Evo Stik Southern League

2016/17 Premier Division

Cirencester Town 1

St. Ives Town 2

ST IVES Town visited the Corinium Stadium for what is thought to be the first competitive meeting between the two Clubs.

The match had additional significance as both teams are at the bottom end of the Premier Division table and separated only by goal difference with St Ives in 20th position - one place above Cirencester.

Following the disappointing result against Stratford Town in the mid-week fixture Charlie Griffin and Paul Hunt had been busy recruiting and had secured the services of Elijah Chilekwah (a product of the Bristol City Academy who has also been selected for the Welsh U17’s and U19’s) and James Difford (another product of the Bristol City Academy) who arrives on a one month loan.

The loan of Alfie Kilgour (from Bristol Rovers) has also been extended for a further month.

All three of the above took places in the starting eleven for this match – Alfie continued in the very young backline whilst Elijah took a wide position in midfield and James a forward position alongside Aidan Bennett.

To accommodate these changes Ollie Knight and Ross Langworthy moved to the bench.

The visitors kicked-off in perfect conditions for football, playing towards the Arena end of the ground, and immediately attacked down their right flank to the corner but lost the ball enabling Cirencester to counter as they worked the ball from the left to their right flank.

Cirencester were playing in a 3-5-2 formation and within a couple of minutes the supporters got their first glimpse of Elijah Chilekwah’s pace as he drove down the left flank before slipping the ball inside to Andy Elcock who moved it out to Kieran Diaz-Benitez in a wide right position. The latter’s cross was comfortably caught by Tim Trebes in the visitors goal.

A minute later and the new forward combination of James Difford and Aidan Bennett was evident as Bennett slipped the ball down the left channel for Difford to collect in the penalty area and shoot but Trebes caught his effort at his right post.

Cirencester had started in positive fashion and with six minutes on the clock were awarded a free kick, right channel – 30 yards out, that Elcock sent to the right of the penalty spot but St. Ives defended the kick and cleared it downfield.

The visitor’s soon won a corner kick from their left flank that was initially blocked but Harry O’Malley headed the rebound wide of the left post from the left side of the Cirencester six-yard box. An early scare for the home side.

Almost immediately Bennett released Difford down the left channel again and when he reached the side edge of the St. Ives penalty area he crossed to the right flank but the attack fizzled out.

St. Ives were quietly working their way into the game and when Scott Sinclair released O’Malley down the right he produced a neat turn, 30 yards out, and fired a right footed shot wide of the left post.

A couple of minutes later Josh Dawkins collected the ball in the right channel, 25 yards out, and sent a low shot that Harvey Rivers initially saved before gathering near his right post.

Cirencester responded with a move that produced a corner kick from the right but once again St. Ives defended.

Just after the 15 minute mark Bennett released Difford again down the left side of the St. Ives penalty area and as Difford neared the by-line he cut back to his right and shot but it was blocked and rebounded to him.

This time he sent a left footed volley to the back post where it was headed back in to the mix and cleared out.

The clearance was collected by Adam Connolly some 35 yards out, slightly left of centre, and he took a touch with his right before sending a fierce left footed half volley that flew inside the bottom left corner to open the scoring. 1-0.

Eight minutes later the mobile Ben Seymour-Shove made ground down the right side of the home penalty area and as he neared the by-line he sent a low cross into the box but an alert Matt Liddiard had read the danger and blocked it at full stretch at the near post.

When the resulting corner kick came in it was the head of Liddiard that put it out for another corner from the left. This corner reached Jordan Jarrold, just outside the front edge of the home area - left of centre, but his strike was high and wide of the target.

St. Ives were pushing forward and within minutes Sinclair fed Dawkin who crossed from the right corner to the back post where Jarrold was arriving at pace. Jarrold got his shot away but Rivers made a sensational save with his legs at his right post to deny him. The rebound was collected by Jack Higgs but his follow-up shot from 25 yards was wide of the left post.

The visitors were pressing really hard now in search of an equaliser and whilst Cirencester were on the defensive they were still capable of counter attacks and when Sindri Scheving slipped the ball inside to James Mortimer-Jones he headed it on for Diaz-Benitez to collect as he broke down the left flank.

Diaz-Benitez produced a dangerous cross to the back post that resulted in a corner kick from the right to the home side. Matt Liddiard headed the corner kick back across the goal but it was defended.

Back came St. Ives as Seymour-Shove won the ball and took it to the by-line, left channel, before turning back and crossing to the front edge of the penalty area, right channel, where Sinclair struck a right footed volley that Rivers caught.

With seven minutes of normal time remaining St. Ives were awarded a free kick on their left flank that resulted in a corner kick from the right. Jack Higgs drove the kick towards the six-yard box and after it passed the front players it struck an unsighted home player and rebounded into the net for an own goal. 1-1.

