First Team

There was plenty of huff and puff on show at a sunny but typically breezy Wisloe Road on Monday afternoon as Slimbridge and Manor Farm – both looking for a first win of the campaign – finally both had to settle for a point.

Two second-half goals condemn Farm to an early FA Cup exit as Aylesbury Vale Dynamos progress, writes Jack Davies.

The first-half was a very even affair, with the hosts having the first effort of note. Dave Brown slipped past a few feeble challenges before firing wide.

The Farm should have led inside 15 minutes. A dangerous Steve Kingdon throw was flicked by Aron Robbins, but Ben Bament could only lift the ball over as he arrived at the back post.

The Portwaymen would take the lead via the penalty spot before the half hour. Howe used his body well to win it before dusting himself off to score.

Gosling went close to doubling the lead just minutes after. He combined well with Harry Lucas before forcing a smart near-post save.

Aylesbury would equalise with their first real chance of note. Jack Hodgkins flicked on a corner and his centre-half partner Terry Griffiths bundled the ball home at the back post.

Bristol Manor Farm would have the final chance of the half. Gosling’s clever flat corner found Howe unmarked, but he failed to make proper contact.

The second-half was not one to live long in the memory for Lashenko’s Farmers. Baldwin collected a loose ball and strode through unchallenged to calmly tuck away and give the home side the lead.

Aylesbury would double the lead as Farm found themselves at 6s and 7s once more. Prince Nimoh in acres of space on the right and he cut in unopposed to fire into the far corner.

Despite a tough start to the half, Farm did have half an hour to get back in. Almost back in it instantly as Howe met Gosling’s free-kick but his header went wide.

Even when Farm did have the ball in the net the luck was against them. Howe finished brilliantly after substitute Evander Grubb’s through ball but the flag halted the celebrations.

Aylesbury always carried a threat on the counter as their confidence grew. Ben John forced into an excellent double save before Fulton’s sliced effort hit the inside of the keeper’s post.

Aylesbury’s keeper Liam Studley would have the final word, finally forced into second-half action after he saved smartly from Jayden Neilsen’s low strike in injury time.

Two second-half goals condemn Farm to an early FA Cup exit as Aylesbury Vale Dynamos progress, writes Jack Davies.

The first-half was a very even affair, with the hosts having the first effort of note. Dave Brown slipped past a few feeble challenges before firing wide.

The Farm should have led inside 15 minutes. A dangerous Steve Kingdon throw was flicked by Aron Robbins, but Ben Bament could only lift the ball over as he arrived at the back post.

The Portwaymen would take the lead via the penalty spot before the half hour. Howe used his body well to win it before dusting himself off to score.

Gosling went close to doubling the lead just minutes after. He combined well with Harry Lucas before forcing a smart near-post save.

Aylesbury would equalise with their first real chance of note. Jack Hodgkins flicked on a corner and his centre-half partner Terry Griffiths bundled the ball home at the back post.

Bristol Manor Farm would have the final chance of the half. Gosling’s clever flat corner found Howe unmarked, but he failed to make proper contact.

The second-half was not one to live long in the memory for Lashenko’s Farmers. Baldwin collected a loose ball and strode through unchallenged to calmly tuck away and give the home side the lead.

Aylesbury would double the lead as Farm found themselves at 6s and 7s once more. Prince Nimoh in acres of space on the right and he cut in unopposed to fire into the far corner.

Despite a tough start to the half, Farm did have half an hour to get back in. Almost back in it instantly as Howe met Gosling’s free-kick but his header went wide.

Even when Farm did have the ball in the net the luck was against them. Howe finished brilliantly after substitute Evander Grubb’s through ball but the flag halted the celebrations.

Aylesbury always carried a threat on the counter as their confidence grew. Ben John forced into an excellent double save before Fulton’s sliced effort hit the inside of the keeper’s post.

Aylesbury’s keeper Liam Studley would have the final word, finally forced into second-half action after he saved smartly from Jayden Neilsen’s low strike in injury time.

Bideford leave the happier of the two teams as they survive a late Farm onslaught to take a share of the points, writes Jack Davies.

Both sides were keen to kick on from 2-1 defeats at the weekend the visitors had the game’s first chance. Lewis Wilson seized on a mix up at the back but could only fire over from the edge of the box.

