Mangotsfield United....0 Thatcham Town....4

Saturday 7th March 2020, The BetVictor Southern League – Division One South Att. 133

Mangotsfield United…..0 Thatcham Town….4

Report & Photo : Dave Smale

Mangotsfield United’s inexperienced young side battled well for 25 minutes against promotion-chasing Thatcham Town, but then were hit by some clinical finishing & a trio of goals within a 5-minute spell which, ultimately, ensured that the 3 points would be returning to Berkshire.

The Mangos started brightly, with captain Josiah Dunstan heading a corner over the bar after 3 minutes, followed by a 15-yard shot from Daniel McBeam being saved by Thatcham keeper Paul Strudley on 5 minutes. Harry Simons then hit a free kick just wide for the hosts.

The visitor’s first effort came on 15 minutes when Jack Alexander fired wide of goal following an attack & then 2 minutes later, striker John Mills fired wide of goal from 20 yards, with Mangos keeper Jakob Glover beaten. The game was even, however, with the Mango kids competing well with their more experienced visitors. Mills went close again for Thatcham on 23 minutes, but two minutes later, the visitors did take the lead, when Felipe Barcelos latched on to a through ball over the home defence & fired home past Jakob Glover.

Mangotsfield had barely recovered from conceding that goal, when Thatcham hit them with 2 more goals inside 60 seconds. Winger Lewis Coyle finished well for the visitors on 29 minutes, after a good run by Callum Willmoth & within a minute, Barcelos added a 3rd goal when he brought the ball down well & smashed it into the far corner past Jakob Glover. Thatcham almost got another on 33 minutes, but Jakob Glover did well to save Lewis Coyle’s 25-yard shot.

HT 0-3

The second half saw Mangotsfield continue to battle against their in-form opponents, but Thatcham always looked dangerous when they came forward. Callum Willmoth’s shot on 53 minutes was well-saved by home keeper Jakob Glover, but the hosts’ luckless day continued on 58 minutes when a cross from ex-Mangotsfield winger James Ollis was unfortunately headed into his own net by defender Josiah Dunstan. Mangotsfield’s youngsters continued to plug away, to their credit, and never gave up, but they created little of note up front, whereas Thatcham created several more good chances, but failed to put them away.

Home keeper Jakob Glover also made several late saves, when he tipped over a James Ollis strike on 78 minutes & then made a double save in added time when a 5th goal looked likely.

FT:Mangotsfield United….0 Thatcham Town….4

MANGOTSFIELD UNITED: (Sky & Maroon/Sky) (Manager: Glyn Ashton )
G/K. Jakob Glover 2. Andre Freckleton, 3. Steve Kaca, 4. Joe Hall, 5. Josiah Dunstan ©, 6. Ben Payne (Josh Iles 37), 7. Harry Milton (Bailey Sloper 77), 8. Harry Simons, 9. Danny Constable, 10. Daniel Mcbeam, 11. Harvey Baker.
Unused subs. Miguel Freckleton
Bookings: none
Red Cards: None
Goals: none

THATCHAM TOWN : (All Grey, with yellow)) (Manager: Danny Robinson )
G/K. Paul Strudley, 2. Matthew Partridge, 3. Curtis Angell, 4. Jack Alexander(Harrison Bayley 73), 5. Zac Westlake (Michael Miller 45), 6. Matt Day ©, 7. James Ollis, 8. Callum Willmoth, 9. John Mills, 10. Felipe Barcelos, 11. Lewis Coyle (Adam Kelly 61).
Unused subs. Samuel Barder, William Frank
Bookings: none
Red Cards: none
Goals: Felipe Barcelos (25 & 30), Lewis Coyle (29), Josiah Dunstan (OG, 56)

Referee: Andrew Hobbs, (Radstock, Somerset)
Assistants: Ian Hawkins (Radstock, Somerset), Ryan Blackman (Bath, Somerset)

The next game at the KPI Ltd Stadium will be the visit of ‘The Centurions’ of CIRENCESTER TOWN on Tuesday 10th March 2020. Kick-off 7.45pm