The Emirates FA Cup 2019/20 Preliminary Round

Cirencester Town 5

North Greenford 0

THE Centurions opened their FA Cup 2019-20 campaign with a Preliminary Round victory over lower-ranked North Greenford United.

Cirencester ran out comfortable winners over the Spartan South Midland Football League side as they dominated to secure a comfortable 5-0 victory.

The visitors didn’t get off to the best start when Shayne Anson headed a corner kick home at the back post after just six minutes.

Shortly afterwards, Mike Pook scored directly from a corner kick from the left despite the goalkeeper getting his hands to it.

The match was played in four quarters due to the searing heat and the visitors enjoyed their most productive period shortly after the 30 minute mark, but a quick counter attack from Cirencester reached Josh Parsons who twisted and turned in the Blues box, resulting in a penalty kick that Mike Pook confidently tucked away to register his second of the afternoon.

Almost immediately from the re-start the Blues conceded again as Aidan Bennett sent a low ‘cross-cum-shot’ from the left towards the far post and whilst a covering defender got his studs to it, he couldn’t prevent it from entering the net inside the right post.

A few minutes later and it was five, when Alan Griffin volleyed against the bar and Josh Parsons smashed the rebound into the net from about eight yards.

As a contest the game was well over and despite Cirencester striking the woodwork twice further and several near misses, there were no more goals, but credit to North Greenford who continued to search for a consolation goal until the final whistle even though it just wasn’t their day.