Swans work hard to end winless run in battling performance against Cirencester
Slimbridge ended their dismal run of league form with a superb 1-0 win over Cirencester Town, on Tuesday night.
The Swans went into their final home game of the season having lost six of their last seven and without scoring a league goal in their last four league outings.
But Kieran Bennett’s first half header was enough to see Tom Deakin’s side clinch a confidence boosting three points, as they head into their final three league matches.
The game wasn’t one for the purists, with digging deep and defending for their lives, especially once they had a lead to hold onto.
Cirencester had a lot of possession and created the best chances in the first half, but found Slimbridge’s back line too tough to break down – with Travis Wood making a couple of crucial stops on the occasions they did get through.
Both sides went into the contest knowing that they are likely for a lower mid-table finish in the Hellenic Premier, but it didn’t stop either team from battling hard for the points.
Jack Horrell dragged one wide in the first two minutes for the Centurions, before Callum Dark poked over from a long Will Hawes throw in.
On twenty minutes, Harrison Reeves was sinbinned for remonstrating with the referee for not awarding him a free kick for a pull back on a counter and the hosts took advantage moments later.
A long ball forward was hooked back into the box and Bennett looped a header into the far corner, leaving Ronnie Newbery no chance and giving the hosts the lead against the run of play.
From there Ciren began to work the ball quicker and after Reeves’ return to action they won a flurry of corners that showed Slimbridge’s defensive resolve.
First, an effort was headed off the line before the second corner was recycled and Travis Wood saved well from Reeves.
Centre back duo Nath Dennis and Charlie Hitchings headed absolutely everything for the remainder of the half, restricting Aidan Bennett to minimal involvement.
And that continued into the second half, with both defenders taking turns to track Bennett, who became a tiny bit isolated.
James Mortimer-Jones tweaked his side at the break with Ethan Rose dropping to left back, allowing Ed Scott to move into centre half and the experienced Andy Lewis to move into midfield.
Scott had an effort blocked from a Cirencester corner, before the temperature on the pitch rose to an all-time high.
Hitchings was cautioned for a foul on Bennett on half way, before Jack Horrell was harshly booked for a challenge on Sergio Mills.
The Swans could sense the frustration creeping into the visitors’ play and capitalised on it by continuing to clear everything and slowing the game down where possible.
Wingers Mills and Callum Dark made sure the Ciren defence were keeping their concentration, with the latter dispossessing Ogaga Edward, but seeing his effort blocked well by Newbery.
Horrell looked the most likely to create the Ciren equaliser and it was he who dribbled at the heart of Slimbridge on 66 minutes, but after laying the ball left to Reeves, Swans keeper Wood saved well to his right.
The next 15 minutes or so became really stop start and this suited Deakin’s side perfectly. With a couple of injuries to Joe Gray and the impressive Hawes, combined with a number of substitutions, Ciren just couldn’t build up a head of steam and the equaliser never really felt like it was coming.
In fact, the best chance of the final 10 minutes came when substitutes Rhys Sarson and Will Tainton combined, with Kieran Bennett seeing his effort cleared off the line after Newbery had made a great initial one on one save from Tainton.
Both sides now have a free weekend before away trips on Tuesday 11 March. Slimbridge head to Corsham Town in the league, whilst Cirencester travel to Malmesbury in the Wiseman Lighting Floodlit Cup.
Next weekend (15 March) both sides face local derbies, with Slimbridge heading to Champions-elect, Hartpury University, and Cirencester welcoming Longlevens to the Corinium Stadium -a game you will be able to listen to live on Severn Sport.
Slimbridge: Wood, Mara, Hunt, Evans, Dennis, Hitchings, Mills, Gray, Hawes, Bennett, Dark
Subs: Sarson, Djiaha-Nsangou, Tainton, Bryant, Mulraney
Cirencester Town: Newbery, Edward, Scott, Lewis, Pitts, Horrell, Teshome, Rose, Bennett, Freeman, Reeves
Subs: Bampton, Arnold, Titchener, Gabriel, Oliver
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Bogdan Mara (Slimbridge)
READ MORE: Check out the list of Saturday’s fixtures in and around Gloucestershire right here
READ MORE: Check out the list of Sunday’s Women’s fixtures in and around Gloucestershire right here
