MATCH REPORTS 2008/09 SEASON PAGE 2

Click here for match reports from Tuesday 15th July - Saturday 4th October.

Click here for match reports from Tuesday 2nd December onwards.

Saturday 11th October - British Gas Business Football League Premier Division - Mangotsfield United 2 Clevedon Town 0

 A strong first half showing from Mangotsfield United was enough to win this second local derby of the season at Cossham Street. Skipper Alex Ball opened the scoring midway through the half with a powerful header whilst eleven minutes before half time recent signing Marcus Duharty made the most of a goalkeeping error to score his first goal for the club. After being on the back foot for much of the first half the visitors enjoyed more possession during the second but never threatened a fightback as the hosts eased to a comfortable and much needed three points.

The visitors, who offered were to offer very little as an attacking force went close to taking an early lead when a cross from the left was met by former Mangotsfield United player Lewis Powell whose looping header was turned behind by Josh Clapham who scrambled across his line to claw the ball away for a corner.

After an evenly contested opening fifteen minutes Clevedon were forced into a rearguard action. The first chance for the home side came on sixteen minutes and fell to Marcus Duharty who after receiving the ball on the right Clevedon left worked Danny Greaves with a low drive from thirty yards. Greaves was called into action again minutes later when fisting away Geraint Bater's powerfully struck free kick.

The opening goal came on the twenty minute mark after Mangotsfield earned a corner on the left which Ellis Wilmot swung into the near post where skipper Alex Ball who after having lost his marker powered a header past Greaves from six yards out.

Five minutes later the strike partnership of Mitchell Page and Marcus Duharty combined well with Page holding the ball up wide on the left before exchanging passes with Duharty to shoot low on the turn but straight at Greaves.

Another chance went begging on twenty eight minutes when the ball was worked across the width of the pitch from left to right to the feet of Alex Ball who after being invited to make ground went close with an effort which flashed across the face of goal.

On the half hour mark the Clevedon defence failed to deal with a long clearance from Josh Clapham which led to Marcus Duharty outjumping Danny Greaves and with the ball running free to Ellis Wilmot his effort was saved.

It came as little surprise when a second goal was added with eleven minutes of the half remaining after a goalkeeping error saw Danny Greaves punch Mitchell Page's looping cross back towards his own goal into the path of the lurking Marcus Duharty who was presented with the easiest of finishes as he headed home into an unguarded net from close range.

Mangotsfield's advantage should have been extended on thirty eight minutes when Ellis Wilmot's floated a free kick from a central area was met by the unmarked Charlie Clough who headed wide from close range.

With half time approaching hesitancy in a Clevedon defence which had been under almost constant pressure for half an hour allowed the ball to break to Marcus Duharty eight yards out from goal where his shot on the turn went just wide.

The second half was something of an anti climax as the match drifted long with the visitors appearing to have accepted their fate and the hosts having taken their foot of the peddle.

One of the few chances created came the way of Clevedon just two minutes after the restart when Matt Prosser rose unchallenged to meet Simon Heal's cross from wide on the right to force Josh Clapham into a save low down to his right.

Mangotsfield were dealt a blow on the hour mark when Mitchell Page picked up a knee injury and was subsequently substituted after colliding with Danny Greaves who'd raced outside his penalty area to clear the ball away from the on rushing Page.

The only notable chance for the hosts during the second half came via Ellis Wilmot whose free kick from twenty five yards just cleared the bar.

Clevedon Town could have been offered hope of an unlikely late comeback had substitute Jake Harris not missed arguably the best chance of the half after being sent clear of the Mangotsfield defence only to fail to find the target.

Tuesday 21st October - GFA Senior Trophy 2nd round - Cinderford Town 0 Mangotsfield United 1

Tuesday 28th October - GX (SL) League Cup 1st round - Mangotsfield United 3 Clevedon Town 1

Saturday 8th November - British Gas Business Football League Premier Division - Mangotsfield United 2 Hitchin Town 1

Mangotsfield United edged home in an absorbing and entertaining encounter at a blustery Cossham Street. Marcus Duharty's strike with fourteen minutes remaining proved decisive after a Paul Barnes goal on sixty one minutes had cancelled out Mitchell Page's first half opener. After a flurry of cards in the second half both sides finished the match with reduced numbers as Mangotsfield United's Scott Hendy and Mitchell Page received red cards after two cautions whilst Hitchin Town's Brett Donnelly was shown a straight red after a clash with Scott Hendy.

