Mangotsfield United....3 Evesham United....5

Saturday 1st February 2020, The BetVictor Southern League – Division One South Att. 195

Mangotsfield United….3 Evesham United….5

Match Report Dave Smale

It was not a great afternoon at Cossham Street, with Mangotsfield manager Ollie Price resigning before the game, along with his management team, but to his credit, he took his place in the dug-out to only see his (soon-to-be-former) charges go down by 5-3 against play-off chasers Evesham United.

Evesham totally dominated the first half, as the body language of the Mangotsfield players told its own story. The visitors hit the post in only the 2nd minute with a shot from Paul Sullivan & then keeper Marko Radovanovic missed a cross which caused some concern before the ball was finally cleared. Defender Aaron Roberts also went close for Evesham on 13 minutes when his long range strike flew just over the home bar. The seemingly-inevitable first goal for the Worcestershire side came on 19 minutes when a half-volley from Lee Chilton flew into the top corner of the net past keeper Marko Radovanovic, following a corner. Three minutes later, Radovanovic did well to stop a goal-bound shot from Jamie Lucas, as the visitors kept pushing forward.

Mangotsfield’s first goal attempt came in the 25th minute when Jordan Rogers fired over the bar from 25 yards. The sizeable number of away fans were screaming for a penalty & a red card on 34 minutes when Lee Hartshorn brought down Evesham’s Paul Sullivan on the edge of the penalty box, but the referee only awarded a free kick (which came to nothing, as Sullivan fired the free kick over the bar) & Lee Hartshorn was shown only a yellow card. Evesham, however, continued to dominate the proceedings, with another 25-yard strike just clearing the bar & it was no surprise to see them go 2-0 up right on half time when Jamie Lucas turned in a cross from the right through a static home defence.

Mangotsfield came out strongly in the 2nd half & pulled a goal back on 51 minutes when James Ollis fired high into the net from the 6-yard line. Evesham then went close, with Ryan Paddock seeing his header saved by Marko Radovanovic, but then Mangos sub Camden Duncan saw a shot saved by Evesham keeper Lochlan Robertson. Mangotsfield had a golden chance to level the scores on 56 minutes when Lochlan Robertson misjudged a through ball, leaving Mangos striker Dan Demkiv to set up Ben Brooks on the 6-yard line, but the latter fired the ball over the bar.

Mangotsfield were duly punished for that missed opportunity on 58 minuteswhen Paul Sullivan volleyed home to make it 3-1 from substitute Matt Dodd. Nonetheless, the Mangos were back in the game again on 62 minutes when Evesham keeper Lochlan Robertson mistakenly carried the ball over the line following a corner & on 70 minutes, the hosts were back to 3-3 when James Ollis, on the floor, flicked the ball through to Dan Demkiv whose own flick-on went into the net, despite the efforts of an Evesham defender on the goal line.

However, the Mangos’ euphoria was shattered again on 76 minutes, when Evesham substitute Matt Dodd crossed from the left & Calvin Dinsley duly netted from 15 yards. Mangotsfield kept on plugging away, with Ben Brooks firing a free kick over the bar on 86 minutes, but Evesham finally wrapped up the win in added time with a 5th goal, with Matt Dodd curling the ball into the top corner of the net with home keeper Marko Radovanovic well beaten.

FT: Mangotsfield United….3 Evesham United….5

MANGOTSFIELD UNITED: (Sky & Maroon) (Manager: Ollie Price )
G/K. Marko Radovanovic 2. Josh Bennett, 3. James Byrne, 4. Tom Llewellyn , 5. Lee Hartshorn ©, 6. Luc Noble, 7. James Ollis, 8. Joseph Hall (Harry Simons 60) , 9. Dan Demkiv , 10. Ben Brooks , 11. Jordan Rogers (Camden Duncan 45).
Unused subs. Toby Rennie, Jake Thomas, Abe Noad
Bookings: Lee Hartshorn (36), Josh Bennett (80), Ben Brooks (90)
Red Cards: None
Goals: James Ollis (51), Dan Demkiv ( 70), Lochlan Robertson (OG) (62)

EVESHAM UNITED : (Red/White/Black) (Manager: Carl Abbott )
G/K. Lochlan Robertson, 2. Aaron Roberts, 3. Adam Page, 4. Ryan Paddock, 5. Jordan Staten, 6. Calvin Dinsley, 7. Harry Franklin (Bradley Maslen-Jones 80), 8. Daniele Bragoli, 9. Paul Sullivan (Kai Tonge 90), 10. Lee Chilton, 11. Jamie Lucas (Matt Dodd 57)
Unused subs. Brian Smikle, Thomas Chamberlain
Bookings: none.
Red Cards: none
Goals: Lee Chilton (19), Jamie Lucas (45), Paul Sullivan (58), Calvin Dinsley (76), Matt Dodd (90)

Referee: Andrew Hobbs (Radstock)
Assistants: Darren Gay (Radstock), Ryan Blackman (Bath)

The next game at the KPI Ltd Stadium will be the visit of ‘The Centurions’ of CIRENCESTER TOWN on Saturday 15th February 2020. Kick-off 3pm