects all there, including a poncho clad Mr Sykes who pronounced himself well satisfied at the end. And Michael Mabbett, who had made a circular journey to reach the top of the Forest!

MoM: Robbo got a lot of mentions, as did Moly and Nathan (who I thought had another stormer) and Snaky but the majority went for Andy Chapman. Can't argue with that.