CLINICAL GOALS FROM SCOTT GRIFFIN AND CARL BROWN SEND THE CENTURIONS THROUGH TO THE NEXT ROUND OF THE FA CUP

Cirencester Town 3

Abingdon United 1

After being very nearly taken to the cleaners in the match on Saturday Cirencester Town did not allow Abingdon United a sniff of a chance in this replay to progress to the next round of the FA Cup. An early strike by Scott Griffin followed by two stunning goals by Carl Brown either side of the break sent the Centurions through to meet Oxford United away on Saturday 10th October.

Pictures not that great but hey, it was dark. You're dead lucky to have these.

Both managers made changes from the teams that battled it out on Saturday, Mr Hughes bringing Rob Dean into midfield and starting Rob Hoskins up top in place of the injured Jody Bevan with Jack Hopper from the Academy coming onto the bench. Mr Slater swapped Elliott Osbourne-Rickets with an equally lively striker, Anaclet Odhiambo and rejigged his bench. The FA also made a change, Mr R Corp from Frome taking the arbitro whistle in the middle.

There was also a change in the pitch. Grassy, with a bit of give for the stud hold, it was always going to be one on which football rather than an unpredictable bounce would get a result. Ciren certainly looked much more committed, and accurate with the ball, in the early stages. It took Pierson just a minute to react second to the ball as Griff turned him and receive a warning for his almost signature dumping of the forward from behind. Both defences were tested out in the opening minutes as the teams tried to get their respective set of speedy front men through the gaps.

But, even this early in the game it was noticeable that Goodrham and Merritt were being closed down and their passing angles were cut off by a Ciren midfield playing on their collective front foot and not allowing themselves to be eased off the ball. It was also very clear that within a couple of minutes the Abingdon defence were already edging uneasily backwards as Griffin, Brown and Hoskin all got balls in space and made them turn. The Ciren midfield immediately clamped a stranglehold on possession as they gobbled up the hurried clearances.

On 5 minutes a huge gap on the U's right was carved between Brown and Franklin, with Carl Brown scooting onto a ground pass from Jamie Reid and forcing a corner. Chris Thompson sent a long one in beyond the far post, Lyndon Tomkins got his run up timed just right and rose above Pierson to nod back. Scott Griffin had gambled, gone for the space off his marker and he collected, turned the flailing Franklin and filled the net from five yards.

Whatever uneasy expectation I might have had before this game was lifted. While it had been hoped our lads would not play the uneasy game they had played on Saturday, that opener had reflected the confidence and touch with which they had started this one. Abingdon may have been optimistic but they had not yet had a chance to impose themselves on the game.

Within 2 more minutes it could have been beyond them. Pierson again dumped Griffin, earning yet another finger wagging from the ref and perhaps given the benefit of the doubt as to whether a caution would be applied. Lucky fellow, Pierson. And unlucky Jamie Reid whose 25 yard snorter free kick whizzed sweetly along the turf, with Beames beaten diving to his left, and ping off the base of the post. The keeper, who had impressed me with his presence and use of his bulk in protecting his area on Saturday, was now thoroughly dischuffed and providing plenty of entertainment to the Arena End crowd. Top spot so far was a horribly skewed clearance that spiralled off his boot and back over his goal line for yet another corner.

Abingdon slugged it out, trying to get Odhiambo away in the left channel but finding Zak Westlake not only matching him for pace but on top of his own game with calm collects, look ups and then passes out whenever he got the ball. John Mills could not get himself in a position to get round Neil Griffiths and much as Billy Beechers whirled and sparkled in the advanced midfield slot he was finding himself shut down by Rob Dean or Jamie Reid before he could get his head up. Matt Bath was, this early in the game, finding the only thing he had to deal with were long range efforts that were easy collects.

Rob Dean was passing beautifully, moving the ball first time and offering for the return and both Goodrham and Merritt were starting to puff and pant as they tried to close him down. Their chasing gave both Zak and Tom Etheridge, on the left flank, plenty of space to advance. The Ciren backline were picking out whichever one was open to start the counter attacks. Ciren had not let go of the match and the next goal did look as if it was coming at the Arena End.

