MATCH REPORTS 2007/08 SEASON PAGE 4

Saturday 8th March - British Gas Business League Premier Division - Mangotsfield United 2 Cheshunt 0

Mangotsfield United picked up a first league win since early December to give joint caretaker managers Paul Milsom and Jon French an ideal start in their quest to pull the club away from the relegation zone. A Cheshunt side marooned at the foot of the table rarely threatened in a scrappy match played on a testing playing surface. Mangotsfield took the lead on twenty seven minutes when central defender Lloyd Boateng put through his own net. The match was wrapped up on eighty six minutes with Alan Griffin scoring his eighth of the season with a close range volley.

A bright start from Mangotsfield saw Luke Ballinger go close to opening the scoring with just four minutes played. The former Melksham Town striker who returned to the starting line up after being on duty with the England Futsal squad latched onto a loose ball on the right of the Cheshunt area where after bringing the ball down his strike was parried behind for a corner.

After an encouraging opening Mangotsfield lost their way allowing Cheshunt to enjoy what was to be their best period of the match. With ten minutes played a corner from the left was cleared as far as Cheshunt's Jamie Petts whose first time strike from fully thirty yards brought a fine save out of Josh Clapham who tipped the ball over at full stretch. Four minutes later and after being awarded a free kick on the Mangotsfield right Petts delivered a cross into the penalty area where Gavin Taylor climbed well to head just wide.

In a match of few chances Mangotsfield went close midway through the half after the ball was worked from right to left across the face of the penalty area to loan signing James Simpson whose low goalbound strike was deflected for a corner.

Mangotsfield took the lead on twenty seven minutes when Mark McKeever's low free kick from the left caused panic in the visitors defence which led to Lloyd Boateng putting into his own net when under pressure inside his own six yard box.

Chances in the second half were at a premium as players struggled to cope with a playing surface which had become saturated during a heavy downpour during the half time interval. On fifty three minutes Cheshunt's only chance of the half fell to Tobi Oshitola who tested Josh Clapham's handling ability with a low strike from twenty yards.

With four minutes left to play and with their first notable chance of the half Mangotsfield added a second when James Simpson's free kick from the left edge of the penalty area was met at the far post by Alan Griffin who volleyed home from close range to earn his side a welcome three points.

Saturday 15th March - British Gas Business League Premier Division - Rugby Town 1 Mangotsfield United 0

A depleted Mangotsfield United side which was once again without the services of five players made a promising start and should have taken the lead on twenty minutes when Alan Griffin's header was picked up by strike partner Luke Ballinger who rounded goalkeeper Richard Anstiss only to be denied by covering defender Craig Herbert who cleared off the line.

Rugby received another let off when a poor clearance from Richard Anstiss found Alan Griffin on the right who wasted little time in crossing for Luke Ballinger whose shot from close range was saved by Anstiss who had recovered his position.   

Rugby Town took full advantage of Mangotsfield United's profligacy in front of goal to take the lead on thirty six minutes through 'work experience' signing Keiran Fitzharris who made the most of a goalkeeping error to lift the ball over the stranded Josh Clapham into an unguarded net to give the home side a one goal advantage at half time.

The hosts dictated for much of the second half creating a number of chances as Mangotsfield United goalkeeper Josh Clapham went some way to atoning for his earlier error.

Coventry City youngster Keiran Fitzharris was denied by the legs of Clapham who also tipped another Fitzharris effort over the bar. Mangotsfield's best chance of the second half fell to substitute James Crew whose strike posed little threat to Richard Anstiss. Late on in the match Rugby went close to adding a second when substitute Dave Kolodynski saw his effort roll just wide of goal. 

Saturday 22nd March - British Gas Business League Premier Division - Hemel Hempstead Town 2 Mangotsfield United 0

Despite dominating the first half and having played some of their best football of the season a Mangotsfield United side which adopted a new formation slipped to a two goal defeat against play off hopefuls Hemel Hempstead Town. On a cold afternoon at Vauxhall Road which saw frequent snow showers blown in on a strong wind Mangotsfield outplayed their hosts for the vast majority of the first half on what was a heavy and saturated playing surface. However, after coming in level at half time the hosts dictated for much of the second half as a Mangotsfield side which had worked tirelessly in the first half faded badly as they battled against the underfoot conditions and a strong wind. It came as little surprise when after a period of pressure the hosts opened the scoring through Ian Cooper on sixty one minutes. The points were wrapped up seven minutes later when Chris Dillon added a second.