After a bright opening to the match the first chance came the way of the hosts on six minutes when Danny Wring's cross from wide on the left cleared the head of Darrel Ellams to find the unmarked Tom Collett who despite having time to bring the ball down and pick his spot failed to work Hitchin goalkeeper Martin Bennett when blazing wide from twelve yards.

Mangotsfield took the lead with thirteen minutes played after Danny Wring received the ball tight to the left hand touchline where after checking his run the ball was delivered to the near post where Mitchell Page lost his marker to beat Martin Bennett with a close range glancing header for his fourth goal of the season.

The lead was almost doubled seven minutes later when an Ellis Wilmot corner from the right was half cleared as far as Tom Collett whose lofted effort from the right side of the area was headed off the line by Darrel Ellams.

On thirty five minutes Mitch Tippins went close for The 'Field with a powerfully hit effort from twenty five yards which brought a fine save out of Bennett as he tipped the ball over the bar at full stretch.

A Hitchin side which had rarely threatened despite having enjoyed good spells of possession finished the half strongly.

On the forty minute mark a crossfield ball from right to left found Paul Barnes who after chesting the ball down was presented with a golden opportunity to level as Alex Ball slipped allowing Barnes a clear sight of goal only to shoot straight at Josh Clapham who saved low down at the foot of his right hand upright.

With three minutes of the first half left to play another chance went begging when the Mangotsfield rearguard failed to clear allowing Paul Barnes to return the ball into the heart of the area where Brett Donnelly headed wide of the left hand upright when well placed.

After finishing the first half on the front foot Hitchin started the second in similar fashion and almost drew level in bizarre circumstances when Luke Gregson's seemingly harmless looking shot appeared to deceive Clapham as the looping ball dropped onto the top of the crossbar as Clapham back peddled.

Hitchin's positive start to the second half was undone on fifty five minutes when striker Brett Donnelly was shown a straight red card after appearing to aim a blow at Scott Hendy who received a yellow card for his part in the altercation.

Minutes after being reduced to ten men Hitchin were offered a way back into the match after being awarded a spot kick which amid much confusion was apparently given for a push despite the lack of an appeal from any Hitchin player. Leading scorer Paul Barnes confidently despatched the resultant penalty to Clapham's right.

The match became a ten aside affair on sixty five minutes when Scott Hendy was shown a second yellow card after the referee consulted one of his assistant's after a coming together between Hendy and Paul Barnes as the pair chased down a through ball. Once again confusion reigned, this time as to the reasoning behind the decision.

After the dismissal of Hendy Mangotsfield rallied and went close to retaking the lead on seventy four minutes after an Ellis Wilmot free kick low into the penalty area broke to Mitchell Page whose shot across goal cannoned off the foot of the left hand upright.

Mangotsfield regained the lead with fourteen minutes left to play after a piece of individual brilliance saw Tom Collett make ground down the Hitchin left where after cutting inside and getting to the byline the ball was squared across the face of goal to Marcus Duharty who side footed home from close range.

Hitchin were offered hope of a late fightback after a moment of indiscipline saw Mitchell Page shown a second yellow card for petulantly kicking the ball away after being flagged for offside leaving his team mates facing the remaining ten minutes with just nine men.

A tense finale was ensured as Hitchin threw men forward in search of an equalising goal but with the Mangotsfield defence standing firm the only chance came on eighty eight minutes when a cross from the right was cleared Chris Doyle whose snap shot from the edge of the area flashed over.

Tuesday 11th November - British Gas Business Football League Premier Division - Gloucester City 5 Mangotsfield United 2

Mangotsfield United crashed to their heaviest defeat of the season as Gloucester City ran riot at The Corinium Stadium. After having conceded within two minutes Mangotsfield levelled through Marcus Duharty, however further goals saw Mangotsfield trail by two goals at half time. Already facing an uphill task Mangotsfield's cause was made that much tougher after Scott Hendy was sent from the pitch after picking up two cautions in the space of two minutes. The hosts extended their lead midway through the second half before Marcus Duharty scored his second of the night with twenty one minutes remaining. An evening to forget was rounded off when conceding a fifth with fourteen minutes left to play.

Playing into to a strong wind on a bitterly cold evening Mangotsfield made the worst possible start when conceding within the opening minutes. Poor defending saw Will Morford dispossess a hesitant Scott Hendy on the right hand side allowing the striker a free run into the box where he was brought down by the covering Alex Ball leaving the referee no option but to point to the penalty spot. Alex Sykes stepped up to guide the spot kick into the bottom left corner.

