First Team

In front of a bumper crowd at Badger’s Hill, Bristol Manor Farm reached the playoff final with an incredible performance, writes Jack Davies.
Frome had narrowly missed out on the title and looked in a determined mood early on. Jon Davies, fresh from a hattrick last time out, dealt better with a long ball and fired narrowly wide, in the game’s first chance.
The early home pressure continued as Joe O’Loughlin found himself unmarked at the back post following a Matt Smith cross, but he got his header all wrong.
Farm’s first chance after a nervous first 25 minutes was a very presentable one. Owen Howe fought for a loose ball and once his shot was tipped wide by James Carey, Jayden Neilsen was somehow denied by a block by Alex Monks as the Farm winger looked certain to score at the back post.
Frome would take a lead after the half-hour. O’Loughlin allowed ample time and space to cut inside from the left and fire a wonderful finish into the far corner. 1-0.
The celebrations had barely died down before Farm got themselves instantly level. Owen Howe flicked an Aron Robbins cross on and Kye Simpson finished delightfully at the back post.
Farm ended a hard-fought first half on the front foot. Jake Gosling curled the ball just over with Carey scrambling before Howe sliced a volley over the bar after he met a Mike Bryant flick-on.
Frome starting the second half as well as they did the first. Simpson was denied by a brilliant block by Steve Kingdon before former Farm man Rex Mannings fired the rebound wide.
The Farm would go ahead as the long throw of Kingdon continued to cause problems. The big defender launched into the box and once the ball was allowed to bounce, Howe launched himself to the header to put the visitors ahead.
Frome looked to get their own instant reply just minutes after they fell behind. Smart one-touch play between Simpson and Smith led to the latter seeing a shot blocked by Josh Ford and Teale was only able to fire the rebound just wide.
Farm all but sealed the win in the 70th minute. Good running by Simpson led to him finding Gosling and his perfect cross was emphatically headed home by Howe, to spark wild scenes in the corner where the travelling Farmy Army was largely gathered.
Frome pushed and pushed for a route back but found Farm’s defence as stubborn as always. Kingdon and Ford headed successful corners away before Ben John punched the final cross away.
The referee blew the whistle to send the Farm fans into delirium and the Farm players into Monday’s play-off final at Winchester.
STAR MAN, Theo Llewellyn.

Bristol Manor Farm showed no sign of play-off nerves as they put Larkhall to the sword, winning 3-0 at the Creek writes Jack Davies.

A cagey opener saw limited chances at either end before Farm began to take control. Jake Gosling slipped the ball through a defenders legs in the games first incident before he was adjudged to be fouled just outside the box.

Gosling was involved again shortly after , playing a neat one two before setting Mason Winter away down the right. The full backs cross was a good one and Owen Howe headed just wide under pressure.

The first real effort on target came from direct from a free kick. Mike Bryant’s persistence saw him win the set peice and Gosling’s swinging effort was tipped wide by Shaun Semmens.

Farm were cranking up the pressure as the half wore on. Kye Simpson headed down from a raking diagonal by Josh Ford and Ben Bament was denied from close range by the flying Semmens in goal.

The opening goal came just before the break and was beautifully crafted. Winter snapped in to steal possession and send Gosling away down the right. The Gibraltan sold defender Tom Warren with a neat dummy and his blocked shot dropped perfectly for Howe, who made no mistake from 12 yards. 

Farm controlled the entire second-half and effectively put the result beyond doubt just minutes after the whistle. Howe collected well and despite Dean Stamp being unable to take the strikers flick into his stride, he laid it back for Winter who, via a deflection, netted his first of the season.

Another glorious move almost ended in a third just 50 minutes in. Stamp slid Simpson in and the striker unselfishly squared for Howe, who put the ball wide as he slid in at the back post.

The game’s second contentious moment saw Farm denied a third once more. Aron Robbins’ dangerous ball bounced through to Howe and his driven effort bounced off the underside of the bar. Despite the fans and forward’s protest that the ball had bounced over the line, the linesman waved played on.

The Gosling show continued after the hour. His corner was met by Howe who’s shot was blocked before Steve Kingdon lashed the rebound over.

Gosling then left another pair of defenders for dead down the Farm right and played Winter in again. The right back’s effort beat the keeper but defender Dale Evans slid the ball wide.

Ford and Howe headed just wide from consecutive corners from Gosling before Bryant found Semmens hands when he picked up the ball just outside the box.

Howe had another chance as the minutes ticked on. No surprise at who created it however, Gosling again leaving a defender sprawling before his pass was placed wide by the aforementioned Howe.

Farm would add some gloss that the performance fully merited. Robbins cannoned his defensive header to Stamp who swivelled and found Simpson. The striker didn’t have the finest angle to work with but finished superbly with his second touch to make it 3.

Farm keep up their 100% home record in 2022 and go into the final day with it all in their hands. 

Bristol Manor Farm and Frome Town played out a 0-0 stalemate at Badgers Hill, writes Jack Davies

It was second vs fourth at kick-off and Farm took the game to their hosts early on. Farm did had the ball in the net in the first two minutes, but the linesman’s flag halted celebrations after Ben Bament flicked in Owen Howe’s shot.

James Carey was next to deny Farm, making a flying save as Howe powered a header towards goal.

Farm’s flying start continued. Another chance inside the first five minutes as Josh Ford headed a Gosling corner past Carey before Alex Monks hacked off the line for the hosts.

Frome weathered the early storm and were starting to come alive themselves. Mike Baker headed tamely towards Ben John’s goal, after rising highest form a Jonathan Davies free-kick.

John’s next save wasn’t nearly as routine. Good work by Davies allowed Kane Simpson to drive infield and force a smart stop by Farm’s number one.

When it wasn’t John stopping the Robins it was some excellent defending. Mike Bryant slid in to stop a certain tap in for Simpson before Aron Robbins held off Davies at the back post following a dangerous that cross evaded everybody.

Farm’s big first-half chance came just before the half hour. A great run by Jake Gosling saw him collect from a one-two and his low cross was miskicked by Howe and defender Teale before dropping to Bament in an inviting position. The striker became the third man to fail to make clean connection and the ball eventually landed in the hands of Carey.

The second-half saw Frome control the early stages. Ford and Kingdon both made successive blocks before Monks fired wide from distance.

Frome were struggling to create clear cut chances but came closest just before the hour. Davies combined well with Simpson again before the striker lashed into the side netting.

The second-half rather petered out with both teams given nothing away. Farm did end as strongly as they started however, Bryant inches away from connecting with a late Mason Winter cross.

Theo Llewelyn had yet to score this season but he also marked his return to the starting 11 in style. Some penalty box pinball dropped to him 25 yards out and his drive drifted narrowly wide.

Not for the first time this season, Ben John would have the final word. Substitute Evans received the ball back following his initial corner but his powerfully struck effort was held superbly by Farm’s stopper.