Despite taking the lead with just ten minutes remaining through second half substitute Mitch Tippins Mangotsfield United were denied three precious points as Corby Town's Leon Mettam converted a harshly awarded spot kick on eighty six minutes.

For the visit to second placed Corby Town manager Phil Bater made two changes to the line up with Steven Fitzpatrick given a starting berth whilst new signing Hanin Romhdane made his debut after signing on Thursday. The weeks second new addition, striker Jake Harris was named amongst the five substitutes which also included midfielder Mitch Tippins.

After an uneventful fifteen minutes in which neither team managed a notable chance it was the hosts who created the first opening on fifteen minutes when central defender Phil Gilchrist's header from a corner beat Josh Clapham only to be cleared off the line by Robert Hobbs. Mangotsfield's best chance of the half fell to Mitchell Page whose curling strike was saved by Corby Town goalkeeper Mark Osborn.

Corby were forced into making a change at half time as Philip Watt who had a clash of heads in the first half was replaced by Matt O'Halloran. Much as in the first half clearcut openings were at a premium, the only chance during the early exchanges falling to Corby Town striker Leon Mettam who saw his well struck effort beat Josh Clapham and strike the crossbar.

The introduction of substitute Mitch Tippins on seventy nine minutes was to pay dividends with almost immediate effect when during a rare Mangotsfield attack Corby Town's Phil Gilchrist lost his footing allowing Tippins to side foot home to give Mangotsfield the lead with just ten minutes left on the clock.

However the lead was short lived as Corby drew level on eighty six minutes after Leon Mettam picked out John Turner whose cross struck the hand of Steven Fitzpatrick and with Corby appealing for handball the referee harshly pointed to the penalty spot. The resultant spot kick was converted by Leon Mettam as he sent Josh Clapham the wrong way.

Tuesday 17th March - British Gas Business Football League Premier Division - Hemel Hempstead Town 3 Mangotsfield United 0

Manager Phil Bater made two changes to the starting line up with Ryan Bennett coming in for the unavailable Neil Arndale whilst Hanin Romhdane returned after missing the last two matches to replace Mitch Tippins who was named amongst a young and inexperienced substitutes bench.

Hemel Hempstead took the lead at the midway point of the first half through new signing Lewis Hilliard who cut inside from the left to drill a right footed shot past Josh Clapham from twenty five yards. The hosts increased their lead six minutes later, once again in spectacular fashion as Anthony Thomas found the back of the net with another strike from distance to give the home side a two goal cushion at half time.

Despite an improved second half showing Mangotsfield failed to create a clear cut opening. Lewis Hilliard's second goal of the night, another impressive finish from outside the penalty area with seventeen minutes remaining confirmed the victory for Hemel Hempstead and extended Mangotsfield's winless away run in the league to thirteen matches.

 

 

---

Saturday 21st March - British Gas Business Football League Premier Division - Stourbridge 4 Mangotsfield United 1

Mangotsfield United are facing an uphill struggle to maintain their premier division status after Stourbridge ran out 4 - 1 winners at The War Memorial Athletic Ground, a defeat which saw Mangotsfield drop to the foot of the table with just eight fixtures remaining. The hosts who were hovering just above the relegation zone took the lead midway through the first half when Leon Broadhurst scored from close range, however the teams went in level at half time after Daine O'Connor levelled for Mangotsfield on thirty one minutes. An evenly contested match was settled in the final fifteen minutes as the home side hit Mangotsfield with a three goal burst which saw Broadhurst complete a hat trick on his return from injury.

Stourbridge made a bright start and had much the better of the early exchanges but failed to take advantage of their early dominance.

With fourteen minutes played Mangotsfield should have gone ahead when Daine O'Connor wasted a golden opportunity when heading over from three yards out.

Six minutes later the hosts almost took the lead after Kyle Hadley broke into the penalty area only for his strike to beat Josh Clapham and cannon back into play off the inside of the post. Stourbridge opened the scoring on twenty four minutes when Leon Broadhurst followed in to drill a low shot home from eight yards after Clapham had parried Les Hines' cross from the left.

Stourbridge were ahead for just seven minutes as Daine O'Connor scored his first goal for Mangotsfield since returning to the club after receiving the ball with his back to goal on the edge of the area where after turning he beat Lewis Solly with a rising volley which found the top left corner.

After a first half in which the home side enjoyed the lions share of possession the opening to the second half was evenly contested. Mangotsfield were dealt a blow when Robert Hobbs had to leave the pitch with a head injury (which later saw the player taken to Hospital) on sixty minutes.

With seventy minutes played Stourbridge were granted a huge let off when Scott Hendy headed across the face of goal for the unmarked Daine O'Connor who with just Lewis Solly to beat somehow headed over.

