Cirencester Town 2 - 1 Worcester City

CIRENCESTER TOWN continued their pre-season schedule with a deserved 2-1 victory over Blue Square North opponents Worcester City on Tuesday night.

The game was played with the intensity of a league fixture – indeed, it was perhaps a little too feisty than either manager would have liked.

Town coped well in the absence of Carl Brown and Matt Sysum (both away on holiday), while both Ben Gascoyne and Scott Griffin sat out the game with injuries.

There was plenty of goalmouth action and both keepers – Matt Bulman, for Cirencester, and Tim Sandercombe (Worcester) excelled with a number of saves.

Kevin O’Connor, who was playing for Wolves just two years ago, simply oozed class in the City engine room.

Town went 1-0 up in the 19th minute when Marcus Palmer scored his first goal for the club after Sandercombe had made saves from both Zak Westlake and Palmer in the build-up to the goal.

Former Cirencester loanee Mark Danks levelled matters from the spot in the 32nd minute after a handball in the box.

Tom Etheridge’s sweet left foot provided the winner five minutes before half-time when his wicked cross eluded Sandercombe and went in off the goalie’s back after hitting the far post.

Portly veteran Marc McGregor came on for Worcester City among wholesale changes for the visitors at half-time and immediately made his mark – literally – on Scott Mason’s shin.

The left back was replaced by former Academy student Adam Corcoran who did a sterling job in the back line for the remainder of the game.

Former Forest Green striker McGregor’s clash led to some unnecessarily lusty tackles which may have prompted yellow cards (for both sides) in an official game.

On 70 minutes, Ciren manager Brian Hughes sent on Paul Banks (Development Squad), TJ Bohane (Highworth triallist), Shannon Pocock (Academy) and Toby Clapton.

All four made significant contributions, not least the tiny Pocock who, with a bit of luck, could have scored three goals in his livewire 20-minute cameo.

Cirencester: Bulman, Westlake (Clapton, 70), Mason (Corcoran , 70), Thompson, Reid, Tomkins, Wood, Etheridge, Bevan (Banks 70), Palmer (Bohane, 70), Hoskin (Pocock, 70). 


Danny Hall
Wilts & Glos Standard

 Match Report reproduced from the Wilts & Glos Standard's website:

www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk/sport/