A couple of minutes later Dawkin found himself in space, right channel – 25 yards out, and when he received the ball he rounded an advancing Rivers before shooting towards the empty goal but once again captain Matt Liddiard came to the rescue as he covered behind Rivers to block the shot near the right post and Rivers quickly turned to gather the loose ball.

Three minutes from the interval Cirencester were awarded a free kick, centre line of the pitch – 30 yards out, that Elcock droved narrowly over the St. Ives crossbar.

As the half came to a close St. Ives were pressing but lost the ball enabling Cirencester to counter as Difford collected it on half way and drove down the right flank to the corner before crossing towards the penalty spot - but just too far ahead of a charging Bennett enabling Trebes to make the catch unhindered.

Minutes after the break, the game changed as a long clearance down the centre of the pitch cleared an advanced home back line, ten yards inside their half, and landed in the path of a galloping Seymour-Shove who collected it and drove forward.

Matt Liddiard had turned to give chase from the St. Ives player’s right and made a challenge that brought Seymour-Shove’s progress to a halt 10 yards from the home penalty area.

The Referee paused, took stock, and then issued a straight Red Card to the Cirencester Captain.

Cirencester quickly replaced striker James Difford with defender Ben Brown before the free kick was taken. Higgs kick was caught by Rivers.

Despite being a man down Cirencester pushed forward as Chilekwah and Elcock exchanged passes but the final ball was too close to Trebes who collected.

During the next ten minutes St. Ives mounted a couple of attacks but Cirencester survived and as the mid-point of the half approached Ollie Knight, who had just replaced Chilekwah, played the ball to Bennett in the left channel of the St. Ives penalty area.

Bennett twisted and turned as he searched for a shooting opportunity or a pass to a team-mate and was eventually brought to ground for a penalty to be awarded.

James Mortimer-Jones took responsibility for the kick and struck it towards the left post but Trebes had guessed his intention and moved to his right to save. As has been the case before this season a miss at one end led to a goal at the other as within four minutes St. Ives took the lead.

Jordan Jarrold sent a deep cross from the left flank to Higgs at the back post and he volleyed it back into the six-yard box where Ben Seymore-Shove bundled it into the net from two yards.

It looked suspiciously like he had used his hand to get it over the line and the Cirencester defence appealed to the Referee who discussed the action with his Assistant before allowing the goal to stand. 1-2.

The Cirencester response was to attack down the left flank as Knight and Bennett worked the ball to the corner enabling Bennett to turn and shoot but Trebes saved comfortably.

Knight then crossed from the left corner to Ross Langworthy who had his header blocked and the ball launched down the pitch.

As the game entered the final 15 minutes St. Ives won a couple of corner kicks in succession that eventually led to a clearance that reached Higgs, just outside the home penalty area, and he produced a fierce left footed volley that was narrowly over the crossbar.

Cirencester were still pushing forward at every opportunity, moving the ball from right to left, and when they were awarded a free kick Scheving sent it into the St. Ives box leading to a corner kick.

The visitors cleared the kick down the pitch and the ever willing Seymour-Shove drove down the left channel before crossing to the right flank where a free kick was awarded to Cirencester.

As the game was drawing to a close Knight won a corner kick and combined with Langworthy but the resultant cross was too deep enabling Trebes to collect and start a counter attack that ended on the half way line as Kilgour challenged Seymour-Shove.

The Referee decided it was a bookable offence and issued a Yellow Card, followed by a Red as it was his second Yellow, to dismiss the youngster from the pitch and reduce the home side to nine men.

Two minutes from time Oliver Sutton attempted an ambitious bicycle kick that was blocked and fell to Higgs who fired wide of the top left corner.

Even though they had a two man advantage St. Ives ran the clock down in the right corner to take the very important three points.

Full time: Cirencester Town 1 - 2 St Ives Town

This was certainly an eventful game with two dismissals, a missed penalty, and a wonder strike from Adam Connolly for the home side and a fortunate first goal (although on the balance of play probably deserved), and a debatable winning goal for the visitors.

Plenty of effort was on display and both Matt Lidiard and Alfie Kilgour were having fine games until their dismissals.

Aidan Bennett was causing problems for the visitors and linked well with new partner Difford.

Attendance: 118

Referee: Neal Templey

Cirencester Town:

1. Harvey Rivers

2. Kieran Diaz-Benitez

3. Sindri Scheving

4. Alfie Kilgour

5. Matt Liddiard (C)

6. Andrew Elcock

7. James Mortimer-Jones

8. Adam Connolly

9. Aidan Bennett

10. James Difford

11. Elijah Chilekwah

12. Ben Brown (James Difford-49mins)

14. Ollie Knight (Andrew Elcock-66mins)

16. Kalum Youngsam

17. Ross Langworthy (Elijah Chilekwah-56mins)