First Team

A clinical second-half saw Pen-Y-Bont hit double figures in South Wales as they showed Welsh Premier class, writes Jack Davies.

Despite what would be a rampant scoreline, Farm had the better of the opening exchanges. The first effort came through a neat combination between Owen Howe and Jake Gosling with the latter forcing a save from the home keeper.

Bont was moving the ball smoothly in the glistening sunshine and started to take a foothold. Evans found Raffell who rounded Ben John but couldn’t convert from the angle.

The move of the first-half was created by the Farm. Silky one-touch football involving Marcus Day, Evander Grubb, and Gosling before Grubb’s cross just missed Howe and Jayden Nielsen was just unable to convert at the back post.

The Portwaymen also carried an early threat with set pieces. Gosling crossed and George Fowler’s dummy flashed straight across with no one lurking to head home.

Bont opened the scoring after 25 minutes following a neat move down the right. Owen laid to Reffell who finished clinically from just outside the area. It could have been two in as many minutes but Ben John produced a stunning flying save as Sam Snaith volleyed at the back post.

It would be two just after the half hour. Georgievski saw an effort come back of the post and it fell perfectly for Snaith who made no mistake with his second chance. Farm was still carrying a threat late in the half. Howe combined neatly with Gosling again before the Gibraltan skinned Mark Little but was crowded out after his boot caught the turf.

The second-half saw the home side start as they meant to go on. Owen got a slice of luck as a shot deflected into his path and he clipped the loose ball over John for three.

At the hour mark Pen-Y-Bont were able to use the luxury of several fresh faces and they made them pay in style. The fourth came through one of those substitutes Josh Jones who finished calmly from the angle.

Another trio of substitutes was sent on by the home side including a trialist, who tucked home number five with virtually his first touch.

Josh Jones then got his second from almost an identical position, drilling home as he found himself free down the right.

Farm started to feel both the fitness and the heat in the final ten minutes as Bont were still throwing men forward. Snaith got his brace for seven with a beautiful curling effort into the far top corner.

Two quickly became three for Snaith as he wandered into the box for a tap-in and eight.

The final two goals came inside added time and both showed true quality. Jones joined Snaith with a hat-trick when he found the top corner from 20 yards before Kane Owen wrapped a left-footed screamer from even further out for ten and a harsh lesson in the driving heat.

Bristol Manor Farm drew 2-2 away to Hereford Lads Club in pre-season thanks to two late penalties from Ben Bament, writes William Ledbury.

The match sprung into life in the fourth minute when Jayden Nielsen found space, but the winger’s shot stung the palms of Steven Bell who pushed the ball behind for a corner. The resulting kick was floated in, but no one in a red shirt could trouble the Lads Club goal.

The home side created their first chances almost instantly, with Jordan Burke volleying wide and James Hancock failing to beat Ben John from close range.

That being said, Lads Club opened the scoring on 15 minutes through Adam Hockey. Farm failed to get tight to their opposition, and Hockey headed past Ben John despite the veteran keeper getting a touch on the ball.

On 22 minutes played, Farm thought they equalised through Ben Bament. The forward was plagued with a misfortune against Ashton & Backwell in the first-half last Friday, having hit the post on multiple occasions, and Bament struck the post with ferocity against Lads Club when Harry Lucas floated a fantastic ball into the area.

Bament showed pace on 29 minutes to race into the area, but his strike was saved well behind for a corner – only for Bryant to head over at the back post.

Farm’s next best chance came just before the interval. Nielsen once again showed his crossing capabilities from set plays, and Steve Kingdon managed to get a header underway, despite being wrestled to the ground by his opposite number.

The second-half saw George Fowler replace Kye Simpson early on, and it was the former who started Farm’s attack on goal. Nielsen collected the ball from Fowler, and his low cross was met by Bryant who could only stand and watch his strike clash with the post.

Grubb then found space down the right side, beating past two players and striking the ball wide of the far post.

Disaster would follow for Farm’s backline, with the hosts doubling their lead after mixup between Ben Joh and Steve Kingdon. The centre-half received the ball at feet, but was quickly intercepted by a Lads Club forward who squared the ball to Kiea Cowley smashing the ball into the empty net.

Lee Lashenko’s Farm wouldn’t be discouraged as they battled marvellously to claw themselves back into the match. Nielsen, who was a thorn in Lads Clubs side all evening, was wrestled down to the floor in the 83rd minute, giving Farm a clear shot to get back into the match. Bament stepped up and placed the ball into the bottom left corner. 1-2.

Farm’s high-press continued from the restart, and within 60 seconds of scoring from the spot – Nielsen would earn the Portwaymen another penalty. The winger was dragged back, leaving the referee with no choice but to award the night’s second penalty.

Bament placed the ball onto the spot, and chose the same left corner to earn the Farm a draw in what proved to be another hotly-contested fixture. Next up, Farm travel to Cymru Premier side Penybont on Saturday 16 July at 2pm.

A rampant second half by Bristol Manor Farm against Ashton and Backwell saw them score five goals in their latest pre-season fixture, writes Jack Davies.

