MANGOTSFIELD United will need a strong second half of the season to get back among the promotion places.
The team has become consistently inconsistent, with each win followed by a defeat.
The good work from a 2-1 home win against Tuffley Rovers in October – thanks to a goal from Ollie Weaver on 26 minutes and a last-gasp winner from Jacob Spence in the sixth minute of stoppage time – was thrown away in the next game, a 3-2 home defeat against local rivals Cribbs.
The Mangos were leading 2-0 with less than 10 minutes to go, with James White putting them in front and George Neill making it 2-0 on 79 minutes.
Most sides trailing like that would go on to lose the game but, incredibly, Cribbs found a late burst, Buster Reid scoring out of the blue on 87 and 90 minutes, and Joseph Davis bagging the winner on 90 + 3 minutes as the Mangos spectacularly collapsed. It was one of the most unlikely-looking defeats at Cossham Street in living memory.
Following a much-needed 10-day break, the Mangos returned to winning ways with a comfortable 6-0 home win over Malmesbury Victoria in the Marsh Cup.
George Kellow and Olly Sully gave them a commanding half-time lead before three quick goals after the break, from Sully, Michael Barry and George Neill quickly ended the game as a contest, with Neill adding the sixth on 58 minutes.
The Mangos travel to Longlevens in the next round.
Back in the league a very good 1-1 draw at Corsham Town, always one of the better sides in the Hellenic League, could have been even better: the Mangos led for an hour after George Kellow’s 32nd-minute opener, but another late horror show saw the hosts grab an equaliser on 90+2 minutes.
A few days later a disappointing 2-0 away defeat at Fairford Town left a feeling of “two steps forward and one back”.
The following week the Mangos bounced back with a hard-earned 3-2 away win at Hereford Pegasus, another play-off chasing side.
An opener for the hosts on 25 minute galvanised Mangotsfield into action and goals from George Kellow (35), Ollie Weaver (36) and Rudy Hill (45+8) put them 3-1 up at half-time.
Despite an early second-half goal and a lot of late pressure from the hosts, the Mangos stood firm to claim a big three points.
Three days later the Mangos were dumped out of the Floodlit Cup by Highworth Town, going down 3-1 at home. Joe Porton’s 41st-minute volley from the edge of the box had ensured Mangotsfield went in level at half-time but the visitors scored two unanswered goals.
There are no Boxing Day or New Year’s Day fixtures at Cossham Street but the club will welcome your support at the pre-Christmas home game with Cirencester Town and Christmas weekend derby match away at Hallen.
Dave Smale
Upcoming fixtures:
November 29: Slimbridge (away)
December 6: Highworth Town (away)
December 13: Longlevens (away, Marsh Cup)
December 20: Cirencester Town (home)
December 27: Hallen (away)
January 3: Pershore Town (away)