Slimbridge produce dramatic comeback to end opening day curse against 10-man Cirencester Town
Slimbridge produced a dramatic late comeback to pick up their first opening day win since 2017 defeating 10-men Cirencester Town 3-2 on Tuesday night, writes Sam Yapp.
A brace from Harlie Price had Cirencester in control until goals from Jack W Smith, Jack Smith and Casey Collins in the final 10 minutes saw Slimbridge come away winners in this opening Hellenic League Premier encounter at Thornhill Park.
The hosts carved out the first chance in a hectic opening quarter of an hour when, on three minutes, Joe Stokes’ fierce strike was denied by a flying save from Ronnie Newbery.
Cirencester then opened the scoring on six minutes when Harlie Price turned home a low Harrison Reeves cross from close range.
Newbery was called into action once again on 12 minutes when he had to claw a dipping Stokes corner from underneath his bar to keep the visitors ahead.
Cirencester almost doubled their lead on 16 minutes when Fraser Bell’s corner was deflected goal bound but it was hooked clear off the line.
The game settled down until late in the half when Newbery was on hand to yet again deny Stokes with a low stop following Stokes’ strike through a group of bodies.
To round the half off, Price almost scored an early contender for goal of the season when he tried an audacious lobbed effort from 20-yards, but it bounced inches wide.
Price was in front of goal minutes into the new half when, after some beautiful play from Cirencester, he was played through but could only fire wide.
Moments later down the other end, Newbery was in inspired form as he superbly beat away a driven Toby Soule effort.
Straight back up the other end and Slimbridge were almost caught out at the back, but Bogdan Mara got back on the line to deny a Reeves effort.
Cirencester were again kept in front by their shot stopper Newbery on 60 minutes when he got down well to deny a Raiyan Ahmed close range effort.
But the visitors doubled their lead on 68 minutes after a defensive error saw the ball fall kindly for Price who rounded the Slimbridge goalkeeper before rolling home into an empty net.
However, some gloom loomed over the visitors on 74 minutes when they were reduced to 10-men as Finley Bell saw red for an off the ball incident.
And that sparked life into Slimbridge as Jack W Smith got one back for the host sliding a close ranged effort in off the post on 81 minutes.
Then not three minutes later, the game was sensationally levelled when Jack Smith turned home a low Ahmed cross.
And in additional time Casey Collins secured all three points in dramatic fashion scrambling the ball over the line from six-yards securing their first opening day win in almost eight years.
Both sides return to action Saturday in the FA Cup as Slimbridge travel to Corsham and Cirencester host Reading City.
Slimbridge: Sarkodie (GK), Hunt (Blacker 88’) , Rodgers, Kang (Ahmed 56’), Hitchings ©, Mara (Ponting 66’), Stokes, Soule (Evans 90+4’), J. Smith, J. W. Smith, Shutt (Collins 56’)
Cirencester Town: Newbery (GK), F. Bell (Sent off 74’), Morris, Scott, Pitts © (Keightley 75’), Horrell, Stratford, Welch (Freeman 79’), Price (Pitt 79’), F. Bell, Reeves (Peare 77’)
Unused Subs: Rose
C Martin Roofing Man of the Match – Raiyan Ahmed (Slimbridge)
READ MORE: Check out the list of fixtures in and around Gloucestershire this Saturday right here
