Abingdon United were unable to hang on to a two-goal lead as they suffered a galling 3-2 defeat in Saturday’s eventful Evo-Stik Southern League Division 1 South & West encounter.

They took the lead deep into first-half added time, following an injury to an assistant referee, when Sam Collier rode a challenge and cut the ball back sharply to evade the keeper and find the far corner of the goal.

The second half could not have started better for the visitors when a ball across the area from Scott Griffin, was missed by two defenders and ran to Collier who made it 2-0 After a stern midfield battle, Cleeve equalised midway through the half, Karim Rendall rose highest for a free-kick and planted his header into the back of the net.

The complexion of the game changed and the hosts’ decision send three men up front immediately paid off as Gary Colbourne headed over Abingdon keeper James Foster for the equaliser.

Mangotsfield’s winning goal came five minutes from tim following a misunderstanding between defender Curtis Angell and Foster Matt Groves nipped in to push the ball beyond Foster and slip it home.

Foster then saved well from Tom Knighton late on.

Abingdon Utd: J Foster, Evans (Buck 67), Davis (Young 46), Allaway, Carnell, Doyle, Austin (Kingsbeer 80), Biddle, Griffin, Collier, Angell. Subs not used: McKeon, A Foster.

Attendance: 136.