The Farm started strongly against their lower league hosts. A quickly worked throw-in saw Jake Gosling find Ben Bament who smashed the bar in the opening exchanges, repeating the feat from the previous friendly where he saw an early effort hit the woodwork.

More good work down the Farm right led to the game’s first clear chance. Gosling and Winter combined before the latter crossed for Bryant who lifted over.

Farm somehow didn’t take the lead after 20 minutes. Lloyd Mills planted a header, once he was found by Gosling, before an unbelievable tip onto the bar by the home keeper was followed up by another terrific save after Bament lashed the rebound goalward.

When it wasn’t the keeper, it was the woodwork! Evander Grubb bent a wicked effort from range which hit the crossbar before Neilsen hit the post barely seconds later.

Farm would go into half-time goalless but not before one final piece of magic before the break. Jake Gosling slipped the ball through the sliding defender’s legs before he played in Bament, where the forward was denied by another fine save by the Stags’ keeper.

Farm wasn’t to be denied in the second-half and the first goal came just minutes in. Grubb was well picked out on the right and his superb cross was tucked in by Bament, finally getting the goal his endeavors deserved.

The home keeper may have conceded one but his fine performance continued. Grubb’s half volley was palmed away before Neilsen took control of a short corner and whipped another effort that was well saved.

Farm would make it two just after the hour through a fine solo goal. Grubb picked a defender’s pocket before his pace got him away and he cooly slid his finish between the keeper’s legs.

Defender Sam Boulton was relishing his maiden 90 minutes this year and almost got Farm’s third. A typically perfect Gosling delivery found his head but the ball glanced wide.

Kye Simpson had worked exceptionally hard since his introduction just after the break and after putting one chance over he finally got off the mark late on. Neilsen’s dancing feet left several defenders sprawling on the floor and despite the scene looking somewhat like a war film, he had the presence of mind to lay unselfishly for Simpson who had the simple job of making it three.

The floodgates were well and truly open now and it was soon four. This time Simpson turned provider as he muscled his way to the by-line and set the back for Gosling who fired back across the keeper from the edge of the area.

Boulton headed another devilish Gosling delivery over before Farm enjoyed the luxury of a fifth in the final minute. A moment of madness from the hosts left full-back as his pass was too heavy for his keeper and the optimism of Simpson to gamble paid off as he tapped home his second.

A clinical Merthyr Town ensured Farm started pre-season with defeat in Wales, writes Jack Davies.

Manor Farm traveled to Merthyr knowing it would be their toughest friendly first. The Martyrs were relegated initially at the end of last season but a few reshuffles ensured their place one league above was maintained.

The Farm started brightly enough, Ben Bament charged home keeper Will Fuller’s clearance and was unlucky to see the ball cannon off the crossbar.

The host’s first chance was after some classic route one. A flick-on by Gethyn Hill dropped for Curtis Hudson who skipped inside and dragged a shot just wide.

The early sparring continued as Farm had the next try. Jayden Neilsen brought himself a yard on the Farm left before his cross was just too long for Kye Simpson who hit the side netting from a tight angle.

Hudson was by far Merthyr’s brightest spark in the opening exchanges. The winger drove inside after 15 minutes but his effort from just inside the box ballooned over.

His next effort was far more decisive, however. Adam Davies stole possession before finding Hudson, who unleashed an effort from range that found the bottom corner.

His frantic ten minutes continued minutes after. This time flicking a dangerous Frazer Thomas free-kick narrowly wide.

Farm weathered the post-goal storm and grew back into the half. Kye Simpson’s persistence stole him the ball high but he could only drag wide.

Farm’s next chance came from some quick thinking by Ben Bament. The striker took a quick free-kick as he spread a diagonal to Evander Grubb and the teenager left two men for dead before clipping the outside of the near post with his dinked effort.

As the half-time whistle approached Farm produced the move of the match so far. Bament again with a gorgeous ball to Grubb who this time snuck inside and unleashed an effort that forced a smart save. From the resulting corner, Marcus Day played a clever one-two with Neilsen whose own effort was tipped just wide.

Merthyr effectively ended the contest in three early second-half minutes. A succession of crosses eventually saw the ball drop to Tom Handley who delivered for the unmarked Lewis Powell to head home from six yards.

Powell had two in as many minutes shortly after that restart. This time he collected well under pressure before spinning and driving his shot past Ben John.

The Portwaymen stayed resilient and were creating chances. Neilsen somehow retained the ball after evading several challenges before Aron Robbins forced a smart save from substitute keeper Jamie Cogman.

Young Farm substitute Harry Lucas looked lively after coming on. He combined well with Neilsen who got another effort away under pressure that was well saved.

Lucas then came inches from giving Farm something to celebrate late on. He made himself half a yard and let fly from 30 yards, watching his curling effort drop just wide with Cogman scrambling.

The Martyrs would add some gloss late in superb fashion. Matthew Harris caught Farm cold with an audacious quick free-kick from just inside the attacking half which dropped in for a flattering fourth.