It’s the first league game at the Sports Ground in over a month as Mangotsfield United are the visitors.
Bideford vs Mangotsfield United
Evo-Stik League South – West Division
Saturday 10th February 2018
3:00pm kick off
Sports Ground, Bideford
A Brief History of Mangotsfield United FC
Mangotsfield United were formed in 1951 but the original club Mangotsfield FC were established back in 1892 and were founder members of the Bristol & District League. Mangotsfield FC folded after the 1897/98 season and despite numerous attempts to reform the club it wasn't until 1951 that Mangotsfield United joined Bristol & District League Division Seven. It took a couple of decades for the club to work their way up through the divisions and be accepted into the Western League in 1972. The Field were relegated to Western League Division One in 1982 but finished runners-up in 1982/83 to bounce straight back to the Premier Division. In 1990/91 Mangotsfield were crowned Western League champions but were denied promotion to the Southern League as their ground wasn't up to the required standard. In 1995/96 Mangotsfield reached the semi final of the FA Vase but lost out to Clitheroe over two legs. 1999/00 saw Mangotsfield finish as runners up in the Western Premier and this time they were accepted into the Southern League Western Division. They would win the Southern League Western title in 2004/05 and be promoted to the Southern League Premier Division where they finished a club high of 9th in 2006/07 before being relegated to Division One South & West in 2008/09. In 2010/11 Mangotsfield finished 3rd in Division One but lost their play-off semi final to Frome Town. The next five seasons in Division One S&W saw them finish 14th, 13th, 11th, 10th and 14th. In 2016/17, Mangotsfield finished in 8th position.
Mangotsfield United FC
Website: http://www.mufc-online.co.uk
Twitter: @MangotsfieldUtd
Form Guide
Mangotsfield are having a difficult season sitting currently in 20th position (W5 D8 L16), five points clear of the bottom two. The Mangos have only won one of their last nine games, a 2-1 win over Bristol Manor Farm, but are unbeaten in two having drawn at home to Winchester and away to fellow strugglers Barnstaple.
Mangotsfield United’s last six (LLDLDD)
06/02/18 Barnstaple Town 1 Mangotsfield United 1 (League)
03/02/18 Mangotsfield United 1 Winchester City 1 (League)
27/01/18 Cirencester Town 5 Mangotsfield United 1 (League)
20/01/18 Mangotsfield United 1 AFC Totton 1 (League)
16/01/18 Mangotsfield United 0 Taunton Town 1 (League)
13/01/18 Bishops Cleeve 4 Mangotsfield United 0 (League)
Bideford stretched their unbeaten run to seven games after a 1-1 draw with a strong Tiverton side on Tuesday night in the St Luke’s Challenge Cup. Bideford progressed 5-4 on penalties to reach the semi finals. In the league The Robins are unbeaten in six and sit in 9th position (W13 D6 L5) but do have games in hand on the teams above them. Bideford will be hoping to improve their home form beginning with the visit of Mangotsfield having only picked up two wins in their last six in the league at the Sports Ground.
Bideford's last six (DWWWDD)
06/02/18 Bideford 1 Tiverton Town 1 (St Luke’s QF) *Bideford won 5-4 on pens
03/02/18 Wimborne Town 2 Bideford 2 (League)
30/01/18 AFC Totton 2 Bideford 3 (League)
13/01/18 Swindon Supermarine 0 Bideford 5 (League)
06/01/18 Bideford 1 Bishops Cleeve 0 (League)
26/12/17 Bideford 1 Barnstaple Town 1 (League)
Most recent meetings:
31/10/17 Mangotsfield United 1 Bideford 1 (Southern League Div 1 West)
26/11/16 Bideford 0 Mangotsfield United 1 (Southern League Div 1 S&W)
06/08/16 Mangotsfield United 2 Bideford 1 (Southern League Div 1 S&W)
07/01/12 Mangotsfield United 1 Bideford 3 (Southern League Div 1 S&W)
23/08/11 Bideford 2 Mangotsfield United 1 (Southern League Div 1 S&W)
Back in October the sides played out a 1-1 draw at Cossham Street with Ben Seymour hitting the target for The Robins. However the game was marred by an awful injury to Liam Gregory who suffered a broken leg and remains sidelined. Last season Mangotsfield scored a league double over Bideford although The Robins are still probably wondering quite how it happened. On the opening day of the season at Cossham Street, The Mangos won 2-1 as Bideford missed a host of second half chances and the return fixture was equally frustrating for Bideford who dominated the game but ended up losing 1-0 in a real smash and grab job by the South Gloucestershire side.