Ciren made to rue missed chances as Lydney claim crucial point
Cirencester Town were left ruing missed chances as they had to settle for a point away to a very game Lydney Town, on Saturday afternoon.
Matt Green’s second half penalty cancelled out Rhys Wells first half effort as Lee Smith’s side reman three points ahead of the Hellenic Premier relegation places after this weekend’s results.
The result sees Cirencester drop out of the play-offs after Worcester Raiders’ 4-2 win over Longlevens, with the Centurions having played two games more than Raiders and Corsham Town.
Both sides are back in action next weekend, with Pershore Town heading to the Corinium Stadium, whilst Lydney head to Royal Wootton Bassett Town.
It was a game of two halves, with the visitors on the front foot in the first half, creating a number of opportunities but unable to add to Wells’ effort.
Then after the break, Lydney upped their intensity and improved dramatically – earning a leveller and creating chances to go in front as the half wore on.
Lydney nearly took the lead inside two minutes, but debutant Ibrahim Olateju fired across goal and wide inside 90 seconds.
Harlie Price met a Fraser Bell cross five minutes later, but his header was saved by Alex Causon.
Price then curled wide, before Nick Peare sent a 60 yard effort wide after trying to catch Causon off his line.
Theo Jeremy cut back for Price on 17 minutes, with the forward laying the ball off to Rhys Wells, but his scooped effort looped over.
From a corner, Lydney went close for a second time in the contest – as Jordi Sheen swept a corner towards goal, but Ronnie Newbery saved well.
Within moments Ciren should have been ahead.
Jeremy’s ball from the left was recycled by Price at the back post and after his lay off was blasted towards goal by Aidan Bennett, Causon’s save was somehow slid wide by Price.
Peare tried his luck from 30 yards just before the half hour mark, but Causon produced a stunning save to palm over.
Ciren continued to press for an opener, with Bennett heading onto the roof of the net from a free kick.
But just before the break, the goal came as Jeremy drilled in a cross from the left and Wells was on hand to convert at the back post.
For Ciren’s pressure and control in the first half, they were only a goal to the good going into the second half and after pressure from the hosts the equaliser didn’t take long.
Lydney saw a number of balls into the box well defended by the visitors, until a corner was partially cleared before Jack Horrell needlessly bundled into his man and a penalty was awarded.
Matt Green, who recently returned to Lydney from Hereford Pegasus, stepped up send Newbery the wrong way.
Lydney continued to press after the goal, but Newbery’s goal remained unthreatened.
Ed Scott headed straight at Causon, before Jeremy’s ball in from the left was just too heavy for Price to get a boot onto.
Olateju squandered a glorious chance with just 15 minutes left, as he got in space down the left side of the box but fired straight at Newbery.
Price nearly restored his side’s lead within seconds, but his sweeping effort was blocked off the line by the recovering Keelan Hamblett.
Ethan Vaughan, who impressed throughout, saw a ball in from the left deflect towards goal, forcing Newbery into a superb save as the hosts threatened a winner.
And in stoppage time, Price missed one final effort as Bennett’s cross was punched to the edge of the box, leading to Joe Turley heading back into the box and Price couldn’t get a full contact as he headed wide from about six yards.
In the end the draw was the fair result, with Lydney warranting a point due to their effort and determination, whilst the Centurions know that if they are to be in the play-offs come the end of April then they will need to be more clinical in front of goal as a team.
Lydney Town: Causon, Hamblett, Sheppard, Baldwin, Fusiek, Kposowa, Sheen, Vaughan, Green, Olateju, Reid
Subs: Lynden, Gonzalez, Zatorski, Kemper, Morley-Lyne
Cirencester Town: Newbery, Bell, Keightley, Scott, Pitts, Peare, Bennett, Horrell, Price Wells, Jeremy
Subs: Turley, Freeman, Stalley, Dias, Sawyer
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Ethan Vaughan (Lydney Town)
READ MORE: Check out the list of Saturday’s results in and around Gloucestershire right here