Gloucester should have added a second within six minutes after a free kick from wide on the left was met at the back post by Matt Rose who after outjumping the Mangotsfield rearguard headed wide from close range.

Despite making a slow start Mangotsfield levelled on seventeen minutes through Marcus Duharty who climbed well to guide Danny Wring's left wing cross past Kevin Sawyer and just inside the left hand upright.

The hosts who dominated for much of the first half went close to retaking the lead on twenty one minutes after the ball was worked from left to right to Lee Smith who had time to look up and deliver the ball to the back post where Will Morford's side footed effort was cleared off the line by Alex Ball.

It came as no surprise when Gloucester added a second four minutes later through Alex Sykes who after picking up the ball on the left edge of the area drilled in a low shot across the face of goal and into the bottom right corner.

A rare attack saw Mangotsfield go close to levelling twelve minutes before half time when Marcus Duharty met a cross from the right with a looping header which forced Kevin Sawyer to back peddle before tipping the ball over the bar for a corner.

In the final ten minutes of a one sided first half Gloucester could have added a further three goals. On thirty four minutes Jack Pitcher's through ball opened up a square Mangotsfield defence sending Will Morford clear only for the striker to be denied by Josh Clapham who came off his line to block, whilst four minutes later Lee Smith was played in on the right where his strike from just inside the area was saved by Clapham who saved low down to his left.

Gloucester's strong finish to the half was rewarded with a third goal, however much like the first goal this was gifted to the home side when a lack of communication saw Alex Ball's back pass evade Josh Clapham allowing Will Morford to latch onto the loose ball to side foot home into an unguarded net.

After having conceded a penalty in the opening minutes of the first half Mangotsfield did likewise when conceding a penalty in the opening five minutes of the second half when Geraint Bater upended Alex Sykes as he made ground into the left side of the area. However unlike the first half spot kick Sykes' penalty was saved as Clapham went low to his right to make a fine save.

Mangotsfield were reduced to ten men on fifty four minutes when for the second successive match central defender Scott Hendy was shown a red card after picking up two bookings in the space of two minutes.

Any lingering hopes Mangotsfield had of an unlikely comeback were ended on sixty five minutes when Alex Sykes added a fourth goal to complete his hat trick with a stunning acrobatic volley from the left edge of the area which arrowed into the top left corner.

Marcus Duharty who was the pick of the Mangotsfield line up scored his second of the match on sixty nine minutes when gaining reward for chasing down an apparent lost cause as a defensive mix up between Marc Richards and goalkeeper Kevin Sawyer allowed Duharty to nip in to intercept the loose ball before applying a finish from a tight angle.

The rout was completed with fourteen minutes remaining when a deep cross from the right was met at the back post by substitute Luke Ballinger who headed the ball back into the heart of the penalty area where Tom Webb arrived to drive the ball past Clapham from twelve yards.

Saturday 15th November - British Gas Business Football League Premier Division - Banbury United 1 Mangotsfield United 1

In a match of few clearcut chances Marcus Duharty's strike five minutes into added time earned Mangotsfield United a deserved point at The Spencer Stadium after Nicky Gordon had given the hosts the lead with a penalty on sixty two minutes.

Mangotsfield made a bright start to the match and created the first opening with just two minutes on the played when Danny Wring blazed over from just outside the area whilst twelve minutes later Mitchell Page picked out Mitch Tippins who brought a fine save out of Banbury goalkeeper Andy Wheeler.

Mangotsfield continued to carry the greater threat and on the half hour mark Marcus Duharty showed good strength to hold off Banbury's Mark Essex before testing Wheeler with a curling effort. The hosts who had offered little as an attacking force were indebted to the woodwork when a strike from Tom Collett took a deflection before hitting an upright.

Banbury took the lead on sixty two minutes when leading scorer Nicky Gordon scored from the penalty spot after Josh Clapham upended veteran striker Howard Forinton. 'The Puritans' went close to adding a second minutes later when a Lewis Travers cross was met by the head of Nicky Gordon whose goalbound header brought a fine save out of Clapham.

The was a lengthy delay to the match as play was held up for twelve minutes as Banbury goalkeeper Andy Wheeler received treatment. After missing a number of chances to add to their lead Banbury paid the penalty when conceding an equaliser five minutes into added time after Mitchell Page's initial shot was well saved by Wheeler but with Duharty reacting quickest he headed home from close range for his fifth goal in four matches. 

