Match 10. Cirencester Town v North Leigh

Saturday 31^st October 2015 @3pm

FA Trophy 1^st Round Qualifying

CIRENCESTER TOWN 2-1 NORTH LEIGH

Corinium Stadium, Kingshill, Cirencester GL7 1HS

Admission: £10

Programme: £2 (A5, 24pp)

Attendance: 85

Refreshments: Oily chips, £2. Lucozade Sport, £1.50. Klix tomato soup, 90p.

I had the use of my daughters hop mobile so as she has a black box fitted I had a leisurely drive to Cirencester as I chose this thinking there could be a cup upset. The Corinium Stadium does have all the facilities needed for a Community club but is lacking in character, and the small attendence didn't help the lack of atmosphere.  Once parked in the large car park in front of the ground and through the open turnstile (of 6) the refreshment snack bar is on the left, with the main building on the right, including the changing rooms and a small covered searing area in front. The clubhouse is large and is beyond the changing room and players’ tunnel. There is standing cover behind one goal and a main seated stand of around 250 seats opposite the main building with several support posts restricting the view.  The home side are celebrating their 125^th year, the last 13 have been at this location. I do wonder what their former ground was like.

The match was played in beautiful warm sunshine throughout with the sun setting towards the end of the match.  The home side in red and black started well against the visitors in yellow and black and dominated possession for the first half and hour.  The deserved lead arrived on 26 minutes when a corner from no11 found Griffin unmarked in the 6 yard box to head in. North Leigh got back into the match and were unlucky not the go in at the break on level terms. North Leigh started the second half well but fell further behind five minutes into the half with a copycat move, this time Henry using his head to go 2-0 up.  North Leigh then dominate the second half, with Cirencester querying everything and using gamesmanship to rattle the visitors, but the strong referee was having none of it.  The bookings were for dissent and playacting.  North Leigh pulled a goal back with a quarter of an hour to go but despite a late onslaught of the home goal, couldn’t force the equaliser.