Mangotsfield United FC - Pitchero

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESKIt’s a great feeling to be able to start thecampaign with a win, and it’s a bonus whenyou score FIVE! Newcomers GUILDFORDnever recovered from that two goals in theopening three minutes, but they did forcetheir way back into the game. We missedquite a few opportunities, so the scorelinecould have been heavier, and the onlycriticism would be that two of their goalscame from sloppy defending.The fact that they scored almost immediatelyafter we had, on two occasions, is food forthought. You will read elsewhere in theprogramme that we were missing MARCUSDUHARTY , who was hospitalised and will nowbe out of action for possibly a few months. Wewish him well.One disappointing factor was the attendanceof just 118. True, our local rivals at LodgeRoad were also at home and did a little betterthan us (160), but even allowing for that,that’s a very poor attendance for opening day.It does make you also wonder when certainfans leave the ground with almost ten minutesleft, so that they can see the start of theSwansea v Man Utd game on television. Thoseparticular fans missed two goals as well.Sometimes I wonder, I really do!!!Because of the Bank Holiday weekend, thisprogramme went to print before Saturday’sgame at FLEET TOWN, so we cannotcomment on that but what we can tell youis that we will be hosting BITTON AFC onSaturday (31 st ) in the FA Cup PreliminaryRound, after they had beaten Pewsey Valeby 4-1. It is a repeat of last season’s FA Cupclash with them. Let’s hope we can repeatthe scoreline, which was 2-0.I certainly hope that none of you travelledto Penydarren Park on Tuesday evening.Loyal fan MIKE CHESKIN was quite upsetthat there was scant information, generallyspeaking, over the fact ‘The Martyrs’ wereplaying their early games at Cinderford.There certainly seems to be nothing onthe Merthyr website to tell you, and I dofeel that the Calor League should includethis information on their fixtures page.However, as usual, we were able to inform youthrough the ‘Field Review’ but I cannotimagine………………………continuedFIELD REVIEW -1……..that any of our regular travellers would nothave known. It was all over the internet duringthe summer, but it really should be in the twoplaces that matter.So, at Cinderford’s Causeway ground onTuesday evening, ‘The Field’ were hoping topush on, but we found ‘The Martyrs’ were asstrong as predicted. They fully deserved theirvictory but it was frustrating that we werecaught twice at set-pieces and gave away apenalty.It was not totally one-sided and we did createsome opportunities, but could not takeadvantage. It never helped either that we hadinjuries to JAMIE REID & JOSH EGAN, whichput immediate pressure on our trip to Fleet Town.We extend a warm welcome to everyone whohas made the trip from CLEVEDON TOWN.Clashes between the two club are generally‘spicy’ affairs and always give us something totalk about.Manager Micky Bell has brought severalnew players to the club over the summer,including the return of DANNY GREAVESand it was probably a surprise whenYate Town’s EDD VAHID made the trip down theM5 after eight years at Lodge Road.Disappointingly, the first two openingresults, have gone against them, althoughit must be said that their opponents,Swindon Supermarine and BridgwaterTown are both sides who are expectedto do well.After the Bitton cup-tie we have two very difficultgames against TAUNTON TOWN, at The GlassConsultants UK Stadium, and a trip to highlyfanciedCIRENCESTER TOWN.Thanks for your support – we like the new flagson the dug-out side!Finally, an extra game has been added to thefixture list when on Tuesday 10 th September, aBRISTOL ROVERS X1 will visit for a friendly. Astrong squad is expected.So, remember the cry…“COME ON THE FIELD”EDITOR