CIRENCESTER ADAPT TO WET CONDITIONS AND A DIFFERENT FORMATION TO WIN A COMPETITIVE BATTLE AT ROTHWELL

Rothwell Town 2

Cirencester Town 3

Cirencester Town's squad choices had to change due to minor injuries and unavailability. The team adapted their formation to secure what was in the end a comfortable win. Manager Adie Viveash must have been generally satisfied with the display but will want full concentration and more thought put into the final pass when the League season opens on Saturday.

The 'Bones play on a very wide, clay top, pitch with a slope that tests stamina. I've never been to Cecil Street when it has not rained, or been foggy, and it was once again a soggy top for this contest. Rothwell have signed a number of former 'Bones who had been at Stamford and Corby so were going to provide a strong, physical test. So it proved.

Early on, with their back three comfortably in control, Ciren were able to zip the ball around and through the big men in blue and were well on top. Twice Adam Heath was sent away with first Julian Alsop then Matt Williams going close as the crosses zipped in. Dan Thompson, playing wide left, was open for passes and made good use of his space, with Steve Robertson from midfield making sure he received the service.

The opening goal on 13 minutes came from a more traditional route. With the midfield closed down in front of him Gary Thorne placed a long pass into space. Julian Alsop was already moving for it, with Mark Hackett unable to reach him to challenge effectively. The deft flick beyond the line of the defence sent Adam Heath scorching through. With Paul Rice ploughing vainly in his wake the shot was on.

In it came, fiercely driven and on target, with Alex Malong bravely coming out and getting a block. Matt Williams had read the move, reacted faster than the defenders to control and make his space on the edge of the area then drilled the ball into the bottom corner.

Ten minutes later Adam Heath, who had switched wings frequently, was found wide out, in space, by Rob Dean who had switched play cleverly. With loads of time and space, the cross was aimed for Julian Alsop. Both defenders and the 'keeper were desperate to keep him out but Adam Heath had been even more cunning and his cross beat them all to hit the far post and drop sweetly into the net.

Kevin Byrne, who has scored for fun throughout his career, had a glorious chance of a Rothwell goal on 26 minutes. Having made the break to connect with a low cross from Chris Difante he drove over the top.

Minutes later, another set of crisp Ciren passes ended with Alsop sending Matt Williams through onto a cute reverse pass. Hackett lived up to his name and tumbled the striker but the referee saw it as a clean tackle on the greasy surface whereas the rest of those watching saw it somewhat differently. Lucky escape.

Encouraged, Rothwell came more into the game. Helped somewhat by a series of over optimistic and at times inaccurate midfield passes from the Ciren midfield, the home team pulled a goal back on 44 minutes.

Steve Robertson was bustled off the ball in the centre circle, Dan Rogers got onto the end of an instant pass up the left from Mike Totton and Pete Sneddon had time to pick his spot from the low cross and beat Tom King into the far corner from the edge of the box. The three man back line had been split far too easily.

Second half, with Steve Davies coming on to replace Matt Williams after 10 minutes, saw Ciren play the ball much wider to stretch the Rothwell midfield. Time after time, Dan Thompson was in space and found by a series of raking passes. On the other flank Lee Spalding was pushing forward in support of Adam Heath with Steve Davies now buzzing in the space behind the front men and ranging across the midfield.

On 61 minutes the pressure was rewarded. Gary Thorne, in space, fed Thompson. He found Steve Robertson inside and when the return pass back up the line to the overlapping Thompson was sent back inside to Steve Davies he had made himself time and space to set himself. From the angle of the penalty area he calmly slotted a 20 yarder cleanly into the far bottom corner of the net for a very neat strike.

The Ciren defence was in control but when on 73 minutes Kes Metitiri slipped in cutting out a pass across the box Martin Flanagan instantly sent Kevin Byrne through on the left to slip the ball past Tom King.

The slippery surface was making keeping a foothold difficult for both teams and encouraged the attackers to run at the defenders. On 77 minutes Dan Thompson, who had run himself ragged all match, got far upfield to collect a well placed pass from Steve Davies.

He shimmied to such effect that he dumped the defender on his backside and must have been disappointed that his pass, slid on the deck and placed behind the defence to the edge of the box, was not collected by a supporting Ciren runner.

With Rothwell rolling subs on and off the pitch in the closing period the game petered out with Ciren calmly cutting out all the attacking moves and setting up Rob Dean and Steve Robertson in midfield. Trying to send Heath and Davies through onto angled passes was the correct tactic but over eager flagging and, it has to be said, sometimes over eager running, stymied that end of match pre-season drill.

Rothwell: Alex Malong, Andy Brown, Mark Hackett,, Stewart Marshall, Paul Rice [Rob Maddox 35], Pete Sneddon, Adam Bridgford, Kevin Byrne, Chris Difante, Justin McKensie, Dan Rogers

Subs – all used – Martin Flanagan, Michael Boyd-Cheong, Michael Tolton, Fazel Koriya,

Ciren: Tom King, Lee Spalding, Dan Thompson, Gary Thorne (c), Kes Metitiri, Andy Minturn, Adam Heath, Steve Robertson, Julian Alsop [Oggy Hunt 80], Matt Williams [Steve Davies 57], Rob Dean

Subs: Aaron Stevens, Sean Bailey, Adam Miller

Sidelined: Ben Pugh and Harry Etheridge (tweaks), Nathan Haisley (unwell) Ryan Shugar and Adam Mahdi (unavailable)

Ref: Mr Ian Rathbone, Northampton We had him several times last season and he was, as always, strict but consistent. Did not let any nonsense develop and in the conditions those players who recognised that a nudge was going to be whistled up enjoyed the game. Those that did not just got themselves frustrated.

Att: 88 Full complement of Centurion travellers for this one; arrived early enough to enjoy the King's Arms before the game. Though Kathy missed the first goal cos she volunteered to go back into the town to find a chippie when we discovered the food bar was closed at the ground.

Ciren MoM: Again, not that important in a friendly and with the players experimenting with the formation and trying things they may not necessarily risk in a match. But Dan Thompson again stood out not only for his willingness to get himself into dangerous places to attack but also his willingness to make sure he competed hard when it was needed in defence.