Hungerford on a roll downwards

Mangotsfield the latest to profit from former leaders' fragile confidence

HUNGERFORD'S slide down the Evo Stik League Southern table gathered pace with their fourth straight defeat, a 3-1 home reverse at the hands of Mangotsfield United.

Mangotsfield took full advantage of the home side's fragile confidence, that was rocked by yet another own goal and shattered by a simple second goal, and even simpler third and the sending off of midfielder Peter Macklin early in the second half.

That all but ended any hopes of a revival, although Hungerford were already looking shell-shocked and beaten. They started boldly enough and might have gone ahead when Mark Draycott missed the mark from Jamie Gosling's through ball.

But they were dealt a morale-damaging blow after 15 minutes when Marcus Duharty, on loan from Weston Super Mare, turned inside John Boardman and sent in a shot that Stuart Wood should have covered, but for the massive deflection off the Hungerford defender's back that left the goalkeeper helpless.

A second goal was less fortunate but just as calamitous to the hosts, whose defence was ripped open when Garaint Bater sent Tom Parrinello down the left and Mitchell Page was all along beyond the far post to come in and slide in the cross.

Hungerford probed for an early second half response to form a revival platform, but that was torn down when Peter Macklin and Mitchell Page threw themselves at the same ball and Macklin caught the Mangotsfield player. His team-mates' response probably tipped the mind of referee Steve Tomlinson, who forcibly ordered off the Hungerford midfielder.

Hungerford produced few threats and were caught wanting again when Pat Cox was robbed in midfield and Bater sent Karim Rendall clear to shoot past the exposed Wood.

The home side got a late consolation, hammered in by Matt Day from 35 yards out, but it was an after-thought to a game that had long since escaped Hungerford's grip.