Saturday 14 January 2006 - Cossham Street - kick off 3.00pm Southern League Premier Division

Report taken from by Richard Gadsby

The omens were there in the morning when another Man United lost to City in a local derby, but their Southern Premier Division counterparts looked nervous at the start of their encounter and a few mistakes from defenders on either side marked the beginning of an open first half. The first chance fell to Mangotsfield's Dave Anyinsah when he beat Steve Jones for pace and tried to chip keeper Paul Evans, only for the ball to go over. Wayne Thorne almost headed the ball into his own net a few minutes later when a Tony Bird cross caused panic in the Mangotsfield box and more quick-thinking from a Bird short corner saw Scott Partridge head just wide from eight yards out. A long-range effort from Drew Shore just went over the bar for Mangotsfield on 18 minutes but after that the half belonged to City. Bird, who has been in superb form since being moved back up front, spearheaded most of the visitors' attacks and had already flashed one shot wide when he deservedly grabbed the game's opening goal. A poor clearance was chipped back into the area by Dean Clarke and a diving header across goal from Phillip Walsh was smashed home by Bird. The former Swansea man almost made it 2-0 with a half-volley that flew wide just four minutes later as City's grip on the game tightened, but Mangotsfield managed to hold on until the break. Despite the 1-0 lead, there was an ominous feeling of deja-vu as City went in at half-time with the thought of last week's 1-1 draw with Bedford still very much in mind.

There was little reason to quell that fear as Mangotsfield flew out of the traps at the start of the second half. Former City target Chris Lane had two opportunities to put the home side back on level terms almost straight from the restart but Evans saved a poorly-struck shot and the winger fired over from the rebound. Otherwise, City dealt with the pressure well and soon started to get back into the game although there were few chances of note. Partridge skimmed the top of the bar from distance, but, with the score at 1-0 and with time running out, it looked like City's large contingent of travelling fans were in for a nervy finish. City have clearly learned from their mistakes, though, and with just over 20 minutes to go Walsh effectively killed the game with the visitors' second. A Bird through ball from the right almost found Andy Sandell, but the winger was barged out of its path by Alex Ball. With the keeper already committed to a Sandell shot that never came, the tireless Walsh made a frantic dash for the loose ball and just managed to curl it home before the scrambling Greaves could get back on his line. The goal should have proved a knockout blow to Mangotsfield but, to their credit, the home side regrouped and dominated the final exchanges. City took their foot off the pedal and Anyinsah should have grabbed a consolation effort late on but fired well wide.