MANGOTSFIELD United’s league form has continued to be astonishing, as they play all their games away while their new pitch is made ready.
Between mid-September and early October the club won four and drew one of their Hellenic League fixtures, the only blot on the landscape being an early exit from the FA Vase.
A hard-earned 2-0 win at Longlevens on September 14 came courtesy of a goal in each half from Joe Porton (27 minutes) and George Neill (60).
Then came another trip up Gloucester way, to struggling Brimscombe & Thrupp. Yet again, the Mangos returned down the M5 with all 3 points. Very early goals from George Neill (2) and Jack Ball (9) put them into a commanding position. Although the hosts pulled a goal back in the first minute of the second half and did their best to get an equaliser, the Mangos’ defence stood firm to clinch the win.
The Mangos were drawn at home to Stonehouse Town in the FA Vase, and the decision was made to play the tie in Bristol, with AEK Boco kindly staging it at their Greenbank Road ground.
In a lively encounter, Mircea Llea put the Mangos ahead on 14 minutes, only for Richard Thwaite to equalise.
Tom Warren put Mangotsfield back in front on 90 minutes, only for Thwaite to equalise almost immediately. With no extra time, the match went straight to penalties & Stonehouse won the shoot-out by 4-3 to inflict the Mangos first defeat in 10 games.
A week later, following a midweek postponement at Malmesbury Victoria, the Mangos put the Stonehouse defeat behind them with a superb 4-1 win at Pershore Town.
Joe Cattermole rocked the hosts with a goal in the first minute, before James Baldwin levelled on 32 minutes. However, a strong second half saw the Mangos race clear, thanks to goals from George Neill (50), James White (70) and Jack Ball (90+5).
The next away game in this crazy season saw yet another win, this time 1-0 at Hereford Pegasus in a very rare Friday night match.
Again, it was another hard-fought win, with Michael Barry netting on 56 minutes to clinch the 3 points.
The winning away run came to an end with a 1-1 draw at Sporting Club Inkberrow, who are east of Worcester. Stuart Tovey put the Mangos ahead on 57 minutes, but the hosts rallied late on, equalising in stoppage time.
With some more tough away matches still to come, everyone at Mangotsfield United now awaits the club’s first proper home game of the season on November 23, when Slimbridge will visit the new-look Cossham Street ground.
Dave Smale
Upcoming fixtures:
October 26: Westfields (away)
November 9: Tuffley Rovers (A)
November 16: Lydney Town (A)
November 19: Hartpury University (A)
November 23: Slimbridge (home)
November 26: Thornbury Town (H)