A DRAW and a win over the New Year holiday period plus a 1-0 defeat for previous league leaders Evesham United at Sutton Coldfield hoisted Mangotsfield United into top spot in Southern League Division One West.

Mangotsfield United 2 Stourport Swifts 1

MANGOTSFIELD United gained a deserved win over Stourport Swifts in driving rain and strong winds on Saturday.

The victory kept them level with leaders Evesham United on points but behind on goal difference.

A measure of Mangotsfield's first-half superiority was a tally of 11 corners but they had to wait until the final one, just before the interval, before taking the lead with a goal by Shane Hobbs from ex Bristol Rovers player Michael Meaker's cross, after skipper James Zabek's shot had rebounded out off the crossbar.

Stourport equalised two minutes after the break through Mark Crisp, following a corner.

Mangotsfield regained the lead when David Seal's cross from the left found Claridge, who headed over stranded keeper O'Malley for his 13th goal of the season.

But though Mangotsfield dominated the remainder of the game for long spells, with several chances to make the game safe, they were unable to add to their score.

Cinderford Town 2 Mangotsfield United 2

A DRAW against Cinderford Town on Monday catapulted Mangotsfield United back into top spot in Southern League Division One West.

United took the lead on 38 minutes after an interchange of passes between James Zabek and Rob Claridge, with Mark Summers finishing off the move with a shot across the keeper and into the corner of the net.

However, United conceded an equaliser by Rhys Jones a few minutes later.

Five minutes after the break Cinderford took the lead but with 8 minutes of the game remaining Rob Claridge levelled the game at 2-2 when he reacted first after the Cinderford keeper initially saved from Pete Shepherd.

Mangotsfield are away to Burnham on Saturday.