Saturday 28th September 2019, The BuildBase FA Trophy – Extra Preliminry Round Att. 142
Mangotsfield United….1 Slimbridge AFC….2
A slick Slimbridge side completed a League and cup double over Mangotsfield with their second victory in eight days.
They took a very quick lead within three minutes, when a corner from Sol Wanjau Smith was whipped in and as defender Keith Kearney squeezed in front of an attacker, it spun off his head, past his own keeper.
Moments later Wanjau-Smith went one on one with keeper Liam Armstrong, with the keeper saving.
Mangotsfield levelled after 21 minutes through Ben Brooks when he stabbed the ball over the line with several defenders desperately trying to clear. 1-1. Six minutes later Brooks hobbled off injured after taking a knock.
The ‘Swans’ Wanjau-Smith missed a good chance as he reacted to a dangerous cross but could not control it and it ballooned over.
HT: 1-1
The Mangos came more into the game after the break, but their possession failed with some sloppy passing and the lack of a goal threat.
Hillman sent in a low drive, and tested Joseph Wright from distance, but Slimbridge always looked menacing. A Beckinsale header flashed wide and Rhys Sarson blazed over with the goal gaping, although from an acute angle.
With four minutes remaining, The Swans sealed the game with a fine solo goal from Rhys Sarson as he raced through the defence, rounded the keeper and slotted home. 1-2.
Had it not been for the heroics of Liam Armstrong in the first half, it could have been all over by half-time. On three occasions just before the break, he excelled with a superb block from a fierce drive by Ryan Beckinsale, then tipped over a rising drive from Beckinsale, once more, and before denying Dean Turner, as he spread himself to block with his legs as the Swans’ attacker looked certain to score at the near post.
Slimbridge sensed that the main Mangotsfield threat would come from Tom Hillman and whenever he had the ball, he was closely policed. A couple of early strong challenges slowed him a little, but he looked the host's main menace as the game wore on.
FT:1-2
MANGOTSFIELD UNITED: (Maroon & Sky) (Manager: Ollie Price )
G/K. Liam Armstrong, 2. Treyvond Anderson, 3. Matty Tanner, 4. Robbie Cox, 5. Keith Kearney ©, 6. Toby Rennie, 7. Ashley McGrane, 8. Lewis Saunders(Dan Demkiv 75), 9. Lee Hartshorn, 10. Ben Brooks (Lewis Dix 27)(Harry Simons 67), 11. Tom Hillman.
Unused subs. Kristian Lee, Mircea Llea
Bookings: Lee Hartshorn (71), Robbie Cox (84)
Red Cards: none
Goals: Ben Brooks (21)
SLIMBRIDGE AFC ( All Green ) (Manager: Lee Driver-Dickerson )
G/K: Joseph Wright, 2. Jack Goodall, 3. William Peck, 4. Myron Turner, 5. Joel White, 6. Ioan Richards, 7. Danny King (Leighton Tuodolo 75), 8. Dean Turner, 9. William Hawes (Rhys Sarson 10), 10. Ryan Beckinsale (Jack Horrell 71), 11. Soloman Wanjau-Smith.
Unused Subs: Christien Turner, Dion Chambers
Bookings: Jack Goodall (51)
Red Cards: none
Goals: Keith Kearney (OG) (3), Rhys Sarson (86)
Referee: Thomas Staten (Gloucester)
Assistants: Gregory Wentland (Bristol), Craig Jinks (Gloucester)
The next match at The KPI Ltd Stadium is on Tuesday 1st October 2019, at 7.45pm when ‘The Dragons’ of BASINGSTOKE TOWN will be here.