Double late strike denies Mangotsfield Cup victory

MANGOTSFIELD UNITED 3 GILLINGHAM 3: Mangotsfield United looked to be on the way to a comfortable FA Cup victory at Gillingham when they led 3-1 with only seven minutes left to play, but they conceded two late goals and now face a replay on Tuesday.

"I was very disappointed, as their three goals all came from set-pieces because our defenders failed to do what they should have done, and we failed to put away a number of easy chances," manager Phil Bater said.

"It was a game we should have won comfortably if we had taken the chances we created and defended better against set-pieces".

Tom Knighton failed to put away a couple of early chances and then James Pilling had a header well saved by goalkeeper Jamie Beale, before Gillingham took a 27th-minute lead against the run of play.

A corner from the right was flicked on at the near post for Nick Thompson to score, but Mangotsfield hit straight back when Kyle Tooze was brought down in the penalty area for Neil Arndale to score from the resulting spot kick.

Then, after 34 minutes following a free-kick, Knighton had a low drive saved by the busy Beale, who then did well to save a long-range effort from Geraint Bater.

An own-goal by Gillingham defender James Manley in the 39th minute gave Mangotsfield the lead, and they made it 3-1 after 54 minutes when Mitchell Page headed in from close range.

Mangotsfield suffered a blow when they lost Bater with a back injury midway through the half.

Ben Thomson struck to put Gillingham back in the game with only a couple of minutes left and then, in the fifth minute of time added on, during a goalmouth scramble, Adrian Foster equalised from close range following a corner.