First Team

After weathering the Foresters storm on Saturday afternoon, Bristol Manor Farm picked up all three points against Cinderford Town, writes Jack Davies.

The two sides were separated by only goal difference before kick-off and knew that a win would be massive for either side’s survival hopes.

It was the perfect start for the men in red inside three minutes when Ben Bament chased down a loose ball to give his side the lead. The Foresters defence misjudged a long ball, and the everpresent Bament gracefully tucked the ball into the far corner to score.

Cinderford did respond on 27 minutes following their third attempt at a corner. The wind continued to cause havoc and the ball eventually fell to Jack Barton who buried a strike into the far corner.

Owen Howe had scored 20 for the season pre-match and his 21st was something special. Bament won a free kick just outside the area which Howe absolutely rifled in the top corner to restore the lead.

The Farm talisman wasn’t done there either. Gosling flashed past a challenge before laying Howe in and the striker cut onto his left and drove home for a 3-1 lead.

Cinderford would make it a nervy finish as Felix Miles volleyed home in the final 15 minutes and Farm were forced to see out the extended injury time with 10 men. Skipper Gosling receiving his second yellow card late on.

STAR MAN – Jake Gosling.

Larkhall come from behind to take all 3 points against Manor Farm, writes Jack Davies.

A frantic start led to good chances at either end. Ben Bament had early efforts fly wide before Jack Camm and Dawid Regula had successive efforts blocked after some penalty box pinball. Owen Howe was next to try his luck after being neatly found by Gosling but the striker dragged his low effort just wide. Farm had drafted in emergency goalkeeper George Shanks-Boon in the absence of Ben John and he made a fine save after half an hour, denying Harley Prior. Farm took the lead from the penalty spot just before the break. The only thing more reliable than Owen Howe scoring penalties is Jayden Nielsen winning them. His dancing feet too quick for the Larkhall defence and Howe dispatched the resultant spot kick.

Larkhall weathered an early Farm flurry in the second half and equalised after just 10 minutes. Another scramble inside the Farm area saw Shanks-Boon make a fine save initially but the ball fell to Tom Bradley who scored his first goal for the Larks. A blustery second half saw few other chances but Larkhall would prove clinical when one did arrive. Good work from Wayne Nderemani to fire across and Max Williams tucked home after the ball clipped the far post. Owen Howe had the game’s final chance of note but he could only steer his effort wide and despite a late onslaught, Farm were left frustrated.

10 man Wimborne hold Farm to a goalless draw in a fiery game at The BS3 Services Stadium, writes Jack Davies.

Manor Farm score four away from home in one of the games of the season against Bishop’s Cleeve, writes Jack Davies.

A quick-fire second-half double was enough as Tavistock claim all three points at The BS3 Services Stadium, writes Jack Davies.

Bristol Manor Farm’s consecutive run of draws came to an end on Tuesday evening following a narrow defeat away to Bideford, writes Jack Davies.

Prior to Tuesday’s match, returning captain Jake Gosling managed just 70 minutes last weekend at Exmouth but was forced to be substituted due to sustaining a nasty ankle injury following a late challenge. Lloyd Mills, who has done an excellent standing-in job, was given the armband once again as the Portwaymen made the 200-mile roundtrip to the Sports Ground.

The Robins had the match’s first opportunity in 8 minutes when forward Javan Wright won a free-kick wide left. A melee of red shirts attacked the ball, and following two wasted attempts, Farm were able to break on Seehouse-Evans’ goal. The youngster showed extreme pace when he skipped past three, but fell short at the final hurdle when Bideford eventually recovered.

Nielsen did extremely well to avoid two lunging challenges, and the aforementioned Grub had Manor Farm’s first attempt in 25 minutes. Grubb allowed the ball to come across his body, but his strike bobbled its way towards goal only for Seedhouse-Evans to gather.

Mills found space high up the pitch and played a lovely searching pass into the feet of Grubb, and his chipped effort went narrowly wide of the back post.

If you asked those in attendance, ‘Who looked like scoring most?’ Undoubtedly the answer would be the Portwaymen who had three more clear-cut chances at the home goal. After George Fowler’s strike was pushed behind, Owen Howe headed over the Robins’ crossbar. Nielsen decided to cross low and hard, but Mills couldn’t get enough power on his near post effort. However much like this season, luck wasn’t to be on Farm’s side as Ryan Turner finished past John after a clever pass by his captain Aaron Taylor – albeit against the run of play.

Farm probed for parity early into the second half, but Bideford still carried a threat on the break. Winsor fired a shot just over for the hosts and Farm defender Steve Kingdon slid in to stop a certain tap-in at the back post following a low cross from Turner.

Jayden Nielsen came closest in normal time to find an equaliser, firing narrowly over following a clever set free kick.

Farm were forced to substitute two of their centre-backs late on and the only one who stayed on the pitch had the game’s final chance. Mills sliced his effort wide after a clever cross from young substitute Will Gallagher.

STAR MAN – Harry Lucas.

In a highly competitive game played on Saturday afternoon, Manor Farm earned an important point against Exmouth Town, writes Jack Davies.

Bristol Manor Farm held runaway league leaders Sholing to a 1-1 draw in a highly entertaining affair at The BS3 Services Stadium on Saturday afternoon, writes Jack Davies.