Bristol Manor Farm were forced to come from behind as they progressed in the Fa Cup qualifying rounds with a 5-1 victory away to Cadbury Heath.
Farm had put 8 past the hosts in pre season and started on the front foot, Lloyd Mills and Tyler Ashmead both having early efforts that went narrowly wide before Mike Bryant did find the target but Heath keeper Ollie Jones was equal to the effort. Cadbury Heath would take the lead against the run of play after a quarter of the game. A floated free kick met on the full by Matt Huxley who headed home for the lead. One would nearly become two a few minutes later as George Boon was played in out wide but his curling shot evaded the far post. Farm would eventually retain control but were still somehow behind despite a host of quickfire efforts, including Lucas Vowles contriving to miss everybody in the middle and then having two efforts well saved. The pressure would tell as Farm equalised on the half hour. The ever elusive Ashmead crossing for Bryant who notched Farms first competitive goal this season and on his personal debut. Bryants next contribution was to win the free kick that would eventually lead to the visitors second. Lewis Leigh-Gilchrist found the wall before a special moment for 16 year old Evander Grubb, who crashed his effort home from the rebound to score his first senior goal.
Farm came out for the second half looking to put the tie to bed, Steve Kingdon first to try his luck, nodding wide from a corner in the opening minutes after the interval. Grubb was involved again before the hour, getting himself through but his shot was comfortably saved by Jones when perhaps he should have passed square. The man who was waiting square was Leigh-Gilchrist and it was him who effectively ended the tie, latching on to a long ball and cooly slotting beyond Jones. One would become two for Leigh-Gilchrist just a few minutes after, his initial pass sliced the hosts apart and after Vowles shot was parried, he was on hand to make it 4. Grubbs fine debut was continuing, he forced a corner after a blocked effort resulting in Mills volleying wide and then he himself was played in but could only find Jones. Farm would add gloss to the scoreline at the death and what a goal it was. Grubb found Vowles who found Leigh-Gilchrist and his superb skill and subsequent killer pass played Grubb through and the youngster added a second to a dream senior debut.
Star man – Evander Grubb