Southern League Division One South & West

Mangotsfield United 5 Bridgwater Town 1

Before the game, Paul West's men may have felt they might be in with a chance of gaining three valuable points following some useful away performances recently against teams at the top end of the table that have, unfortunately, resulted in narrow defeats for the Robins.

Ben Bament's 16th minute shot was deflected into the path of youngster Olly Mehew who slotted home from six yards, while just four minutes later Mehew beat the offside trap to feed Matt Groves who netted from the edge of the area.

So Bridgwater found themselves in that all too familiar position of having to chase the game after conceding early goals, and they competed on even terms for the remainder of the first period, even creating a couple of decent half chances, but it was still 2-0 when the teams went in for their half-time breather.

Sadly for the visitors, it was to be a similar story in the second period as it was in the first as they conceded two more goals by the hour mark, with Scott Brice heading home the Mangos' third after 50 minutes, while Mehew headed in a Joe Hilliard cross for the fourth, and his second, as the game reached its final third.

The visitors didn't give up though and showed why they have competed so well with the top sides in the division, as they kept going right to the end - no lack of fitness for them - with James Byrne pulled one back for the Robins in the 78th minute.

But with just four minutes remaining on the clock, Groves was judged to have been brought down in the box by the referee and Mehew stepped up to complete his hat-trick from the penalty spot.

It is clear that Paul West and his squad need to focus on eradicating those little individual errors that, as so often this season, saw them concede early goals.

This made their task that much harder when it came to looking for a positive result as they were always chasing the game which inevitably leaves gaps at the back.

But, as stated earlier, there seems to be no lack of fitness in their young side which may well prove to be a massive plus during the closing stages of this season - and for the future at the Somerset club.

Despite having 50 players registered, Street Reserves were unable to field a side for their Somerset Senior Cup Quarter-final tie at Fairfax Park on Saturday (March 12), thus conceded a walkover to their intended hosts, Bridgwater Town Reserves, who will now travel to meet Highridge United of the Bristol Premier Combination Premier Division in the Semi-final on Saturday, April 2 (2.30pm).

Meanwhile, Bridgwater Town Reserves still wait to see who their opponents will be at Fairfax Park in the Quarter-final of the Somerset County League Premier and Division One Cup, which they won last season, after the delayed Second Round tie between Frome Collegians and Shepton Mallet Reserves was postponed on Saturday due to a waterlogged Old Show Ground pitch in Frome.

Finally, it wasn't a good day for the Bridgwater Town U18/Team BC partnership side in the South West Counties Youth League on Saturday morning.

After making the usual early morning start to their journey, an under-strength side travelled to Nailsworth in Gloucestershire to meet league leaders Forest Green Rovers, with the normal 10.30am kick off.

And it didn't take long for the hosts to show why they are top of the pile, and by the final whistle they had almost made it into double figures as they handed out a 9-0 drubbing to the visitors, who remain second from bottom in the table.