Uhlsport Hellenic League Division One West

Tytherington Rocks 2 Cirencester Town Development 6

TYTHERINGTON Rocks could be encouraged by their first-half performance against Cirencester Town Development on Saturday that was better than some previous displays.

However, they still managed to concede five goals after the break to lose at the Hardwicke Playing Fields. The Hellenic League game saw two young teams compete in a local derby.

In fact, it was the first of three home local derby games in the season, and all within 11 days of each other.

The afternoon began with a two minutes silence to commemorate Armistice Day.

Light drizzle throughout the afternoon did little to affect the tempo of an entertaining but disappointing game for the home team, who after leading 2-1 at the interval, succumbed in the second-half to a rejuvenated Cirencester team that added further goals before the final whistle.

Tytherington Rocks started the more lively of the two teams.

Several chances were squandered by both sides during the early exchanges until, on 21 minutes, a powerful shot from Junior Mangolo to the left of the visiting keeper opened the scoring for the Rocks.

The lead however was shortlived when three minutes later, Dan Roberts equalised with a similar shot.

The game, fast flowing with few stoppages, was approaching half time when a goal-bound chip over the Cirencester keeper was headed clear, only for Mangolo to direct a powerful header below the visitor’s crossbar and into the goal despite a despairing touch by the Cirencester keeper.

The half finished with three accurate but unconverted corners from Rocks, nevertheless giving the home team the satisfaction of leading.

The visitors returned with added determination but it took 15 minutes to break down the home defence, when a shot from Dan Roberts on the hour,squirmed past the home keeper to level the score with his second goal.

Dan Gudger added his first to give Cirencester the lead at 3-2, and five minutes later, the Rocks defence was left standing by Shaun Pocock for the visitor’s fourth goal.

Gudger returned to the score sheet again converting a penalty on 80 mins that put the result beyond doubt.

Pocock completed the scoring with an 87th min goal Once again, the match left the home supporters imagining “what might have been.”

The next home game on Saturday will be a crucial bottom of the table clash against New College, Swindon, kick-off 3pm, with the third derby due to take place next week under floodlights against Shortwood United Reserves.