The start of a new season for a very different line up in previous seasons meant this first winter league game was a bench marker of standard needed to work with. The blues started the game with an attacking mindset playing 3 4 3 to get body's forward and to press Ciren into their own half, this method can be dangerous and with the pressure soaked up from the away teams defense and the adaption to Wottons formation, Cirencester capitalized on open gaps behind Wottons midfield on counter attacks. This resulted with Wotton falling 1 0 down before half time.But It wasn't all doom and gloom by any means as Wottons efforts and hard work across the pitch kept them well in the game, making plenty of their own chances to net but to no avail.
Half time came and a team talk and formation change from captain Darren Bird-Pearce brought the home team out in a different light. From the whistle wotton started to control the game and attack in all the right places, with the pace of Jamie Chalmers and George Topham flanking wide and the support in the centre from Andrew Wallace and James Cox, cirencester became pinned in their half for long periods of the game. Some well worked short corner gave glimmers of light but just missing out on a breakthrough. Archie Croppers reverse hit strike smashed the top bar and plenty of chances going close for David Chevin 'Chev'. Wottons first goal came in the style of a massive shove in the back to Pearcey from their sturdy south African fullback giving away a penalty flick for Chev to easily net,leveling up the scores. Spells of tiredness began to creep in after so much hard work, giving the away team a few chances to break and this meant the work of the defense was relied on and what a great job they did with Leo Murray-Davey (MOM)and Nick Watt bossing the center and wing backs Brian Patterson and Steven Hunter playing a huge rolls on their Marches 1 league debuts. The second goal came from a dazzling display of skill from Jamie Chalmers, picking up the ball from the half way line and running through numerous tackles and efforts to stop him but somehow making them all look silly until finally reaching the opo's D and slamming the ball into the net putting The home side 2 -1 up. A huge boost to the team and a confident mentality to keep it that way was soon spread among the team but with legs becoming tired and Ciren again soaking up Wottons attacks, the away team were able to pull a few attacks of their own together and manage to create a couple of short corners right on the final whistle. The feeling of a whistle gone and a short corner to finish the game is always nerve racking. Ciren pulling every man forward, Wotton tried to defend the last play of the match but a cheeky rebound and Ciren strike striped the 3 points away from the blues resulting in the draw.
Again the second half became positive in terms of how the 3s need to play to become competitive and hold their own in Marches 1. Great effort and team spirit to come back from 1-0 down. A huge thank u to all supporters watching and onward to next weeks away game against Stroud B, 15.00pb,Stratford park.