With Rob Hoskin and Carl Brown constantly mobile up top and Scott Griffin dragging his marker all along the front edge the options for the Ciren attacking passes kept the Abingdon defence looking in both directions at once. They just about withstood the pressure, not without conceding a fair few free kicks as their timing deserted them, but could not stop Rob Hoskin twice getting himself half a yard on the edge of the box off lovely interpassing and switches in position by Griffin and Brown. First effort flashed a whisker wide of Beames left post, the second a minute later shaving the right hand post.

The effort the Ciren front three were putting into their game was shredding both the recovery fitness of the Abingdon back line and leaving them isolated. Hosky, perhaps too enthusiastically chasing down a loose clearing pass wide, crunched Jeff Brown and got a yellow for feet off the ground. While the Ciren bench, somewhat miffed, enquired what difference there had been between that and some of the stuff Griff had been getting from Pierson I noticed that Abingdon's Brown was more than dischuffed as he asked his weary midfield why they had not offered for a ball but had left him isolated. Good point.

The last 15 minutes was nothing more than wave after wave of fluent, spiky Ciren attacks. Throw in after throw in (off one of which Pierson did not even bother to challenge but just took Griff out), corner after corner and pass after pass down the flanks or into the channels had Abingdon constantly going backwards.

Griffin was not getting shooting openings but his control, movement and bringing his team into play was making openings for Carl Brown and Hosky. On 39 minutes the diminutive pair carved space for Browner and Beames just about stopped his fierce shot. 40 minutes, Brown > Hosky > Griff > Reid had a shot whistling past the angle. 41 minutes, Griffin again unravelled the defence, Rob Dean popped his pass into the gap for Hosky to lay off to Brown and another shot whistled in.

43 minutes Carl Brown had a glorious chance, again in the right spot when Hoskin and Griffin got him a complete yard clear on the edge of the box. First time, he looped the ball over the bar then put his face in his hands. He knew he had time to control then slot in but had lashed it. 44 minutes, Zak Westlake stepped across, collected a misplaced pass, stepped outside then slotted inside to Rob Dean. And started down the flank for the return. That was important. It drew Organ out to cover him.

Deano instead sent the ball wide left to Egg, in just as many acres of space in the centre circle. He looked up and popped his channel pass into the hole Organ had left. Browner was already moving into it and Pierson was exposed. He knew he was beaten, tried to take Browner out but was too late, missed him and just stumbled. As the ball dropped Beames, who had not expected the bodycheck to fail, was still on his 6 yard line.

Carl Brown reached the ball in front of the desperately covering Franklin as it dropped on the 18 yard line, caressed it under control and as Beames hurtled out, too late because the first touch had been nigh on magical, popped his shot into the net for a massively important second goal before the break. Don't forget that goal came from Westlake taking Organ out of his defending space. Brown may have scored it but the team made it.

You don't often hear a crowd react as one but the concerted noise from that sparse mob matched the quality of the strike. And of course it had the club house buzzing at the break, no doubt the Ciren dressing room very pleased and emphasising Job Not Yet Done. No idea what Mr Slater could say but in the pit of his stomach he must have been feeling that was a goal too far.

Within a minute of the restart Egg must have taken the Job Not Yet Done message to heart as he came poling in to try and close down Goodrham, got himself a right dig in the ribs in the collision and when he limped off was rightly carded. Very lucky it was not a different colour. He must have lost focus as well because within 10 minutes Abingdon finally got their first real goal chance from his flank. The ball was worked in from a badly covered throw in and Julian McCalmon was first to the half clearance only to get under his volley and send it over the top. Warning to Ciren and Bathy was rightly furious.

On 58 minutes Carl Brown settled it with a goal worthy of winning any match. The ball was worked up the right, inside to Griffin in the middle and he sent his pass into the hole behind the sucked in Organ. Brown zipped on to the ball, controlled and the crowd was saying 'Take him on, get a corner.' No. Control, inside sway, away from Organ. Coming up to the box, Pierson coming to cover, another shuffle and he was past him and inside the box. Franklin was next, the crowd were now urging a cross with Griff completely in the clear and screaming for the pass. I don't know if the cross was dummied, whether Griff's dart towards the ball distracted McCalmon but suddenly Franklin was also beaten then McCalmon side stepped before the ball was calmly steered inside the near post with Beames dumbfounded.

