CIRENCESTER Town's woes continued in the Dr Martens Western Division as they slipped to a 5-2 defeat at home to Mangotsfield and that after taking a two-goal lead.

Cirencester certainly started brightly at their Corinium Stadium ground and Mangotsfield keeper Robert Clarke did well to come off his line to snatch the ball away from Andy McCabe.

Town's early pressure was rewarded in the 10th minute when a great move, involving Dave Gee, Gareth Hopkins and Keith Knight, saw Hopkins hit the back of the net with a powerful header.

It took only three minutes for the home side to go further ahead when this time Dave Hunt found Knight in space and another perfect cross picked out Hopkins, who made no mistake with a downward header from six yards.

Midway through the half, Mangotsfield pulled a goal back when Cirencester failed to clear a Dean Pendry corner and the loose ball fell to Gareth Loydon, who drilled home from 12 yards.

And the visitors also had strong appeals for a penalty ignored by the officials, when Darren Edwards tangled with an outstretched Tom Clarke.

At half-time Cirencester replaced the injured Mark Smith with Stuart Fraser and it was the home side who were first to attack, McCabe's first-time effort just clearing the bar and Adam Mayo shooting wide.

Mangotsfield swapped Jack Pitcher with Lee Barlass in the 65th minute and that seemed to be a turning point for the Bristol outfit.

Within minutes he scored with a low shot from 10 yards after Cirencester had failed to clear a David Elsey cross.

The home side then went behind for the first time when Darren Edwards beat the offside trap and neatly lobbed the advancing Clarke.

Mangotsfield were now in control and they made it four in the 75th minute when Scott Hendy met Loydon's cross from a corner perfectly at the far post with a powerful header.

With only minutes remaining Pitcher was unlucky when his header cannoned back off the crossbar, but Mangotsfield eventually stole a fifth goal as Cirencester gave the ball away from a free-kick and sub Ashley Stevens outpaced the defence and slotted the ball over the stranded Clarke.

Cirencester: Clarke, Ratcliffe (Gilewicz 87) Hunt, Mayo, Hopkins, Smith (Fraser 45) Knight, Clark, Gareth Hopkins, McCabe, Gee (Hughes 70), Sub not used: Dale.

Mangotsfield: Clarke, Summers, Hendy, Barlass (Pitcher 65) Elsey, Loydon, Sims (Nicholls 81) Davis, Edwards, Pendry, Brooks (Stevens 80). Sub not used: Penny

Referee: M Edmonds (Tidworth).

Attendance: 155