MANGOTSFIELD United achieved perhaps their best result of the season in beating league leaders Roman St George, before falling to a defeat at home to mid-table Cinderford Town.
The reverse against Cinderford meant the Mangos’ already slim hopes of making the play-offs became slimmer still.
Although 7th in the league table, they are 15 points behind the last play-off place, currently occupied by Corsham Town, with only 11 league matches left to play and 33 points available.
The morale-boosting 3-2 win over Roman Glass St George saw Lewis Powell score a hat-trick.
Despite an early goal from the visitors, the Mangos kept plugging away and more than matched their high-flying opponents and local rivals.
Man-of-the-match Powell’s hat-trick came on 30, 77 and 84 minutes, with a second goal from Roman Glass providing a grandstand finish.
Watched by a crowd of 327 at Cossham Street, it was a well-earned three points for the Mangos, giving them some hope for the rest of the season.
However, one week later they were brought back down to earth as they ended up on the wrong end of the same scoreline, as Cinderford Town nipped over the Severn Bridge to take all three points.
Mangotsfield began badly, and defensive lapses meant that the visitors found themselves 2-0 up inside 14 minutes, thanks to goals from Jack Watts (11) and Kian Davies (14).
Urged on by another large home crowd of 357, the Mangos battled back into the game, facing the tough task ahead of them, and pulled one back on 37 minutes through Jacob Spence.
Cinderford, however, made the perfect start to the second half by going 3-1 up on 50 minutes, through Jack Watts again.
The Mangos rallied immediately, and Lewis Powell got one back just three minutes later.
Try as they might though, the Mangos just could not break the visitors down any further, and the Foresters stood firm with an excellent performance.
The following week’s away trip to Longlevens was, not surprisingly, called off because of a waterlogged pitch. It will be rearranged as soon as possible.
Reaching the play-offs is going to be a very tall order indeed, and will need a few teams above the Mangos to implode big time if the miracle is to be achieved!
In the meantime, the club was still in two cup competitions, the Marsh Cup and GFA Trophy, as the Voice went to print.
Silverware in the trophy cabinet always means success of some sort at the end of a season, so there is still much to play for in the coming weeks.
The club hopes a mass of home games coming up in late February and through March will see more excellent attendances at Cossham Street as the Mangos try to win as many games as they can and see where it takes them.
Dave Smale
Upcoming fixtures
(3pm unless stated):
February 24: Bitton – GFA Trophy (home, 7.45pm)
February 28: Lydney Town (H)
March 7: Hereford Pegasus (H)
March 14: Slimbridge (H)
March 21: Corsham Town (H)
March 28: Worcester Raiders (away)