INJURY-hit Mangotsfield United have slipped to mid-table and been knocked out of another cup competition.
They crashed out of the FA Vase with a 4-1 home defeat by old rivals Cirencester Town.
It was just one of those games where nothing went right, and everyone had an off day.
The Centurions dominated the early stages and were 2-0 up inside the first 25 minutes.
Despite rallying at the break, the Mangos could make no headway in the second half and went 3-0 down with 12 minutes to go.
Jacob Spence did pull one back on 90+1 minutes but Cirencester had the final say with a fourth goal, four minutes later. Coming 30 seasons after Mangotsfield reached the FA Vase Semi-Finals, this poor defeat meant that Wembley must wait another year.
The Mangos bounced back the following Tuesday with a hard-fought 1-0 home win over Highworth Town.
There was little to choose between the sides for much of the game, but Spike Weaver’s 39th minute strike secured a massive three points.
Four days later, it was one step forward and two back, as play-off rivals Worcester Raiders arrived at Cossham Street and took away three points with a 1-0 win.
The Mangos matched them all the way, but the visitors had an extra edge about them, and scored the only goal on 43 minutes. Mangotsfield had a second-half penalty saved by the Worcester keeper and after that, there was no way back.
The following Saturday the Mangos made the short trip to lowly Thornbury Town, sharing the points in a 2-2 draw where all the goals came in the last half hour.
Thornbury took the lead on 66 minutes but Jacob Spence equalised a minute later.
The Mangos thought they’d won the match with a strike from George Neill just four minutes from time, but the hosts kept plugging away and scored a dramatic leveller on 90+7 minutes to break Mangotsfield hearts.
A 2-0 home defeat that followed against Pershore Town just seemed to sum up how things have gone of late.
The game was goal-less at half time, but could so easily have been 2-2 on good scoring chances missed.
Pershore always looked lively and capable of scoring, while the Mangos failed to take any chances they created.
The visitors finally went ahead on 74 minutes and despite valiant attempts to rescue a point by Mangotsfield, Pershore clinched the win with a second goal in stoppage time.
One good thing for the Mangos was a very good attendance figure, of 255.
Dave Smale
Upcoming fixtures
October 25: Cribbs (home)
October 28: Corsham Town (away)
November 8: Fairford Town (A)
November 15: Hereford Pegasus (A)
November 22: Longlevens (H)