An already heavy playing surface was made even worse after a heavy hailstorm thirty minutes before kick off left areas of the pitch under water. Mangotsfield quickly adapted to the testing conditions and made a bright start with some fine passing football. The first chance of the match came with nine minutes played when a sweeping move across midfield culminated in Jon French finding fellow midfielder James Simpson who shifted the ball to his right only for his goalbound strike to be charged down by Yiadom Yeboah.

Moments later Mangotsfield should have opened the scoring after another flowing move spanning the width of the pitch saw the ball worked to James Simpson who in turn found James Crew on the left side of the area where with just goalkeeper Ian Brown to beat he was denied as Brown dived to his left to make a vital save.

Hemel Hempstead offered little in the first half and what threat they posed came via swift counter attacks. On twenty one minutes a break down the Mangotsfield left saw Ollie Burgess make ground before crossing for new signing Ian Cooper who blazed over from a tight angle.

The response from Mangotsfield came within three minutes as Ryan Jerwood showed good anticipation when making an interception in central midfield where he made twenty yards before feeding James Simpson who displayed a lack of awareness when shooting wide of goal when the better option would have been to play in the unmarked Luke Ballinger who was free on the right edge of the area.

The hosts were almost gifted a goal on twenty six minutes when after a poor back pass from Gary Thorne a clearance from Josh Clapham was charged down and with the ball eventually breaking to Paul Edgeworth the Hemel Hempstead skipper blazed wide of goal from the left edge of the area.

As Mangotsfield continued to go in search of a goal their play deserved it almost arrived in bizarre fashion when a James Simpson's free kick from the right was met by Alan Griffin whose tame header appeared to pose little threat but with the ball bouncing awkwardly just in front of Ian Brown the startled keeper managed to shovel the ball over the bar.

Minutes later after a string of passes a fine move ended with Alan Griffin receiving the ball to feet on the right side of the area only for his low strike to be directed straight at Ian Brown.

The final action of an entertaining half came on the stroke of half time when after winning the ball on the right James Crew skipped past two challenges and after making space drilled in a low shot which Brown saved at the foot of his left hand upright.

With the wind at their backs Hemel Hempstead made a bright start to the second half as Mangotsfield were forced onto the back foot. The home side should have taken the lead eight minutes after the restart when Josh Clapham parried Paul Edgeworth's powerful strike from the left into the path of Ollie Burgess who contrived to lift the ball over the bar from just six yards out.

In what was to prove to be a rare second half opening for Mangotsfield Alan Griffin was found just outside the right edge of the six yard box where after showing good strength to hold off his marker he shot low across goal but wide of the far post and just out of reach of Ryan Jerwood.

After a succession of free kicks Hemel Hempstead took the lead on sixty one minutes when the Mangotsfield United rearguard failed to clear Mark Coulson's lofted free kick from wide on the left allowing Ian Cooper to bundle the ball over the line from close range.

The match was over as a contest within seven minutes as Hemel Hempstead doubled their lead. Coulson was once again the provider as his deep cross from the left was met by the unmarked Chris Dillon who guided the ball into the bottom right corner despite the best efforts of Josh Clapham.

In added time the hosts were denied a third when substitute Harry Hunt ran clear only to be denied as Josh Clapham came off his line to save bravely at the feet of Hunt.

Monday 24th March - British Gas Business League Premier Division - Clevedon Town 2 Mangotsfield United 1

The threat of relegation looms even larger after a poor performance at The Hand Stadium saw Clevedon Town run out comfortable winners. A goal in each half from Mitchell Page gave the hosts a deserved two goal lead in a largely uninspiring match. The lead was reduced in added time when Mangotsfield scored a late consolation goal courtesy of Alan Griffin's eighth strike of the season.

After an uneventful opening twenty five minutes in which neither side created a worthwhile opening the first chance of the match fell to Clevedon Town's Mitchell Page who after bringing down the ball on the left side of the Mangotsfield penalty area brought a fine save out of Josh Clapham who parried Page's strike before reacting quickly to claim the ball at the second attempt.

