Road to Wembley - Penalty celebration for Mangos

On one of the most memorable night's at Cossham Street in Mangotsfield United's recent history the Mangos earned a place in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round by beating Truro City. A hugely entertaining cup tie in front of a crowd of 529 saw Mangotsfield recover from a goal down to take the match into extra time and ultimately a penalty shoot out. On an evening when every player gave their all goalkeeper Tony Court became the hero with two penalty saves. The decisive spot kick, taken with the score at 3 - 3 and with Truro having taken their five penalties fell to Jason Wood who beat Martin Rice to set off scenes of wild jubilation.

Truro took the lead on sixty nine minutes when a free kick from the left delivered to the heart of the penalty area was met by Marcus Martin who unchallenged powered a header past Tony Court.

After going behind Mango's manager Phil Bater quickly introduced fresh legs in the pacey duo of Jason Wood and Kyle Tooze. The introduction of Wood had an almost immediate impact when Tom Knighton worked the ball to Wood whose cross from wide on the left was eventually forced home by TOM KNIGHTON.

With the vocal crowd urging Mangotsfield on the woodwork came to Truro's rescue to deny Tom Knighton who slid in at the near post to divert a low cross from the left onto the bar whilst moments later a Kyle Tooze cross cum shot from tight to the goal line was palmed away by Martin Rice.

As the match entered added time the pressure on the Truro goal was maintained with Jason Wood's low driven ball from the left flashing across the face of the goal and a minute later Kyle Tooze cut in from the right to skip past two challenges only to shoot straight at Martin Rice.

In a goalmouth scramble, the final action of a stirring cup tie saw two last ditch blocks deny Mangotsfield a late winner.

Extra-time remained goalless, and after flipping a coin to determine which end the penalties would be taken Truro's first spot kick.

Truro's Barry McConnell' penalty was saved. 0-0
In response Mangotsfield scorer Tom Knighton duly obliged. 1-0
With the pressure now on Truro, recent loan signing Lee Hodges saw his penalty saved by Tony Court. 1-0
However Mangotsfield's second penalty taken by Neil Arndale hit the crossbar. 1-0
Stewart Yetton levelled for Truro when converting his side's third penalty. 1-1
Kyle Tooze was given a reprieve after his initial spot kick was saved but after the intervention of a referee's assistant the penalty was re-taken, this time Tooze found the back of the net to restore Mangotsfield's one goal lead. 2-1
Scott Walker despatched Truro's fourth penalty to level the scores. 2-2
Mangotsfield went ahead with one kick to go through Jack Allward 3-2
Andy Taylor whose nerve held to make it three all with one penalty left to be taken. 3-3
The fifth penalty was stroked home by JASON WOOD to earn Mangotsfield United a fourth qualifying round home tie. 4-3

It was a cracking night and the Mango's now host Forest Green Rovers (who are two levels above Mangotsfield in the non-league pyramid) this Saturday in the last round of FA Cup qualifying.

Mango's: Court, Arndale, Smith (Allwood), Pilling (Wood), Scott, Trought, O'Connor (Tooze), Bater, Page, Knighton, Spill.
Subs not used: Bennett, Beazer, Prosser, Alexander
Attendance: 529