Tuesday 18th November - British Gas Business Football League Premier Division - Halesowen Town 2 Mangotsfield United 0

Mangotsfield United paid the price for a slow start as Halesowen opened up a two goal lead inside fifteen minutes courtesy of goals from Chris Nurse and Aaron Cornwall. However a young and inexperienced Mangotsfield side showed great spirit and determination to prevent the home side from adding to their lead.

The hosts who were to dominate the early exchanges showed their intent when creating two chances within the first six minutes. With just three minutes played new signing Portuguese Rueben Gouviea received the ball wide on the right where he cut inside to send in low strike from twenty five yards which flashed wide whilst three minutes later a loose ball was picked up by Jay Denny whose shot from the edge of the area had the pace taken off it allowing Josh Clapham to make a comfortable save low to his right.

Halesowen's early superiority was rewarded with an opening goal on eleven minutes after Aaron Cornwall's deep corner from the right was met by Mangotsfield's Mitchell Page whose attempted headed clearance went back across the face of goal to Halesowen's Chris Nurse who volleyed the ball into the bottom left corner from ten yards out.

It came as no surprise when the home side added a second after constant pressure although the manner in which the goal was scored was disappointing as former Mangotsfield United player Aaron Cornwall scored direct from a corner delivered from the right low to the near post with the ball somehow finding its way into the opposite corner.

Despite not creating an opening during the first half Mangotsfield rallied and limited Halesowen to just one further notable chance in the remaining thirty minutes of the half which came on the strike of half time when Zema Abbey and Chris Nurse combined to send Rueben Gouviea clear down the Mangotsfield left only to be denied as his fiercely struck shot was turned behind by Josh Clapham.

After an evenly contested start to the second half Halesowen went close to adding a third on sixty two minutes when a crossfield ball from left to right struck Ellis Wilmot on the back and with the ball dropping to Aaron Cornwall he glanced goalwards before electing to shoot from thirty five yards only to be denied a spectacular second as Josh Clapham back peddled to divert the ball over the bar at full stretch.

The hosts who had been limited to a solitary strike of note for twenty minutes of the second half by a Mangotsfield side which had grown in confidence enjoyed a spell of pressure which Mangotsfield did well to weather.

On seventy two minutes a looping cross from wide on the left was met by Jay Denny who saw his volley from just outside the area hit Josh Clapham's right hand upright whilst a minute later substitute Mark Danks was denied by Clapham who turned his effort from the left of the area behind for a corner. A hectic passage of play culminated with Aaron Cornwall being denied for a second time by Clapham who made a fine reaction save to keep out Cornwall's powerfully struck volley.

A Mangotsfield side which finished with five teenagers in the line up enjoyed their best spell of the match in the final ten minutes when Halesowen goalkeeper Nick Bussey was called into action for the first time. After a series of balls in from the right an Ellis Wilmot cross was met at the near post by Marcus Duharty whose glancing header flashed across goal. A minute later substitute James Pilling went close to reducing the deficit after receiving the ball to feet on the left side of the penalty area where after turning his marker his shot was parried by Bussey.

As the match entered the final minute Halesowen went close to adding a third through Mark Danks who was sent clear of the Mangotsfield defence only for his strike from the right edge of the area to beat the outstretched arm of Josh Clapham and cannon off the far post.

Tuesday 25th November - GX (SL) Cup 2nd Round - Mangotsfield United 1 Yate Town 2

Matt Beadle's stunning thirty yard strike deep into added time settled an entertaining league cup encounter on a cold night at Cossham Street. After both managers elected to make a number of changes the visitors took the lead after nine minutes through Dean Griffiths, however the lead was short lived as a Kes Metitiri own goal levelled the scores on fourteen minutes. As extra time loomed large Yate booked their place in the last sixteen courtesy of Beadle's unstoppable late strike.

After dominating the early exchanges Yate opened the scoring on nine minutes after Andy Criddle's poor clearance across the face of goal struck Dean Griffiths and rebounded past Josh Clapham for a bizarre opening goal.

Mangotsfield were level within five minutes after Ellis Wilmot picked out the run of Kyle Tooze with a pinpoint forty yard ball which sent Tooze on a run down the left flank where after making ground to the byline his low cross to the near post took a deflection of Kes Metitiri before looping over Danny Woodhall and in at the far post.

