MANGOTSFIELD United’s faint hopes of making the Hellenic League play-offs have been dashed after several poor results.
The team was also knocked out of two cup competitions in ten days, and has lost four senior players in recent weeks.
With one month of the season to go, manager Ollie Price is fielding some of the club’s Under-18 players to fill out the side for the rest of the campaign.
The Mangos crashed out of the Marsh Cup to Worcester Raiders on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Cossham Street in February.
Brandon Bak fired home at the back post after 28 minutes, following a good move down the right, but Worcester levelled eight minutes later. It was an even game afterwards, but late goals from Lewis Powell (89) and an even later one from the Raiders took the game to a shoot-out, which the visitors won 5-3.
A week later, the Mangos travelled across the north of Bristol to relegation-threatened Cribbs, a must-win match for a serious play-off challenge.
It was a tough game, but Brandon Bak came up with the all-important winning goal with six minutes to go, the Mangos winning 1-0.
However, just three days later the team crashed inexplicably 6-4 at home to near neighbours and Toolstation League Division 1 side Bitton in the GFA Trophy.
Mircea Llea (36 & 55), Owen Pritchard (53) and Brandon Bak (77) were the Mangos’ goalscorers.
The defeat to a side a level below the Mangos in the Non-League pyramid came as several senior players, including George Kellow, Jacob Spence and Aaron Parsons, started to leave the club.
Spirits were raised in the next game, a 3-1 home win against lowly Lydney Town.
Brandon Bak bagged a hat-trick for the Mangos on 35, 70 & 84 minutes, with O’Rian Reid scoring for Lydney just before the break.
But, as has been the pattern for much of this season, a win was followed by a defeat a week later, with the team going down 1-0 at mid-table Gloucester side Longlevens.
The only goal came on 33 minutes and, try as they might, the Mangos could not get back into the game as the hosts stood firm.
The home game against promotion-chasing Slimbridge turned out to be a total disaster, with manager Ollie Price forced to field five U18 players, some of them making their first team debuts.
Despite Mangotsfield going ahead through a Harry Simons goal on six minutes, Slimbridge were 3-1 up at half-time.
Veteran striker Lewis Powell got one back on 49 minutes to give the Mangos some hope, but Slimbridge stepped up a gear and made it 4-2 six minutes later. Further goals on 62, 76 and 85 minutes completed a 7-2 rout for the visitors, who topped the Hellenic League table as the Voice went to print.
Away trips to promotion contenders Worcester Raiders and Droitwich Spa still await the Mangos before the season ends.
Dave Smale
Remaining fixtures
March 28: Worcester Raiders (away)
April 4: Royal Wootton Bassett Town (home)
April 6: Thornbury Town (H)
April 11: Westfields (A)
April 18: Droitwich Spa (A)