MANGOTSFIELD School’s Year 10 football team sealed a remarkable double in the space of 24 hours, by winning two prestigious trophies.
First the team travelled to Ashton Gate, where they beat Redland Green 3-1 to lift the Woodcock Shield, the region’s oldest and most prestigious schoolboy football tournament trophy.
Just a day later they travelled to Hartpury University near Gloucester for the final of the Gloucestershire County Cup, where they beat Cheltenham’s Cleeve School 4-2 in a penalty shoot-out, after the match ended 1-1.
Mangotsfield’s path to glory in the Woodcock Shield saw them beat Marlwood School 2-0 away before beating Ashton Park by the same scoreline at home.
They then beat Oasis Brislington 2-1 at Mangotsfield United’s Cossham Street ground, with Fred Cousins scoring a stunning free kick in stoppage time to send them into the final. The match doubled up as the Bristol v South Gloucestershire final of the County Cup.
In the final at the end of May, Josh Thompson, Ryan Tattersal-Froom and Ben Massey-Jones scored the goals that beat Redland Green at Bristol City’s ground and won the shield, which was first awarded in 1907.
The County Cup saw Mangotsfield beat Hanham 3-0 away and Abbeywood 1-0 at home, courtesy of a goal in the last minute of extra-time from Harrison Peglar.
The win over Oasis Brislington that took them to the Woodcock Shield final also took them into the County Cup final.
School head of PE Tristan Hawkins said: “The County Cup final was played 18 hours after the Woodcock Shield; the boys were very fatigued and exhausted after the excitement of the day before.
“They weren’t at their best but hung in there.
“We were 1-0 down until we won a penalty in the last couple of minutes. Fred Cousins dispatched the penalty, then we won in the shoot-out.
“The man of the match was goalkeeper Sulley Parsons – not only did he save two penalties in the shoot-out, but he kept us in the game by saving about four one-on-ones during the match.
“The boys have had an unbelievable season, and have won four titles this year.
“This team previously never got further than the South Glos quarter finals in Years 7-9 but this year we have managed to win everything, and are undefeated for the season.
“It has been remarkable how they pulled together as a team and showed real resilience throughout the season.
“We don’t have any academy players, but we have strength all over the pitch and quite a few of our boys play representative football for South Gloucestershire.”
Sulley Parsons and captain Sam Bell, a defender, were in the South Glos regional talent centre side that won the junior premier league national cup final at Chesterfield this season, with Sulley saving two penalties during the 2-0 victory.
Head teacher Hetty Blackmore said: “It’s a fantastic achievement, and one the whole school community can be very proud of.”
