Mangotsfield United 4

Shortwood United 3

By Jim Cunneen

SHORTWOOD had an afternoon they will want to forget at Mangotsfield as they went out of the FA Trophy at the preliminary round hurdle.

Nick Peare saw red for handball on the line and Niall Halford hobbled off on a frustrating day for the Nailsworth side.

Co-manager Alex Sykes said: “I am hugely disappointed to go out at the first hurdle, but at least we gave it a go in the second half.

"We scored three times and still lost – says a lot about our defensive performance.”

Wood started brightly enough, but fell behind after eight minutes. Mangotsfield won a corner and Justin Mapstone nodded home.

Five minutes later Wood were level. Hancock’s miss-hit shot wasn’t dealt with and Jack Lee stuck the ball powerfully into the bottom corner. Halford had to be helped from the field and Wood had to reshuffle the pack.

Wood suffered another blow after 32 minutes. Connor Waldon shot past Tom King and the ball struck Peare’s arm on the line. Peare was sent off for deliberate hand ball.

However, Nick Arndale drove the penalty against the bar, again Wood had chances to clear, but Lewis Powell shot into the far corner.

Within seven minutes of the restart Shortwood were 3-1 down.

They were carved apart and Powell fired past King into the bottom corner. Mangotsfield pressed for a fourth but after 63 minutes they were caught.

Shortwood broke at speed and sub Joe White’s excellent ball into the area was met by a controlled volley from Liam Meredith to reduce the arrears.

Shortwood were revitalised and pushed forward for another but a rash challenge from Andy Lewis on the very edge of the area after 77 minutes gave Mango’s their second penalty.

This time Powell took the kick and slammed it home to complete his hat- trick.

However, Shortwood came back for a third time. Lee passed out wide to Sam Taylor and his cross was turned in at the far post by White.

SHORTWOOD: King, Rawlings, Humphreys, Lewis, Halford (Taylor 13), Peare, Thomas (White 55), Hancock, Lee, Meredith, Bennett.

Star Man: Nick Hancock.