Never seen Browner run so far or so fast, or Griff match him for pace to acclaim that absolute stunner. The chase started across beyond the far post and finished up back where he had started with a gigantic piley on. In front of the stunned Abingdon bench. If SraLeck had been watching he'd have been tapping his watch but the ref was extremely tolerant and finally they all unpeeled themselves and at 3 – zip that was a nigh on unbeatable score.

A minute later it looked on again but Organ was closer to Browner. Maybe Carl's control was not so good but a spiteful high tackle put him on the deck. Off he went, though I think he actually wanted to watch the RS on telly. In which case his good mood would have evaporated very quickly.

Jason Welsh was on, and Egg also going off to be replaced by the versatile and ever reliable Lee Stevens. And Mr Slater took that moment to replace the anonymous and thoroughly out of sorts Goodrham. The game rolled on, McCalmon getting another half chance on 68 minutes off a Beechers cross and Pierson yet again dumping Griff, getting another finger wagging but no card. And, time after time, Ciren got hold of the ball, zipped the passes in and went for a morale destroying fourth goal.

Rob Hoskin had been getting closer and closer, as had The Griff, but when the ball finally was netted it was too good. Rob Dean pass zipped wide on the deck to Hosky on the left - jink inside and lay-off to the supporting Reid - and a belter aimed for inside the post fumbled by Beames. Griffin first to react as the ball bounces out and nods across to the unmarked Welsh who sidefoots home. Disallowed, with the guess being that Griffin had been offside when Reidy shot but not “involved” until the rebound. Hmm. It looked more like Griffin was facing goal ward while Franklin was desperately trying to get off him and on to a block on Reid's shot. It all happened too quick and slick for the bewildered lino. And bewildered Abingdon defence.

His job very well done Rob Dean was replaced by Jack Hopper, yet another Academy player making his debut. He, like all the Academy players, has had control, pass and move drilled into him and he and Hosky had a high old time for 10 minutes as Lee Stevens fed them a series of cultured, juicy passes from which to torment Jeff Brown. The highlight was a Griffin collect from a cross, a dribble and sway into the box and then, with nobody daring to concede a penalty, a furious shot that grazed the outside of the near post.

In added time Matt Bath went ballistic when Anaclet Odhiambo was allowed time to collect a ball in from the left, turn onto his left foot and put the ball into the net. His perfect game had been spoiled. But a Ciren crowd were more than satisfied with probably the best 90 minutes we have seen this season. After Saturday had at least me wondering whether we would get our game up for this, with a mouth watering incentive for Abingdon of playing their near neighbours Oxford City, this was some result.

And on Saturday we play the U's at The Corinium for the third time in a week, this time for League points; something both managers will regard as probably more important than the uncertain but tantalising glory of the FA Cup.

Cirencester: Matt Bath, Zak Westlake, Tom Etheridge Y46 [Lee Stevens 59], Neil Griffiths (c), Chris Thompson, Lyndon Tomkins, Jamie Reid, Rob Dean [Jack Hopper 80], Rob Hoskins Y35, Scott Griffin, Carl Brown [Jason Welsh 59] subs: Liam Williams, Keith Knight

Abingdon: Jon Beames, Jeff Brown, James Organ, Richard Peirson, Tom Franklin, Julian McCalmon (c), Justin Merritt [Ben Weedon 59], Simon Goodrham [Elliott Osbourne-Ricketts 59], John Mills [Luke Holden 68], Anaclet Odhiambo, Billy Beechers subs: Pablo Hayden, Conor Hunt

Ref: Mr R Corp, Frome    First time we've seen him here and like the ref on Saturday he saw everything, was in position for all his decisions and was very tolerant about some persistent offending by the Abingdon back line!

Att: 106    Any night with a Euro match on telly will be hit but the RS woolies who chose to watch their over hyped heroes get webbed in Italy missed seeing three goals that Lady Boy could hardly have bettered. Our core fan base turned out, including occasional visitor Eddie, and thoroughly enjoyed that one. I'm betting most of them will find a way of getting themselves to Oxford City on 10^th October.

MoM: a very large number of votes, with Rob Dean, Zak Westlake, Neil Griffiths, The Griff and Lyndon Tomkins all getting more than a handful of votes. I was very surprised that Rob Hoskins got no recognition given his very impressive contribution to a team effort. Not surprisingly, the winner was a smiling Carl Brown.