First Team

Manor Farm put Bishop’s Cleeve to the sword as they progress in the Senior Challenge Cup with a 3-0 win at the BS3 Services Stadium.

Lee Lashenko’s men had been in good form despite Saturday’s defeat at Totton, but it was the visitors who started sharper. Joe Selmon did well down the right before crossing to Kevin Slack, who brought the best out of home stopper Ben John. Farm’s first chance fell to their in-form number 9 Owen Howe. The striker headed just over after a pinpoint cross from wingback Jayden Nielsen. Nielsen and Marcus Day began causing havoc down the Farm left, combining well to set up the next chance for Evander Grubb who was just beaten to the low cross by visiting keeper Greg Lannon. Farm would get reward for the pressure after 20 minutes. Midfield general Frankie Artus fired an effort that he was desperately unlikely to see clip the underside of the crossbar before Owen Howe followed in to convert the rebound. His 15th of the season. Farm doubled their lead only 2 minutes after taking it. A diagonal ball over the top was misjudged by Lannon and his defender Will Turner and Grubb stretched every sinew to get a decisive touch and divert the ball into the net. Cleeve threatened to strike back before the break. Isaac Pierce forced another fine save by John before defender Steve Kingdon did brilliantly with a goal saving tackle at the back post.

John was forced into action early in the second half too. Pierce sent a wide free kick towards the back post and the keeper was alert to tip the ball over. Farm wrapped the tie up with a wonderfully crafted counter attack. Nielsen beat 3 players to create the space before finding Day whose low cross was absolutely hammered home by Howe for his second and Farm’s third. The big striker would have a couple of chances to get the match ball as the second half ticked by without too much incident. Day was neatly found by Nielsen again and his low drive was spilled by Lannon before the keeper did just enough to thwart Howe’s chance for a tap in. The final chance for the striker came from Day once more who’s wicked cross was half an inch too high, and Howe could only glance the ball wide.

It was back-to-back victories for Bristol Manor Farm as they triumphed 3-1 away at Tavistock on Wednesday evening, writes William Ledbury.

Manor Farm earned a vital three points as they got their first win of 2023 against Willand, writes Jack Davies.

Dan Cann’s Hammers were ‘Worthy’ winners on Tuesday night whose first-half performance blew away a young Farm side, writes Jack Davies.

Hamworthy’s ruthless first half began in the 10th minute. After a swirling wind blew a corner all over the place, one of the home contingencies finally managed to stab it home.

The first attempt for a second was frustrated by an offside flag, but shortly afterwards Sam Griffin emphatically volleyed home from distance. It looked like John had done enough to clear the danger, but the talismanic forward lashed the ball with venom into the top corner.

A third arrived and it was one Farm won’t want to see back. As soon as Kai Storr sent a long ball forward, it found its way through to Max Wilcock who put the ball in the back of the net for 3-0. Wilcock turned provider for the final goal of the half. His low cross was tucked home by Curtis Young.

Manor Farm had the most of the early second half going before being punished further on the counter. Rafa Ramos has only joined the club that day and having already netted against Farm for former club Bashley this season, he popped up with the 5th.

Farm’s fragmented squad saw them only able to name three teenagers on the bench but all were brought out and combined for some respectability late on. Regan Lashenko’s late effort was parried by Storr and the rebound was buried by Luco Ponsillo for his first senior competitive goal for Farm. The third young sub had the game’s final say. Will Gallagher, who became one of the club’s youngest-ever scorers aged 16 earlier this season, got his second after gambling well at the back post.

STAR MAN – Jayden Nielsen.

The Farmy Army found scant fare to cheer from their festive Boxing Day fixture at the First4Pools Stadium, writes Kevin O’Donohoe.

A brace by Owen Howe capped an excellent defensive performance by Bristol Manor Farm on Saturday afternoon, writes Jack Davies.

Manor Farm’s miserable run continued as they were soundly beaten by Bashley.

Farm made the fastest start with an effective early press. Jayden Neilsen had the game’s first effort as his clever nutmeg got him away, but his shot was blocked wide. As has been the case too often for Farm, the visitors scored with their first meaningful attack. Harvey Slade’s clever flick bought him space to run into too down the left and his cut back was curled home by Brad Morris. Bashley nearly doubled their lead minutes after. A corner was met by Jack Lovell, but Frankie Artus headed the ball off the line. Farm’s last chance before the break dropped to Neilsen again but he was crowded out after collecting Jake Gosling’s neat flick inside.

Farm’s best chance to get level came after a slow second half sprang into life on the hour. Gosling with an incredible piece of skill to leave a defender for dead but goalkeeper Ross Casey was out quickly to save. Bashley sealed the points with 20 minutes to play. Farm losing the ball twice from their own defensive throw in and Billy Lowes accepted the gift to double the visitors lead. They even had time for a third as Farm conceded in injury time for the fourth time in three games. Substitute Rafa Ramos got in on the counter and his low ball across was bundled home by Jack Lovell.

Manor Farm suffer late heartbreak as Wimborne score late to seal all 3 points in a game which saw an incredible 3 goals in injury time.

Farm were keen to get back amongst the points and came out the traps brightly, some neat passing almost set Owen Howe away but the ball just evaded him. The home side were in good form and started to impose themselves in the game. A good spell of possession resulted in a succession of corners but neither was taken advantage of. Farm always carry a threat from a set play and skipper Jake Gosling sent the latest whipped free kick in but Aron Robbins could only head over. Just as Farm began to start to build pressure, they were caught on the break. A clever dummy opened up the space and the in form Harry Baker drilled home the opener for Wimborne. Barely a minute after, Farm had their best chance so far. Gosling and Howe involved before the latter sent the pass to Kye Simpson, who’s curling effort was tipped just wide. Baker could have doubled the lead just before the break. The striker seemed to take an age to get his feet sorted and his eventual shot lacked the power to trouble Ben John.

The second half started very well for Farm. Probing passing led to a few nearly moments before Farm levelled after an hour. A trademark Gosling corner was met by the thumping header of Josh Ford. The big defender now has 4 goals this season, all of them away from home. The game took a real end to end feel as both sides looked for a winner. Jayden Neilsen almost scored one of the goals of the season in Farm’s next chance. He left 3 or 4 defenders for dead before his snapshot was well saved by Murphy in the home goal. The hosts chance just minutes after fell to the dangerous Bartlett. The midfielder struck superbly from range and Ben John’s smart save was followed up by a brilliant Ford clearance. Ben John wasn’t done there either. In the final minute of normal time, he saved superbly following a Kingdon slip as Wimborne looked destined to win it. The Farm defender recovered superbly after that fine save, throwing himself at the ball to deflect the rebound over. All the defensive resilience seemed like it would count for nothing as Wimborne stole a lead in injury time. Oakley Hanger’s dipping cross didn’t get a single touch as it bounced high into the far corner to send the home fans crazy. Incredibly that wasn’t it! Farm forced a corner deeper into added time and after a clearance fell to Marcus Day, he fired a rocket into the corner to equalise. What happened next could not be written. Almost directly from kick off, the in form Bartlett hit one from the half way line that someone found his way in for a dramatic winner.

A bitterly cold afternoon at The BS3 Services Stadium saw Melksham hit Manor Farm for five on Saturday afternoon, writes William Ledbury.