AFC Totton
2021/22 has been a difficult season for Mangotsfield United. It took them six matches to register their first league point of the campaign, with a 1-1 draw at Willand Rovers, by which time they had already been beaten by Sholing, Evesham United, Plymouth Parkway, Bristol Manor Farm and Larkhall Athletic.
Although their form has improved since then, were it not for the circumstances currently affecting Barnstaple Town the Mangoes would likely be embroiled in a relegation battle together with Bideford and Cinderford Town.
But, with only one automatic relegation place in the 19-team Southern League Div.1 South this season, Mangotsfield should remain safe, leaving them playing for pride and looking to establish a platform from which to build for next season.
A single goal by Frome Town knocked the Bristol-based Mangoes out of the FA Cup at the First Round Qualifier stage at the beginning of September, while their interest in the Southern League Challenge Cup was abruptly ended a month later by a 0-6 home drubbing by Melksham Town. Willand Rovers put them out of the Buildbase FA Trophy in the following match, but they fight on in the Gloucestershire Senior Cup, having comfortably disposed of Bristol Manor Farm 4-0 to take themselves into the semi-finals of a competition they won in 2013 and retained in 2014.
They have won four matches in the league this season, the most recent coming in an 8-goal thriller at Slimbridge on New Year’s Day. Despite a William Hawes hat-trick for the home side, Mangotsfield ran out 5-3 winners, largely thanks to two goals from 21-year-old midfielder Daniel McBeam. But goalscoring has been Mangotsfield’s major weakness this season, with only Bideford and Barnstaple finding the net on fewer occasions among all of the teams in the division. Nevertheless, striker Kye Simpson is in double figures, currently level with Ethan Taylor, Jack Hoey and Luke Ballinger of Melksham in 9th place in the scoring charts. Kye’s brother Kane Simpson is also a regular scorer (currently 5th with 13 goals) for Frome Town.
MANGOTSFIELD UNITED – LAST 5 MATCHES (All Competitions)
Sat 11 Dec 21 Cirencester Town A Southern League Div.1 South D 2-2
Sat 18 Dec 21 Winchester City H Southern League Div.1 South L 2-4
Mon 27 Dec 21 Bristol Manor Farm H Southern League Div.1 South L 0-3
Sat 01 Jan 22 Slimbridge A Southern League Div.1 South W 5-3
Sat 22 Jan 22 Willand Rovers H Southern League Div.1 South D 2-2
AFC TOTTON vs MANGOTSFIELD UNITED – Previous Meetings
Since the 2009/10 season, Totton won the first three encounters with the Mangoes – all by a score of 2-1. Brett Williams and Ross Bottomley were on-target in the first of those matches in November 2009, and a brace from Nathaniel Sherborne secured all three points in the return fixture. Then, two Mike Gosney penalties in the first encounter of the following season made it three-out-of-three for the Stags but four consecutive defeats followed, including a 0-6 defeat at Cossham Street in December 2014 when Totton manager Steve Riley fielded a much-changed side due to injuries.
Two goals from Jack Barker and one each from Craig Feeney and Charlie Gunson achieved a 4-0 home victory for the Stags in November 2017. Then in December 2019, a hat-trick from Daniel Demkiv – now of Larkhall Athletic – was matched by goals from Adam McWilliam, Patrick Nolan and a late, late equaliser by Oliver Bradley three minutes into stoppage time to salvage a 3-3 away draw.
In the most recent meeting earlier this season, a first-half hat-trick by Brett Williams plus goals from Jack Hoey and Lewis Waterfield made for a handsome 5-0 away win.
Written by Ben Rochey-Adams and Malcolm Tombs, Historian