The miss was to prove costly as minutes later Stourbridge went ahead through Broadhurst's second of the match after Sam Rock's initial strike cannoned off the underside of crossbar and with the ball falling kindly for Broadhurst he applied the finish from eight yards out.

Josh Clapham made a fine save on eighty three minutes to keep Mangotsfield in the match only for Stourbridge to be awarded a debatable penalty a minute later as Ellis Wilmot was adjudged to have tripped Kyle Hadley despite the referees assistant having waved play on. Broadhurst stepped up to convert the spot kick and complete his hat trick to take his tally in the league this season to fifteen.

With Mangotsfield searching for a way back into the match 'The Glassboys' added a fourth in added time when after a fine run Aaron Drake beat Clapham with a low drive from twenty five yards.  

 

 

 

Saturday 28th March - British Gas Business Football League Premier Division - Mangotsfield United 0 Farnborough 2

Despite a battling performance against the league leaders Mangotsfield slipped to another defeat after first half goals from Farnborough's Mark Gamble and Ramon Calliste proved decisive. With Mangotsfield now three points adrift at the foot of the table and eight points from safety the battle to beat the drop looks increasing desperate.

A match of few chances played on a difficult playing surface saw the visitors create the first notable chance on twelve minutes when an Adam Wilde free kick from the right was met by David Woolzey who headed over from twelve yards out.

Having matched their opponents during the early exchanges Mangotsfield should have opened the scoring when the unmarked Danny Barwood met an Ellis Wilmot corner only to head over from close range.

Farnborough took the lead in the twentieth minute after a defensive error presented Mark Gamble with a clear run on goal which the striker took full advantage of when side footing the ball past Josh Clapham into the bottom right corner.

After taking the lead Farnborough finished the half strongly and created three further chances. With twenty seven minutes played a quickly taken corner from the right saw the ball played to Maurice Harkin who with time to pick his spot failed to find the target when shooting wide of the far post. Minutes later a corner from the left was flicked on to Mark Gamble who somehow managed to scoop the ball over the bar from inside the six yard box.

Having wasted two earlier opportunities Farnborough doubled their lead on the stroke of half time when Nicholas Ciardini held off Scott Hendy and Josh Clapham to play the ball back to Mark Gamble who in turn found Ramon Calliste whose right footed strike from the left side of the area curled into the the opposite corner.

Chances in the second half were few and far between, the first and best chance of the half coming the way of the hosts on fifty eight minutes when loan signing Ben Swallow curled a free kick around the defensive wall only for his effort to strike the right hand upright with Richard Barnard well beaten.

With the match inside the final ten minutes Farnborough went close to adding a third when David Woolzey saw his goalbound shot cleared off the line.

 

 

 

---

Tuesday 30th March - British Gas Business Football League Premier Division - Clevedon Town 2 Mangotsfield United 3

Mangotsfield United's fight against relegation received a boost with a deserved victory over local rivals and fellow strugglers Clevedon Town. A first half double from Daine O'Connor gave Mangotsfield a two goal half time lead which was extended shortly after the restart through Matt Groves. A tense finish was set up after Clevedon scored two late goals through Jamal Easter and Lee Molyneaux to give a scoreline which flattered the hosts.

Phil Bater made two changes to the starting line up with Matt Groves making a return alongside Tom Collett in what was an attacking looking line up. It was the home side who threatened first when with just four minutes played a Danny Wring corner from the right was met by Josh Brigham who headed wide at the near post.

Moments later Mangotsfield were ahead after the Clevedon rearguard failed to clear an inswinging Ellis Wilmot free kick and with Scott Hendy outjumping goalkeeper Danny O'Brien to head goalwards Daine O'Connor was on hand to hook the ball in from close range.

A Clevedon side which made a bright start almost caught Mangotsfield out with a quickly taken free kick when Lee Molyneaux's ball to the far post just evaded the outstretched leg of the quickly arriving Josh Brigham.

Clevedon should have taken the lead on eleven minutes when Josh Clapham failed to hold a low cross from the right and with the ball looping up the unmarked Jamal Easter headed against the bar from just three yards out with the goal at his mercy.

Daine O'Connor went close to doubling Mangotsfield's lead with a fine solo run on seventeen minutes which saw the former Clevedon Town player pick up the ball wide on the left flank where his speed took him clear of his marker and after cutting inside and glancing goalwards he struck the woodwork with a curling strike from the left edge of the area which hit the far post.

A match played at a lively pace went through a scrappy ten period which saw both teams give the ball away with regularity.  The final fifteen minutes of the half were dominated by Mangotsfield with four chances being created. With thirty three minutes played, and after a throw in on the right the ball was worked to the right edge of the area for Matt Groves whose low shot on the turn was shovelled behind by Clevedon goalkeeper Danny O'Brien.

