Bristol Manor Farm made it successive draws following a hard-fought battle against Bemerton Heath Harlequins on Tuesday night.
The Farm had to patch up and go again as their injury-ravaged squad continued to battle, but they started brightly on another bitterly cold evening at The NL Services Stadium. Just three minutes in, Louis Britton won a free-kick, and George Dowling’s superb effort was tipped onto the crossbar by visiting keeper Ben Clark. Manor Farm lined up with both Britton and fellow forward Owen Howe, and the pair combined for another early chance. Howe held off two defenders following a long ball, nodding it back to Britton, who shot narrowly wide. Bemerton’s first chance fell to Joe Smith, but he lacked his usual composure. Spotting Seth Locke off his line, he attempted an ambitious effort, but his shot flew wildly over.
The Farm took the lead with a beautifully crafted goal. Jamie Adams found Evander Grubb, whose low cross was slickly dummied by Howe, allowing Britton to hammer home from close range. The hosts continued to probe and looked to pose a threat from set pieces. Dowling delivered a peach of a ball to Harry Lucas, but Clark denied him. Grubb, enjoying himself down the right, created another half-chance when he breezed past Tshaka, but his low effort was well saved. Clark was having a fine game in the Bemerton goal but almost gifted Farm another just before the break. Howe’s deflected effort looped into the air, and under no pressure, Clark spilt the ball backwards, only to be relieved as it dropped just the right side of his post.
Farm started the second half brightly, with Grubb continuing to torment his full-back. Using Howe’s unselfish run as a decoy, he cut inside two defenders before dragging his shot wide at the near post. As the game passed the hour mark, Bemerton began creating chances, with top scorer Smith looking hungry. The striker latched onto a loose ball in the area, but his shot was well saved by Locke. Another opportunity came and went for Ward before the visitors eventually levelled with ten minutes to play. A seemingly routine throw-in decision saw Farm preparing to take it before the official awarded it the other way. Caught out, Farm allowed Bemmy to break. Waters found Clancy, who was denied by a superb block on the line, but Waters lashed the rebound into the far corner. Just three passes after the restart, Farm almost retook the lead. Grubb and Britton combined well before the former sliced just over.
As injury time ticked away, Bemmy had one final chance to snatch the points. Waters once again found space in the area, and his shot seemed destined for the corner before Locke intervened brilliantly to ensure Farm held on for a share of the spoils.