Jewson/Hellenic Mangos’ promotion dream still alive, despite injury woes, insists boss

GLYN Ashton insists Mangotsfield United remain hellbent on forcing their way into the Hellenic Premier Division end-of-season promotion reckoning, despite ongoing injury misery which has stifled their push so far.

- Simon PARKINSON

AEK Boco's Nathan Legge (orange) battles for the ball during last Saturday's 6-2 defeat at Wells City in Jewson League Division One

(Picture: Jason Bryan)

Field tomorrow entertain a Longlevens outfit perched a rung above a 10th-placed Mangos team parading the same 25 points as their Gloucestershire opponents on the ladder and eager to tighten current seven-point arrears separating them from a top five playoff spot with victory.

To many outsiders, it’s a surprise, perhaps, that Ashton’s Southern League hopefuls, who went down 3-1 at home to Highworth Town in a midweek Wiseman Floodlit Cup third round affair, aren’t already in and amongst the chasing pack.

Instead, the Cossham Street supremo is just relieved to be in contention 17 games in, as he explained: “We've been decimated by injuries, and it’s disrupted what we set out to achieve over the summer when we put together a squad capable of challenging hard for the top of the table.

“The fact we're on our sixth keeper in Josh Dempsey due initially to our main goalie Ellis Parker’s groin problem says it all about the challenges we've faced.

“Our striker George Neill, left-back Jeff Barimah, centre-back Jacob Spence, left-winger Will Ashton and central midfielder Archie Morris are all still out.

“On Saturday, in our 3-2 win at Hereford Pegasus, another midfielder, Ben Shepherd, broke his leg to quite literally add insult to injury.

“The fact we're competing where we are in mid-table with seven first teamers absent is credit to the lads who have had to come in.

“Tt’s just disappointing and frustrating that it’s become such a battle when hopes had been so high in these early weeks”