A Mangotsfield side which offered a threat on the counter attack with the pace of O'Connor, Groves, Collett and Swallow wasted a chance to add a second goal before half time when springing from defence to attack through Ben Swallow who made ground down the right before cutting inside only to shoot tamely wide of goal when the better option would have been to square the ball inside to the unmarked Daine O'Connor.

Mangotsfield's reward for a strong finish to the half came in the final minute when a break down the right flank saw Matt Groves run clear before crossing low to the near post for Daine O'Connor who side footed home from close range to give Mangotsfield a two goal cushion despite strong appeals for an earlier offside against Matt Groves.

With added time being played Ben Swallow went close to adding a third when connecting first time with Matt Groves low ball in from the right only to see his strike flash just wide.

The start to the second half continued as the first had finished with Mangotsfield creating a number of chances. On forty seven minutes Daine O'Connor chased down a long clearance down the Clevedon right and after winning the ball worked Danny O'Brien who saved at the foot of his near post.

O'Connor caused the Clevedon rearguard problems once again a minute later when latching onto a through ball to run clear but his shot from the left curled wide of the right hand upright. The third goal which seemingly wrapped up the points came with twenty seven minutes remaining after O'Connor found Ben Swallow on the right who looked up to find Matt Groves in space five yards inside the Clevedon area where he drilled the ball past O'Brien into the bottom left corner.

A Clevedon side which had rarely threatened since the opening fifteen minutes went close to reducing the deficit on seventy minutes through substitute Sam Small who after being played in on the Mangotsfield left tested Josh Clapham with a powerful drive which was parried but with nobody following in the ball was cleared.

Mangotsfield were dealt a blow when after a lengthy delay Hanin Romhdane was stretchered from the field with an ankle injury on seventy two minutes.

Clevedon's Sam Small went close again when showing good strength to brush aside Danny Barwood and make ground into the penalty area where with just Josh Clapham to beat he was denied as his well stuck volley was turned over the bar.

The final ten minutes saw a glut of chances and two goals for the home side. Mangotsfield's Daine O'Connor was found by second half substitute Shane Hobbs only to shoot across the face of goal whilst three minutes later Josh Clapham denied Clevedon's Tom Billings when saving low down to turn the strikers long range strike behind for a corner.

On eighty six minutes Clevedon Town goalkeeper Danny O'Brien was called upon when saving with his legs to deny Matt Groves. With many of the Clevedon supporters having left the hosts pulled a goal back through Jamal Easter who got on the end of Matthew Walsh's low cross from the right to side foot home.

A nervous finish was guaranteed when Lee Molyneaux added a second for Clevedon on ninety minutes when sliding in at the back post to convert Sam Small's cross. Despite eight minutes of added time Mangotsfield stood firm to earn three points which keeps the faint hopes of survival alive.

 

 

 

 

---

Saturday 4th April - British Gas Business Football League Premier Division - Chippenham Town 1 Mangotsfield United 1

A goal inside the final ten minutes denied a depleted Mangotsfield United side a second successive away win. After Kyle Tooze gave Mangotsfield the lead with a deft flick three minutes before half time the hosts levelled with just eight minutes remaining through loan signing Marcus Palmer who outjumped goalkeeper Josh Clapham to head home. Despite concerted late pressure Mangotsfield held on to secure a hard earned point.

Manager Phil Bater was forced into making four changes from the side which beat Clevedon Town on Tuesday evening. With Ellis Wilmot unavailable, Hanin Romhdane ruled out through injury and Matt Groves and Tom Collett featuring for their parent clubs, Mitch Tippins, James Pilling, Steven Fitzpatrick and Kyle Tooze were added to the starting line up. Bater was also without the suspended Mitchell Page and the injured duo of Geraint Bater and Andy Criddle.

During an even opening fifteen minutes the only chance came the way of the home side after Marcus Palmer received a throw in midway inside the Mangotsfield and found finding Sam Allison whose strike from the right edge of the area was saved low down by Josh Clapham.

Chippenham went onto enjoy good spells of possession during the remaining half an hour but despite this Josh Clapham was rarely called upon. On seventeen minutes Marcus Palmer headed wide from a Kevin Holliday cross and two minutes later after bringing down a cross from the left Palmer went close with a shot on the turn which went wide of the left hand upright.

The home sides best chance of the half came on the twenty minute mark after the Mangotsfield defence failed to clear Scott Lye's low cross from the right and with the ball breaking to Sean Seavill he shot across goal and wide of the far post.

