10-Man Bristol Manor Farm held firm to pick up an excellent three points at home against Willand Rovers.
Farm had a difficult midweek, going a goal up after a long trip to Tavistock, only to see a very hasty postponement due to fog deny them the chance to hold on for a positive result. It was perhaps that disappointment that fueled Lee Lashenko and his team to a fast start. Owen Howe, a hero for both clubs, stung the palms of Willand goalkeeper George Burton. Louis Britton was next to test the visiting keeper, forcing a fine reflex save.
The pressure told midway through the half as Farm took the lead. Dan Dodimead made full use of the time and space he found himself in out wide, delivering a delightful cross that Britton headed home—his twenty-ninth goal of an astonishing season.
Willand finally began to gain a foothold and thought they had leveled late in the half. Bailey Kempster reacted quickest to a rebound and, despite beating Seth Locke, Jacob Spence was on hand to block on the line.
Spence’s eventful afternoon was cut short just after the restart. The defender received a second yellow card and was sent off. Despite the disadvantage, Farm defended magnificently, limiting Willand to very few chances. Even when the depleted defense was beaten on the hour, Locke refused to be passed. Douglas Camilo bent an effort toward the top corner, but Locke stretched every inch to claw it away.
Farm had a good chance to seal the victory late on, but it was Willand’s turn to scramble the ball off the goal line. George Dowling had an effort saved, and Abu Sama’s rebound was hacked away at the last moment.
A lengthy stoppage time may have caused anxiety among the home support, but it was they who had the final say. Dodimead was felled in the box, and Louis Britton stepped up to slot home his second, sealing a well-earned victory.