Moments Mangotsfield earned a corner on the Clevedon right which loan signing James Simpson delivered low into the heart of the Clevedon penalty area where skipper Gary Thorne went close with a diving header.

Clevedon should have opened the scoring on thirty four minutes when a defensive error allowed Kerry Morgan to run clear of the Mangotsfield defence only for the loan signing from Swansea City to be denied by Clapham who parried well but with the ball rebounding to Morgan he drilled the rebound against an upright.

However Morgan's earlier miss wasn't to prove costly as within four minutes Clevedon had taken the lead after a surging run down the Mangotsfield left saw Kyle Bassett make ground into the penalty area where his powerful drive was saved by Clapham only for the quickly arriving Mitchell Page to side foot the rebound into an empty net to give Clevedon a half time lead.

Mangotsfield could have drawn level a minute into the second half after a crossfield ball from left to right found Luke Ballinger who went close with a twenty yard volley which flashed across the face of goal but wide of the far post, whilst minutes later James Simpson went close with a free kick which curled just wide.

The match was effectively over as a contest with just seven minutes of the second half played as the hosts doubled their advantage after Alex Ball failed to head a hopeful long ball back to goalkeeper Josh Clapham allowing Mitchell Page to nip in and lift the ball over Clapham to side foot home from close range.

The hosts rarely threatened after increasing their lead as the match petered out. Deep in added time Mangotsfield added a consolation goal through Alan Griffin who after receiving the ball on the right edge of the Clevedon penalty area volleyed past Greaves into the bottom right corner. 

Saturday 29th March - British Gas Business League Premier Division - Mangotsfield United 4 Chippenham Town 2

Mangotsfield almost got off to the worst possible start when presenting Chippenham with an opening with just two minutes played after Josh Clapham's sliced clearance from a Gary Thorne back pass broke to Sean Seavill who was twice denied as Clapham redeemed himself when recovering well to make a double save.

The crucial opening goal came the way of the hosts on nine minutes when after being awarded a free kick on the right James Simpson's low delivery to the back post was met by former Chippenham Town striker Alan Griffin who side footed home from close range.

Within three minutes Mangotsfield were two goals up after an error in the Chippenham defence saw an attempted clearance charged down and with the loose ball being picked up by James Simpson the loan signing from Newport County ran clear making ground into the penalty area to confidently guide the ball past Chris Snoddy.

A rare chance for Chippenham came on the half hour mark when Sean Seavill found Aaron Cornwall wide on the Mangotsfield right where with few options available he cut inside into the penalty area only to for his side footed strike to run across the face of goal and wide of the far post.

Chippenham were offered hope of a comeback eight minutes prior to half time when Sean Seavill's cross from the right was half cleared as far as Kevin Halliday whose low strike from twenty five yards beat Josh Clapham at the foot of his right hand upright.

However within four minutes Mangotsfield's two goal cushion was restored through the most unlikely of sources when with a strong wind at his back goalkeeper Josh Clapham launched a drop kick down field and with the ball bouncing inside the Chippenham penalty area goalkeeper Chris Snoddy was left embarrassed as the ball sailed over his head into the unguarded goal.

Mangotsfield survived a late scare when with two minutes of the first half left to play Luke Gullick was played in on the left where his strike from the left edge of the area was turned behind by Clapham but despite obvious claims for a corner the referee awarded a goal kick.

With the advantage of the wind in the second half Chippenham enjoyed their best spell of the match in a ten minute period after half time but despite this rarely looked like finding a way past a disciplined and organised Mangotsfield United rearguard.

On forty eight minutes after being awarded a free kick left of central Luke Gullick's low strike from distance posed little problem as Clapham made a comfortable save low down whilst three minutes later Kevin Halliday's cross to the edge of the penalty area was met by Aaron Cornwall who showed a fine technique when connecting sweetly with a volley which flashed a yard over.

After coming through some early second half pressure Mangotsfield's James Simpson went close with a rising drive from the edge of the area on the sixty minute mark.

The match was put beyond doubt on sixty five minutes when James Crew's low cross