Mangotsfield United....1 Willand Rovers....2

Tuesday 6th October 2020, The Pitching In Southern Football League – Division One South Att. 148

Mangotsfield United…..1 Willand Rovers….2

Match report Dave Smale

Despite a valiant effort, our young side slipped to a narrow 2-1 defeat against visitors Willand Rovers.

The Mangos started brightly, with Robert Belcher firing wide in the very first minute. Willand’s first goal attempt came on 3 minutes when Bailey Kempster saw his 20-yard strike saved by Field keeper Jakob Glover and then the Mangos’ Harvey Baker saw his deflected shot saved by Willand keeper Mike Searle. Willand then went close with 2 wayward strikes over the bar, before a long through ball towards the Willand goal saw keeper Mike Searle come out of his box to clear the ball away before Mangos’ George Neill could get to it.

The game became a tense midfield battle, with neither side able to make a clear breakthrough, but Willand began to take control as the first half progressed. A dangerous free kick was cleared out of the home defence on 30 minutes & then 5 minutes later, a neat move saw the ball headed home by a Willand forward, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Willand defender William Richards then broke through the middle to see his 20-yard strike cleared for a corner. The visitors were then stunned, following all their pressure, when a fierce 25-yard drive by Harry Simons flew into the net on 44 minutes to give the Mangos the lead.

HT: 1-0

Willand came out strongly after the break & Jakob Glover was forced into making a 47th minute one-footed save as Bailey Kempster bore down on goal. However, 3 minutes later, Willand were level, as a low strike by Kempster went just inside the near post. The visitors wasted no time in getting their noses in front either, as on 56 minutes, a neat move saw finished off by Archie Reay, who turned the ball home from close range, after a header was palmed away, to make it 2-1 to Willand. Mangotsfield responded with Harry Haughton’s free kick going just over the bar & then substitute Olaoluwakitan Jaiyeoba impressed with two or three pacy runs which caused problems in the visitors’ defence. Twice, he went close, when on 70 minutes, a misplaced back-pass let him in, before the ball was cleared & then a minute later, he was put through the middle, only to fire the ball over the bar as keeper Mike Searle came out.

The final 10 minutes saw us try to save the match, partly helped with the sending off of defender Cormac Pike on 86 minutes for a 2nd yellow offence. Our final chance saw a stoppage time free kick by Harry Haughton go straight to the keeper, but Willand stood firm in the closing moments to clinch all 3 points.

FT: Mangotsfield United….1 Willand Rovers….2

MANGOTSFIELD UNITED: (Sky & Maroon/Sky) (Manager: Glyn Ashton )
G/K. Jakob Glover 2. Andre Freckleton ©, 3. Abe Noad, 4. Harvey Baker, 5. Ben Payne, 6. Matthew Binding, 7. Harry Haughton, 8. Harry Simons, 9. George Neill(Olaoluwakitan Jaiyeoba 60) , 10. Robert Belcher(Todd Carter 77), 11. Wayne Nderemani (Marcus Kelly 14).
Unused subs. Jonathan Invernizzi, Adam Young (G/K).
Bookings: none
Red Cards: None
Goals: Harry Simons (44)

WILLAND ROVERS : (White/Dark Blue) (Manager: Russell Jee )
G/K. Mike Searle, 2. Josh Searle, 3. William Richards, 4. Adam Hill ©, 5, Ryan Guppy. 6, Cormac Pike, 7.Alfie Mouldon, 8. Archie Reay, 9. Bailey Kempster (David Steele 88), 10. Callum Eastwood, 11. Mani Skett.
Unused subs. Glenn Gould, Russell Jee, Aidan Moyle, Douglas Camilo
Bookings: Cormac Pike ( 80 & 83), William Richards (90)
Red Cards: Cormac Pike (83)
Goals: Bailey Kempster (50), Archie Reay (56)

Referee: Stephen Oakey,
Assistants: Michael Pope, John Duffy

The next game at Cossham Street will be the visit of CINDERFORD TOWN on Saturday 17th October 2020. Kick-off 3.00pm