First Team

Manor Farm stays consigned to the relegation play-off despite an excellent away win at Westbury on the final day, writes Jack Davies.

Whatever happened elsewhere, Farm were determined to hold up their end of the bargain. A fast start saw Evander Grubb have a goal-bound shot well blocked before Jake Gosling fired a shot just wide. Farm took a deserved lead after twenty-five minutes. Once his centre-back partner Steve Kingdon had come inches from scoring, Josh Ford swivelled on a low ball in and sent an absolute rocket of a volley into the far corner. Westbury had the final chance of the half after weathering more pressure, Charlie Walton forcing an excellent save from Ben John.

The second half started in much the same fashion, Grubb firing a volley just wide of the near post. Gosling fired another shot wide before his excellent corner was met again by Ford, this time coming agonisingly off the underside of the bar and away. A nervy end ensued as Westbury piled the pressure but Farm battled well, even forcing one more chance to double the lead late on. Jayden Nielsen won a free kick which Gosling was a fingertip away from converting.

STAR MAN – Josh Ford

Manor Farm’s recent resurgence was ended by a clinical play-off chasing Evesham in the last home game of the season.

Farm had been excellent in the last two games to keep their survival hopes alive and did start the brighter in a first half of admittedly very few chances. Jake Gosling spread to Evander Grubb whose low cross was just turned wide of his own goal by visiting defender Michael O’Regan. A large part of Farm’s troubling season has been the ease in which they’ve given away goals and that was compounded on the half hour. The ball was lost in midfield and Alfie Dunn got the better of Steve Kingdon and whether deliberate or not, chipped the ball over Ben John to give the visitors the lead against the run of play. The lively Ben Bament had the final chance of a cagey first half, drilling an effort which Evesham keeper held well.

A carbon copy start to the second half all but ended the contest. Heavy Farm pressure early on with Nielsen forcing a smart save from the keeper before Farm were again caught in transition. Another errant pass in midfield saw Evesham break and Alfie Dunn squared to Kyle Belmonte for a simple finish to double the lead. Farm pushed hard for a route back in but were very susceptible to the counter. Bament flashed another effort just wide, and Grubb’s attempted overhead was claimed easily by the keeper. Evesham added even more gloss late on in another goal Farm won’t want to see again. Another turnover saw a long ball find Belmonte on the counter and he drove his effort in at the near post. Farm would have one goal to show for their efforts late on as they rallied despite the disappointment. Grubb getting his third in three games as he swept home late in additional time.

On a sun-drenched afternoon at The BS3 Services Stadium, Manor Farm made an impressive comeback to secure a crucial three points against the formidable Hamworthy United, writes Jack Davies.

Manor Farm score in the 95th minute to take a huge three points in an incredible game at the BS3 Services Stadium.

Both teams really struggled in the early going as the wild winds made it difficult for anyone to get a foot hold. Ben Bament had the game’s first chance, lashing just over as a loose ball bounced towards him. Another interesting display from the officials began in the 20th minute. The Ref waved away a Farm penalty appeal for what looked an obvious handball in the area before pointing to the spot at the other end just a minute later, for a Mason Winter challenge on Ed Butcher. David O’Hare eventually converted after fighting a battle with the wind to keep the ball still. Steve Kingdon headed just over a few minutes later before Farm levelled. Bament judged the wind swirl from the long ball before finding Jayden Nielsen whose low driven cross was turned into his own net by Nick Hewlett. The game was flipped on its head after Farm got their second in as many minutes. Jake Gosling defied the wind with a superb 50-yard diagonal which Ben Bament controlled before drilling an excellent half volley into the far corner. A breathless first half continued after the half hour. Owen Howe denied the goal of the season as his 35-yard first time volley was tipped just over by visiting keeper Aaron Sainsbury. The save was worth it’s value at the other end. Ed Butcher’s free kick held up in the wind and deceived the scrambling Ben John to level the game. The first half somehow wasn’t finished there. Another superb raking ball by Gosling was brought down by Evander Grubb who showed incredible composure to lift the ball over the advancing Sainsbury for 3-2.

What the second half lacked in the goals of the first it certainly made up for with controversy. Ben Bament did incredibly well just minutes after the restart to stay on his feet despite being grappled by Paulton captain Neil Martin before he tucked the ball away. The referee halted celebrations by someone adjusting Bament as the aggressor and giving a free kick to the away side. Farm were against the wind second half but were really on the ascendancy. Nielsen’s cross clipped the cross bar before he lashed wide as the ball was recycled back to him. Farm had the ball in the net again before the hour but once again it was strangely ruled out. Bament poking past Sainsbury and despite appearing to run from behind his defender, he was called offside. Paulton levelled with their first real attempt of the half. An almighty scramble eventually led to Hewlett making up for his own goal as he swept in for 3-3. Farm had a third goal ruled out and this one was the strangest of the lot. Owen Howe swept a lovely finish in from the edge of the area but someone in the build-up was deemed offside, no explanation followed as to who. Staggeringly that wasn’t the final goal Farm would have chalked off. The apparently offside Josh Ford nodded a free kick to Farm sub Luca Ponsillo who bundled home before the flag once again halted any celebrations. Paulton had rode a heavy storm and almost stole the win just before injury time. Joe Morgan span in the area and his shot was brilliantly tipped over by John. Farm would not be denied reward for an incredible second half performance. Gosling sent in a whipped corner in the 95th minute and Howe bundled home to send the bumper Easter Monday crowd into raptures and give Farm a vital 3 points.

The points were shared between Melksham and Manor Farm after an incredible second half at Oakfield, writes Jack Davies.

10-man Manor Farm pick up a vital point away at Frome Town as the two sides draw for the second time this season, writes Jack Davies.

A Stephen Walker brace gave in-form Lymington all three points against Manor Farm at The BS3 Services Stadium, writes Jack Davies.

With 248 spectators filling the BS3 seats, it was Lymington who stole the show with the aforementioned Walker sending the Linnets home as a side who are now unbeaten in 10 league matches. It was a fairly even start from both sides on Non-League Day, but Lymington managed to sneak the ball home at the back post – despite the Farmers best appeals for a possible offside flag. It was one goalscoring centre back to another just a minute later as Josh Ford headed in the equaliser for Farm to send the sides in at half-time level. The keeper Skrzyniarz came out to collect the ball but ended up in no man’s land, and Ford had the simple task of heading into the empty net.

Owen Howe and Aron Robbins both had quilt-edged chances in the second period to take the lead, with the former striking over and latter heading wide of the target. The captain Walker would have the final say in the match. In similar fashion to his first, the defender rose highest at the back post to nod past Ben John in the Farm goal. Plenty of possession would follow for the home side, but the Lymo defence held firm to claim all three points on tough afternoon at The BS3 Services Stadium.

STARMAN – Theo Llewellyn.