Farm’s first chance, as did many during the game, fell to Marcus Day. The winger cut inside a few challenges before firing just wide at the near post.

Bideford once again came close following a mix up, this time an errant defensive header dropped to Javan Wright, but his volley was off target.

Joe Charles, the scorer of the Robins’ goal at the weekend came close to adding another but Steve Kingdon flew from nowhere to make a vital sliding block.

Farm took control after the half hour and did have the ball in the net. Day picked out Lloyd Mills at the back post and whilst his cut back was tucked in by Ben Bament, the flag was already up.

Day had the next chance, using Gosling’s clever decoy run, he cut inside and forced a save from Adam Seedhouse-Evans.

Bideford’s final chance of the half almost gave them the lead. Wright hit the crossbar from 20 yards before Wilson could only head the rebound at Ben John.

Farm would have more chance of a frantic first half. Day did superbly to close down a Bideford cross and he exchanged passes with Evander Grubb before forcing another save.

John made the first save of the second half too. Craig Duff met a Wright cross, but his header was well scouted.

Farm began to control as Bideford were forced to sit deeper. Mason Winter stole possession and found Gosling, who made himself half a yard but dragged his shot wide.

Another neat move gave Farm a presentable chance on the hour. Gosling, Bament and Owen Howe all involved before the latter’s flick to Day saw the winger drag another shot just wide.

Day would get one final chance to get on the score sheet as the time ticked past 80. He swiped at a bouncing ball just inside the area, but defender Ben Gerring diverted the ball wide.

Farm would have one final chance to grab all 3 points and it was perhaps the best chance of all.

Kye Simpson judged a bouncing ball far better than the visitors defence, but he fired wildly over on the half volley from just inside the area.

A scorching GlenMex Stadium proved to be an unfavourable first league match for Bristol Manor Farm as Bashley claimed victory on the opening day, writes William Ledbury.

As the temperature soared and Bashley began attacking the Farm’s defense, the newly-promoted side looked dangrous with every attack. In the abscense of key centre halves Josh Ford and Steve Kingdon, captain Aron Robbins paired up with Lloyd Mills in the middle of Farm’s defence – and the two had to deal with pacey forwards Rafa Ramos and Harry McGrath.

The aforementioned Ramos got the match’s first shot away, as the strikers’ effort was deflected behind with Ben John poised to make the save at his near post.

Ramos then setup midfielder Adam Grange who lacked composure with his finish and skewed his shot high and wide of the Farm crossbar.

The opening goal of the match came in extremely contentious fashion. With McGrath bursting inside the area, the fantastic Mills timed his sliding tackle to perfection and swiping the ball out of play for a throw-in. To Farm’s diseray and Bash’s delight, the referee pointed to the spot and awarded the home side a penalty. Despite Farm’s understandable protests, Grange tapped home the rebound after his initial shot was saved by John.

One almost became two as Farm midfielder Theo Llewellyn’s backpass was intercepted by Ramos who could only drag his effort wide of the target.

Farm would draw level right on the stroke of half-time after makeshift full-back Jayden Nielsen was hacked to the floor just inside the area – leaving the referee no choice but to award the penalty and level the playing field. The ever-reliable Owen Howe sent Ross Casey the wrong way and rolled the ball to make it 1-1.

With the scores level at the break, Farm’s misfortunes would contine in the 50th minute when central defender Sam Davidson rose highest to bury his header past John into the top left corner – sending the home crown into delirium at the blazing GlenMex.

Manager Lee Lashenko started to rill the dice and one-by-one introduce Harry Lucas, Evander Grubb, and Kye Simpson into the action.

Jake Gosling, who slipped past two defenders and struck low and hard, was perhaps Farm’s best chance of the half. Casey in the home net did exceptionally well to push the ball around the back post.

Marcus Day and Simpson showed signs of their best abilities by holding the ball up and using their neat footwork to carve out openings, but Bash were in a defiant mood as they started to beleive that all three points would be staying in the New Forest on Saturday afternoon.

As the home bench raised the board to signal five additional minutes, Farm forward Ben Bament seemed to slow down time as everyone inside the stadium anxiously waited to see what would come from the match’s last chance. Bament showed extreme pace and looked set to slam home the equaliser, but home keeper Casey managed to stretch a few inches closer and smothered the ball to ensure Bashley started life in the Southern League with a victory.

