E.S.F.A under 18’s Colleges’ Trophy Semi - Final City College Brighton & Hove 0 Cirencester Academy 3 Cirencester defeated City College Brighton to reach the E.S.F.A. under 18’s Colleges’ Trophy Final. They will play Balby Carr College Doncaster in March, with date and venue to be confirmed.

Cirencester travelled to Brighton with four regular players missing through injury and illness, but their replacements performed magnificently. Cirencester started well with both Josh Morse and James Piatek terrorising the Brighton College defenders with their pace and skill. It was this combination that gave Cirencester the lead after 5 minutes when a pinpoint cross from the left by Morse found Piatek who smashed the ball past the goalkeeper. Cirencester increased their lead further after James Piatek was fouled just outside the box. Josh Morse took the resultant free kick and played a great ball to the near post, where Piatek controlled superbly before striking ball into the net. Cirencester were then forced to substitute full back Jacob Hayden after 20 minutes with damaged ankle ligaments and he was replaced by Tom Blackford. Brighton responded and Cirencester goalkeeper Harry Ellis made a great save to keep the score at 2 – 0. Cirencester could have increased their lead further before but Brighton goalkeeper made several outstanding saves. The second half saw Brighton pressing forward in search of a goal but Cirencester were in no mood to concede and cleared one shot off the line and Harrison was forced to save twice from long range shots. Cirencester had several opportunities to score a third goal but just lacked clinical touch. Brighton continued to press but with 10 minutes remaining midfielder Brad Hooper scored with an outstanding free kick from 10 yards outside the box, sending ball over the keep into top corner of the goal to send Cirencester in to the final

E.S.F.A under 18’s Colleges’ Trophy Semi-Final
City College Brighton & Hove 0 Cirencester College Academy 3

Cirencester defeated City College Brighton to reach the E.S.F.A. under 18’s Colleges’ Trophy Final. They will play Balby Carr College Doncaster in March, with date and venue to be confirmed.

Cirencester travelled to Brighton with four regular players missing through injury and illness, but their replacements performed magnificently. Cirencester started well with both Josh Morse and James Piatek terrorising the Brighton College defenders with their pace and skill. It was this combination that gave Cirencester the lead after 5 minutes when a pinpoint cross from the left by Morse found Piatek who smashed the ball past the goalkeeper. Cirencester increased their lead further after James Piatek was fouled just outside the box. Josh Morse took the resultant free kick and played a great ball to the near post, where Piatek controlled superbly before striking ball into the net. Cirencester were then forced to substitute full back Jacob Hayden after 20 minutes with damaged ankle ligaments and he was replaced by Tom Blackford. Brighton responded and Cirencester goalkeeper Harry Ellis made a great save to keep the score at 2–0. Cirencester could have increased their lead further before but Brighton goalkeeper made several outstanding saves.

The second half saw Brighton pressing forward in search of a goal but Cirencester were in no mood to concede and cleared one shot off the line and Harrison was forced to save twice from long range shots. Cirencester had several opportunities to score a third goal but just lacked clinical touch. Brighton continued to press but with 10 minutes remaining midfielder Brad Hooper scored with an outstanding free kick from 10 yards outside the box, sending ball over the keep into top corner of the goal to send Cirencester in to the final.

For further information please contact Steve Lowndes on 01285 640994 or email Steve on srl@cirencester.ac.uk. 

ESFA Under 18’s Colleges Final
Cirencester College 3 Balby Carr College Doncaster 0

Cirencester travelled to Macclesfield Town FC to play the finals of the ESFA Under 18’s Colleges Trophy against Balby Carr College, Doncaster.

Cirencester attacked immediately from the kick off after a fine ball by Sam Farr put through striker Jack Smith but he narrowly failed to lift the ball over the advancing keeper which would have given an early lead. Gradually Balby Carr came in to the game and created several chances but were denied by two fantastic saves by goalkeeper Harry Ellis and goal line clearances by full back Adam Mace. Just before the interval Jack Smith fired over the bar after good work and cross by winger Josh Morse. Score remained 0-0 at half time.

Cirencester started the 2nd half on the offensive immediately putting Balby Carr defence under pressure with Joe Shepherd heading over a corner from Brad Hooper, 1-0.  Balby Carr then put the Cirencester defence under severe pressure from corners and free kicks but they held firm. Cirencester increased their lead when substitute Danny Hale beat two defenders and calmly lobbed the ball over the advancing keeper. Barby Carr were now desperately trying to score and Cirencester scored their 3rd goal on a counter attack when Danny Hale passed the ball to Adam Mace who calmly slotted the ball home to make the score 3-0.

Cirencester College Team: Harry Ellis, Joe Woodley, Adam Mace, Sam Farr, Tom Glass, Adam Cooke, James Piatek, Joe Shepherd, Jack Smith, Brad Hooper, Josh Morse, Danny Hale, Niaoki Montoya, Ben Deakin, Dan Roberts, Joe Blackford.

For further information contact Steve Lowndes at Cirencester College on 01285 640994.