Mangotsfield had to wait until the twenty third minute to create a notable opening when a counter attack saw Ben Swallow make ground on the right flank where after cutting inside his low strike from the right edge of the penalty area found the side netting when the better option may have been to square the ball inside for the unmarked Daine O'Connor.

Minutes later Chippenham captain Kevin Halliday went close to giving 'The Bluebirds' the lead after Scott Lye's ball in from the right flashed across the face of the area to find Halliday on the left side of the area where his miss kicked shot bounced goalwards but was cleared off the line and over the bar by Danny Barwood.

With half time approaching Mangotsfield took the lead through youth team product Kyle Tooze who nipped in at the near post to flick Ben Swallow's near post past Chris Snoddy.

The start of the second half saw the home side enjoy a fifteen minute period of pressure, but once again goalkeeper Josh Clapham remained untroubled.

Mangotsfield were the first to work an opening during the second half opening when on sixty two minutes a Neil Arndale corner from the right was cleared as far as Scott Hendy whose volley from twenty yards flashed a couple of yards wide.

Four minutes later Chippenham went close to levelling when Kye Holly burst into the penalty area only to go to ground amongst a number of players with the ball being deflected onto the left hand upright before being headed behind by Scott Hendy.

Clapham was called into action with eighteen minutes left to play when Scott Lye's determination saw him win the ball on the Mangotsfield goal line and pull the ball back to Marcus Palmer whose strike from ten yards was tipped over by Clapham.

With time running out Chippenham equalised on eighty two minutes after a goalkeeping error allowed Marcus Palmer to out jump Josh Clapham to head Kye Hollys cross from the left into the top right corner.

After drawing level Chippenham created a number of chances as they laid siege to the Mangotsfield goal. On eighty seven minutes Luke Gullick was found on in space on the right and after making ground into the penalty area his goalbound shot was saved by the legs of Clapham.

In added time Scott Lye went close with an effort from just outside the area whilst Marcus Palmer ballooned over from fourteen yards out. The final action of the match saw a corner from the right met by Kevin Halliday who headed over at the near post.

  

 

 

---

Monday 6th April - British Gas Business Football League Premier Division - Mangotsfield United 2 Swindon Supermarine 1

Two first half goals proved enough to extend Mangotsfield United's unbeaten run to three matches and lift the club of the foot of the table. During an impressive first half performance Mangotsfield opened up a deserved two goal lead with goals from Daine O'Connor and Ben Swallow. Supermarine made two changes at the start of the second half to come back strongly. After an evenly contested start to the half Supermarine gradually took control and were rewarded when for the third successive fixture Mangotsfield conceded inside the final ten minutes when Nick Stanley scored from close range.

The visitors who were to offer little as an attacking force during the first half created the first chance of the match on four minutes when Justyn McKay's free kick from thirty yards was watched wide by Josh Clapham.

Mangotsfield took the lead on thirteen minutes after a counter attack down the Supermarine right saw Kyle Tooze run clear before cutting inside into the penalty area where after looking up his low cross to the back post was met by Daine O'Connor who had the easiest of finishes when side footing home for his fourth goal in seven appearances.

The lead was doubled four minutes later when Daine O'Connor was sent clear on the right only for his strike to be blocked by Supermarine goalkeeper Matt Bulman but with the ball rebounding to Ben Swallow he followed in to confidently apply the finish from fourteen yards.

In a rare moment of danger Supermarine went close after being awarded a free kick just right of centre and twenty five yards out. Alex Stanley's strike took a deflection off the defensive wall to force a fine save out of Josh Clapham who turned the ball behind for a corner.

Mangotsfield went close to adding a third on twenty seven minutes and once again it was the speed of the attack that caused Supermarine problems. A long clearance from Josh Clapham was won by Jake Harris who after showing great determination worked the ball back to Daine O'Connor whose low strike from the right edge of the area worked Matt Bulman who saved low down to his right.

During an even opening to the second half Mangotsfield went close twelve minutes in when Ben Swallow picked out Daine O'Connor inside the Supermarine area who after showing a good touch and control turned to shoot just wide.

After having been second best for long periods Supermarine enjoyed their best spell of the match during the final thirty minutes. On sixty one minutes Sean Wood went close with a snap shot from the right which flashed across the face of goal whilst fourteen minutes later Joe Harris was allowed to make a diagonal run from right to left into the Mangotsfield penalty area where his shot from close range was cleared off the line.

Supermarine were offered hope of a comeback with eight minutes left to play after Alan Griffin held up the ball deep inside the Mangotsfield penalty area before laying the ball off to Alex Stanley who drove the ball into the roof of the net from ten yards out.

In added time Mangotsfield should have added a third when Daine O'Connor and Ben Swallow ran clear from just inside the Supermarine half and faced with only Matt Bulman to beat O'Connor opted to go alone only for Bulman to block.