Next up for Bristol Manor Farm is a home tie against Bideford AFC on Tuesday evening for a 7:45pm kick-off.

(STAR MAN, Ben John)

Bristol Manor Farm ended pre-season with a win as dry weather plagued a sun-kissed pitch at Avonmouth, writes Jack Davies.

The opening exchanges witnessed two teams struggling to keep a semblance of control of the bounce, and goals were few and far between.

Unsurprisingly the first chance of note came with the ball in the air. The corner from Jake Gosling was headed by Lloyd Mills, but it smashed against the inside of the post and was scrambled clear.

Aaron Harvey in the Avonmouth goal was drafted into the starting 11 just minutes before kick-off, due to the late arrival of the would-be number one, but he was on the pitch long enough to play a key role in the opener. Ben Bament latched on to a superb sweeping pass by Theo Llewelyn and he was clattered by Harvey inside the area. The keeper did get a fingertip to Gosling’s penalty, but the ball did find the home net for 1-0.

The second came before the break and was superbly taken. Marcus Day nicked the ball and defied the bobbles to smash through the legs of the original goalkeeper to double the lead.

The Farm could have had three before the break too. Youngster Harry Lucas sliced the hosts’ defence open with a slide rule pass to Mason Winter, but striker Ben Bament could only lash his cutback wide.

Avonmouth were also struggling with the conditions but did find a route back into the game. An almighty scramble following a set piece was eventually stabbed home, Kyle O’Donovan taking the credit from his teammates.

Lee Lashenko turned to talisman Owen Howe late on and the striker was inches away from a certain goal as he felt Gosling’s deep cross whip just ahead of him just seconds after his arrival.

A few pot shots for Evander Grubb and Llewellyn were Farm’s reward for the increase in possession towards the latter stages but the hosts were in a defiant mood.

Despite the resilience of the hosts, the Portwaymen would end all hope of a nervy finish with 5 minutes to go. Howe was again involved as he spun and played through Day, with the silky winger slaloming inside three Avonmouth challenges and calmly slotting his second and his team’s third.

With the conclusion of pre-season, all eyes turn to a trip south to Bashley for the Southern League opening matchday weekend.

The proverbial phrase ‘a game of two halves’ perfectly summed up the pre-season action that took place at The Creek between Bristol Manor Farm and Roman Glass on Thursday evening. The visitors struck three times in the second period to win the match 2-3, leaving the Farm to rue missed chances.

Fresh off the back of their 5-0 rout of Bishop Sutton on Tuesday night, Farm were very much looking for the same again when Glass visited the Portway. Ben Bament got the match off to a flying start when he notched in the match’s opener. A lovely sweeping pass from Evander found the feet of Bament who made no mistake from close range.

With the wind in their sales, Farm quickly went two ahead via a spot kick from the talismanic Jake Gosling. Marcus Day drove into the area after recovering from an initial tackle, but the winger was hurled to the floor leaving Oliver Taylor no choice but to award the penalty. Gosling duly stepped up and powered the strike into the top right corner – despite a strong hand from Ross Grimshaw.

The visitors showed glimpses in the first half, through chances via Lewis Leigh-Gilchrist and Shaquille Smith, but the match certainly seemed far too comfortable for Manor Farm.

In the second period, Mills and Robbins rose the highest from set pieces but couldn’t add to the match’s scoreline.

Glass broke forward in the 61st minute and clawed themselves a goal back through Myles Ferguson. The fullback got the better of Farm’s right side, and his looping effort too fooled Shay Allen in the Farm goal. 2-1.

Substitutes Kye Simpson and Jayden Nielsen impressed when they came on, linking up well with Gosling, Day, and Grubb as they searched for a third. Grubb’s strike from the left kindly fell to Simpson’s head, but the striker could only head over from the back post.

Roman Glass continued to press and deservedly drew level through Smith. The ball split the Farm defence in two, and Smith rounded Allen to tap home.

The turnaround was completed in 87th minute as Roman Glass scored once again through the tireless Smith, leaving Farm bewildered that the match slipped through their fingers. With the club’s pre-season match against Thatcham cancelled on Saturday, attention turns to Chertsey at home on August 6 at The Creek.