Cirencester see off Hartpury with solid defensive display to advance in the FA Cup
Cirencester Town produced a solid defensive display to eventually edge past Hartpury to advance to the FA Cup Preliminary Round, running out 2-0 winners on Friday night.
After a goalless first half, Harlie Price converted from the spot to break the deadlock, before Sol Pryce added a second late on to seal the deal for the Centurions.
Cirencester move through to head to the winner of Newport Pagnell Town vs Marlow, which takes place this afternoon, in the next round of the cup.
It was a game that looked destined to finish goalless for the most part, but Hartpury didn’t quite do enough to look like they would win the game, despite having a lot of the ball in the second half.
The Acorns start their league campaign on Tuesday night, hosting Slimbridge at Gloucester City’s KMM Energy Stadium – unless the Swans are held to a draw in their FA Cup tie away at Burnham.
For Cirencester, they remain unbeaten to start their 2026/27 campaign, following a win at Tuffley Rovers and midweek draw at home to Mangotsfield United.
Ciren have a free week now, ahead of a trip to Reading to take on Woodley United in the FA Vase next weekend.
Hartpury felt they should have had a penalty in the first five minutes of the match when Billy Osborn went down in the box, but the referee dismissed appeals.
Moments later Fin Bell floated a cross in from the right, which saw Seth Locke have to retreat and palm over.
And in a first half lacking in key moments and chances, that was the pick of the action until Louis Manning’s free kick hit the wall and dribbled through to Connor Johns.
Both sides needed to improve after the break, with both sides struggling to get a hold of the ball in midfield – making it tough for the men in the middle of the park.
Nathan Jenkins ventured forward just before the hour mark and after a cross was partially cleared to him, he thrashed wide.
Jenkins then curled an effort straight at Johns on the hour mark, before Ciren created the best chance of the game.
A neat move on the right hand side led to a ball across the box for Jam Dare to sweep towards goal – only for Locke to get down to his left to save, with Fin Bell sending the follow up over the bar.
On 65 minutes a Hartpury corner was recycled, with Louis Manning taking a touch and striking the foot of the post with an effort.
The Acorns should have been ahead with 20 minutes to go when Sol Pryce was caught in possession on half way and the blue shirts flooded forward, with Rory Preston somehow sending his effort wide from about eight yards out.
Hartpury were improving on the ball but still couldn’t test Johns and it had the feeling of a 1-0 Ciren game, so it was no surprise when the goal came.
Jam Dare was pushed in the back at a free kick and after initially giving a free kick on the edge of the box, the referee went over to his assistant before changing his decision to a penalty.
Hartpury just didn’t learn from their mistakes, with a number of fouls given away for Hartpury defenders jumping into the back of Ciren men and this one proved costly.
Harlie Price stepped up to beat Locke and break the deadlock and from there, Ciren looked pretty comfortable.
Sol Pryce added a second with just minutes to go, getting on the ball 25 yards out, taking aim and Locke only able to palm the ball up and into his own goal.
Cirencester now wait to see where they will head in the Preliminary Round on Saturday 22 August after a performance that saw centre back duo Ed Scott and Adam Corcoran impenetrable and restricting Hartpury to only a handful of efforts on goal across the game – with Connor Johns untested throughout the 90 minutes.
Hartpury: Locke, Kent, Robinson, Sims, Walters, McGregor, Manning, Jenkins, Osborn, Preston, Pevide
Subs: Kovacevic, Sanniola, Cherchi, Allen
Cirencester Town: Johns, Keightley, Wells, Scott, Corcoran, Horrell, Dare, Turley, Price, Bell, Pryce
Subs: Birkett, Welch, McCrae, Bennett, Hill
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Ed Scott (Cirencester Town)
READ MORE: Check out the list of Saturday’s fixtures in and around Gloucestershire right here
