Bitton AFC...2 Mangotsfield United...3

Saturday 24th August 2019, The Preliminary Round FA CUP – Att. 170
The Recreation Ground, Bath Road, Bitton

Bitton AFC…...2 Mangotsfield United….3

Match Report Dave Smale

A last-minute winner from Ben Brooks settled this lively local FA Cup derby clash in favour of the Mangos in the sweltering heat at Bitton this afternoon before a crowd of 170.

With so many ex-Mango players in the Bitton side, who are currently top of the Toolstation League Premier Division after 2 games, this match always had a tough look about it & we knew we’d be in for a hard, physical battle.

Mangotsfield started in the best possible way by scoring inside 60 seconds. In our first attack, a shot came off the post, the rebound was blocked & then Dan Demkiv steered the ball home at the far post from close range. That shook Bitton, but 7 minutes later, Tom Hillman broke away down the right, but his shot from 15 yards just went past the far post with Bitton keeper Sam Burgess beaten. Bitton settled into the game now, growing in possession, but with no clear-cut chances. Twice Mangotsfield came forward, Dan Demkiv seeing his shot cleared for a corner (19) & then Keith Kearney saw his shot blocked (20). Bitton’s Josh Egan saw a dipping shot just clear the bar (21) & then home defender Scott Brice headed a free kick over the bar after Keith Kearney had been booked for a foul on the speedy Matt Groves (25). A booking for Lee Hartshorn followed a minute later (26), but Bitton were getting more into the game now. It was no surprise then when they equalised on 38 minutes through Josh Egan who netted from close range after the Mangotsfield had been under increasing pressure. Worst was to come on 44 minutes, with Bitton now looking sharper, when Bitton winger Aysa Corrick cut inside from the left & fired a low 15-yard drive just inside the near post with Mangos keeper Marko Radovanovic beaten to put the hosts ahead at the break.

HT Bitton 2, Mangotsfield United 1

Mangotsfield came out stronger after the break, despite the heat, with our first effort a free kick by Tom Hillman going just over the bar on 49 minutes. We began to dominate the possession and saw a couple of shots blocked by Bitton keeper Sam Burgess. Not to be outdone, our keeper Marko Radovanovic then saved well from home striker Dean Griffiths on the hour. We continued to dominate, however, and on 68 minutes, Tom Hillman made it 2-2 with a shot from inside a very crowded penalty area, following a decent move. We kept up the pressure for another spell, with Ashley McGrane firing just over from 30 yards out (70).

Bitton survived that spell of pressure & came forward themselves, with Matt Groves trying a neat lob from 20 yards, but the ball went just over the bar (80) & within a minute, another shot went just wide. Mangos keeper Marko Radovanavic was also forced to make a good save as the hosts went for the winner. Tom Hillman then fired over the bar on 88 minutes & then the game changed for good just 60 seconds later. Bitton full back Ryan Gissing was booked after bringing down Dan Demkiv following a mazy run, with visiting fans screaming for a straight red instead. Tom Hillman floated over the free kick & Ben Brooks outjumped the home defence to head home at the far post for the winning goal. Two or 3 added minutes of stoppage time came to nothing & Mangotsfield were celebrating a hard-earned FA Cup win at the end.

FT: Bitton 2, Mangotsfield United 3

BITTON AFC ( Red/White/Black ) (Manager: Dan Langdon )
G/K: Sam Burgess, 2. Kristian Miller (Josh Nelson 72), 3. Ryan Gissing, 4. Scott Brice, 5. Alex Grimshaw, 6. Ibrahima Diallo, 7. Aysa Corrick, 8. Mitch Tippins, 9. Dean Griffiths, 10. Josh Egan, 11. Matt Groves.
Unused Subs: Kevin Camargo, Jordan Whittaker, Harrison Kyte, Luke Palmer, Gerrard Robinson, William Fletcher
Bookings: Grimshaw (49), Tippins (52), Gissing (89)
Red Cards: none
Goals: Josh Egan (38), Aysa Corrick (44)

MANGOTSFIELD UNITED: (Yellow/Blue/Yellow) (Manager: Ollie Price )
G/K. Marko Radovanovic 2. Lewis Dix (Mircea Llea 46), 3. Matty Tanner, 4. Kristian Lee, 5. Keith Kearney ©, 6. Treyvond Anderson, 7. Ashley McGrane, 8. Lewis Saunders (Ben Brooks 55), 9. Dan Demkiv, 10. Lee Hartshorn (Sacha Tong 65), 11. Tom Hillman
Unused subs. Robbie Cox, Dom Broad, Toby Rennie, Jake Thomas
Bookings: Kearney (25), Hartshorn (26), Hillman (78), Demkiv (90)
Red Cards: none
Goals: Dan Demkiv (1), Tom Hillman (68), Ben Brooks (90)

Referee: Adam Baker (Wimborne)
Assistants: Mark Bradley (Bournemouth), David Brindle
The next match at The KPI LIMITED Stadium is on Monday 26th August 2019, at 3pm, when ‘The Barum’ of BARNSTAPLE TOWN, are the visitors.