Yate should have retaken the lead on sixteen minutes when a Matt Beadle corner from the left was met by the unmarked Marcus Mapstone who headed wide from eight yards. Minutes later a low ball into the Mangotsfield penalty area led to mayhem and resulted in a goalmouth scramble from which the ball struck the crossbar before Clapham eventually claimed the ball low down.

Jake Reid wasted another opportunity for the visitors on thirty two minutes when after showing good strength to hold off Andy Criddle he failed to beat Clapham who advanced off his line to block.

Mangotsfield made a bright start to the second half going close through an Ellis Wilmot free kick which the midfielder lifted over the defensive wall only for Danny Woodhall to dive low to his right to divert the ball behind for a corner.

The visitors who had already profited from some lacklustre defending were presented with another opening six minutes after the restart when a Matt Beadle corner from the left was allowed to travel across the face of the six yard box to the back post where Dean Griffiths miss-kicked.

Kyle Tooze who had impressed on his first team debut should have done better on sixty five minutes when receiving a short free kick from Ellis Wilmot his initial strike from just outside the area was scuffed whilst his second miss-kicked effort was turned behind by Danny Woodhall. From the resulting corner the unmarked Andy Criddle rose well only to head over from close range.

As the match entered added time another defensive error allowed Yate Town substitute Mike Whittington to run clear and faced with only Josh Clapham to beat his strike from just inside the area failed to find the target. At the other end Danny Woodhall who'd been struggling with an injury for much of the match was called into action to save an Ellis Wilmot free kick.

Against the run of play the visitors snatched a late winner after Joe Barratt's ball in from the left found its way to Matt Beadle who after taking one touch looked up before drilling in an unstoppable strike from thirty yards which arrowed into the top right corner leaving Josh Clapham well beaten. 

Saturday 29th November - British Gas Business Football League Premier Division - Mangotsfield United 0 Chippenham Town 4

Three second half goals in eleven minutes sent a depleted Mangotsfield United crashing to their heaviest home league defeat of the season. A Chippenham side which had previously found goals hard to come by led at half time courtesy of Sam Allison's forty fifth minute opener. The visitors capitalised fully on Mangotsfield's woeful second half performance adding further goals through David Pratt, Iain Harvey and substitute Kevin Slack.

The opening minutes of a largely uneventful first half which saw few clearcut chances were dominated by the visitors. The first chance came the way of Chippenham after just four minutes when a free kick played deep to the far post was met by Kevin Halliday whose header was turned behind by stand in goalkeeper Neil Hanson.

After coming through a spell of early pressure a Mangotsfield side which was to offer little threat as an attacking force were presented with an opening after a poor clearance from Chippenham goalkeeper Chris Snoddy found its way to Mitchell Page who after making ground shot wide from twenty five yards.

The match eventually came to life in the closing stages of the half. On forty one minutes Chippenham loan signing Joe White was sent clear of the Mangotsfield defence only to be denied by Neil Hanson who came off his line to block White's effort and then recover well to turn Kye Holly's shot behind for a corner.

With half time looming Chippenham took the lead after a cross from the right wasn't cleared and with the ball breaking for Sam Allison he made no mistake when hammering the ball high into the roof of the net from close range.

Mangotsfield were punished for a dire second half showing as the hosts added a further three unanswered goals. On sixty two minutes Kye Holly's cross from the left found David Pratt at the far post who scored at the second attempt after his initial effort had been parried.

Four minutes later a mistake from Andy Criddle went unpunished as the central defender was dispossessed by substitute Kevin Slack who ran clear down the Mangotsfield right only to shoot into the side netting when the better option would have been to square the ball to the unmarked Sam Allison who would have had a simple side foot finish.

Slack's earlier miss wasn't to prove costly as within two minutes Chippenham's lead had been increased through Iain Harvey who after good work from Kye Holly on the left was presented with the easiest of chances when guiding the ball past Neil Hanson from inside the six yard box.

Chippenham were presented with a third goal inside eleven minutes when a handling error saw Neil Hanson spill the ball on the edge of his area and with the ball breaking to Kye Holly he found team mate Kevin Slack who with the goalkeeper out of position drilled the ball past a covering defender into an empty net to complete the rout.

Mangotsfield's only notable strike at goal during the second half came with thirteen minutes left through Danny Wring whose drive from distance was saved comfortably by the underworked Chris Snoddy who had been a spectator for much of the ninety minutes.