MANGOTSFIELD United kicked off their Hellenic League campaign with a gritty, hard-earned and sometimes feisty 1-0 win over local rivals Hallen.
The visitors were promoted after winning the Western League First Division last season.
Hallen are a well-built side, and created a number of openings in the first half, but it was the Mangos who opened the scoring just before half time.
Following a through ball, a Hallen defender was adjudged to have handled in the area, and George Neill slotted home the penalty.
The second half was similar to the first, with Hallen doing all they could to draw level, but Mangos keeper Ellis Parker was in fine form all night, fully deserving his man of the match award.
The home FA Cup tie with old rivals Bristol Manor Farm, now a Southern League Division One South side, was always going to be a tough one for the Mangos, especially with the Farm fielding a side resembling “The Land of the Giants” in terms of their height, but the Mangos battled well and soon realised high balls into the Farm box were not going to go anywhere but away from goal.
Farm looked dangerous in attack, and went ahead on the hour thanks to a low strike across the box.
That might have settled the game, but the Mangos kept plugging away and were rewarded with an equaliser on 90+3 minutes, with Kyreese Morrison on hand to slot home at the far post.
The replay at The Creek three days later saw the Mangos earn a famous 1-0 away win.
The Farm did all they could to break through the Mangos defence, but Ellis Parker was again in fine form.
A moment of fortune changed the game on the hour mark, when a bobbling back pass caught out Farm keeper James Walker, whose clearance ricocheted off Harrison Kyte and rolled back into the net.
The following Saturday saw the Mangos pick up their second league win of the season, a fine 4-0 victory at home to Hereford outfit Westfields.
The visitors had their moments in attack, but the Mangos defence was again in good form.
A brace from Kyreese Morrison put the game to bed, adding to an own goal and one from George Neill in the first half.
The Field also hit the bar twice, the post twice and missed a penalty in what was an excellent team performance across the pitch.
Next up was a league visit to Tuffley Rovers, which the Mangos won 3-1.
The hosts went ahead early but George Neill levelled the scores on 15 minutes, and the game turned on a red card that put the hosts down to ten men on 67 minutes.
Substitute Harrison Kyte put the Mangos ahead 20 minutes later with a heavily-deflected free kick and Michael Barry sealed the three points in added time.
August 16 saw the Mangos secure a place in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup with a 3-0 win over local and league rivals Cribbs.
Michael Barry opened the scoring with a fine individual effort, taking the ball from his own half and weaving in and out of the Cribbs team before getting a shot away inside the box.
Romiah Nevers doubled the lead with a rocket in the 77th minute before substitute Arron Sweete curled a superbly-struck free kick inside the post in the third minute of stoppage time.
Dave Smale
Upcoming fixtures
August 25: Roman Glass St George (Away)
August 30: Highworth Town (Home)
September 6: Cirencester Town (A)
September 13: Cinderford Town (A)
September 27: Worcester Raiders (H)