Bristol Manor Farm 2 Willand Rovers 1
Home debutant Alan Griffin’s second-half goal sealed the points for Manor
Farm in a tough, well-contested Boxing Day match at The Creek.
Willand had the better of the early exchanges, taking a 4 th minute lead from the
penalty spot through Craig Veal following a foul in the box by Lloyd Mills.
The tide began to turn midway through the half for Manor Farm with right-back
Tyler Ashmead offering a consistent outlet down the right flank. Griffin shot
over from a Jordan Metters corner and following more great work by Ashmead
the big number 9 brought a superb save out of Mike Searle. With five minutes
of the first period left the home side finally drew level when Joe Tumelty was
upended in the Willand penalty area before stepping up to slam the resultant
spot-kick past Searle.
Farm had to defend well during the opening skirmishes of the second half. Ben
John, Steve Kingdon and Stuart Tovey were all called upon to thwart danger as
Willand threatened ascendancy once more.
Rovers right-back Josh Searle then went on a decent run himself – cutting inside
and shooting, via a slight deflection, just wide of the far post.
The winner arrived in the 73 rd minute when Metters, marauding deep into the
penalty area in the inside right position, sat Searle down, went round him and
crossed for Griffin, rising highest in the middle, to power a header home from
six yards.
STAR MAN (Tyler Ashmead, Bristol Manor Farm)