Buckland Athletic...2 Mangotsfield United...0

By Bob Smale

Early knock-out for Mangos

Saturday 25th August 2018, The Emirates FA Cup – Preliminary Round Attendance 160

Buckland Athletic…2 Mangotsfield United…0

Match Report by Ron Loftus

Our " early-round-FA Cup-exit " jinx struck again in Devon on Saturday. It has become something of the norm for us to lose to lower-level opponents in this most famous of cup competitions !
Against a side which showed greater desire, passion and energy from the off we were almost immediately on the back foot. After just 6 mins. an underhit back-pass saw Cameron Clarke forced into a rushed clearance which rebounded off the oncoming Graham Mercieca and onto the post before the ball found its way back to the Buckland striker to score into the vacant net.(0-1).

Our backs were truly against the wall when, after 12mins. a direct free-kick from Richard Groves from outside the area found its way around a poorly positioned wall and beat Clarke inside his left-hand post. (0-2).

We struggled badly to deal with our hosts direct style of play but the fact we failed to register a single shot on target throughout the entire 90mins. tells its own story. Our best chance of getting back into the game fell to Kyle Tooze just before half-time but with only the home ' keeper to beat he shot woefully over the bar.

Buckland deserved their place in the next round and perhaps the absence of Connor Jones, Mike Bryant, Tom Llewellyn, Jordan Ricketts and the yet to appear Clayton Fortune, Omar Simpson and Chris Peck was too much for us to cope with. I noticed that several other clubs from our division also lost out to so-called lower level opponents. I am not sure whether this indicates the relevant weakness of our league or the strength of those teams now playing at Step 5 of the pyramid. !!

Still we now move on to Monday's local derby against a Yate Town side that has a 100% record so far this season and have yet to concede a single goal in their first three games !

BUCKLAND ATHLETIC ( All Yellow) (Manager: Craig Duff )
G/K: Kenny Griffiths, 2. James Richards, 3. Lewis Tasker, 4. Richard Groves, 5. Dan Harrison, 6. Liam Head ©, 7. Daniel Griffiths (Nick Rudge 16), 8. James Moxon, 9. Graham Mercieca, 10. Simon Revell (Ryan Bush 23), 11. Craig Duff.
Unused Subs: Liam Drew, Chris McPhee, Toby Down, Nick Barker, Tom Buckler (G/K)
Bookings: Craig Duff (45)
Red Cards: none
Goals: Graham Mercieca (6), Richard Groves (12)

MANGOTSFIELD UNITED: (Maroon & Sky) (Manager: Ollie Price)
G/K. Cameron Clarke, 2. Sekani Simpson, 3. James Bloom, 4. Sam Hill (Lewis G. Powell 30), 5. Tom Warren, 6. Colin Mugoya-Tabingwa, 7. Caelen Simpson( Louis Britton 46), 8. Kyle Tooze © (Tyler Jackson 85), 9. Kye Simpson, 10. Ryan Gissing, 11. Jordan Williams.
Unused Subs: Ollie Price, Jordan Ricketts, Josh Dempsey (G/K)
Bookings: Caelen Simpson (45), Kyle Tooze (48)
Red Cards: None
Goals: none

Referee: Stuart Kane (Saltash, Cornwall)
Assistants: Paul Kempen, Matthew Arthur (Penzance, Cornwall)

The next scheduled game at the GJC Commercials Ltd Stadium, will be on Monday 27th August 2018, when ‘The Bluebells’ of YATE TOWN will be the visitors. 3.00pm