UP NEXT: Evesham United F.C. (H)
This Saturday, Bristol Manor Farm host Evesham United at The Creek as the Portwaymen search for their third consecutive league victory. Here is all the information ahead of the fixture.
First Team
MATCH REPORT: Melksham Town 0-4 Bristol Manor Farm
Manor Farm started 2022 in emphatic fashion as they swept away play-off rivals Melksham to win 4-0 at the Oakfield arena, writes Matchday Reporter Jack Davies.
Farm had ended 2021 with a cruising 3-0 win away to local rivals Mangotsfield and despite the extended break before this game, they continued in the same vein here. Mike Bryant won a free kick in the opening minutes and Jake Gosling’s strike was parried wide by Matt Hall. From the resulting corner, Hall had to be alert again, saving a towering Bryant header. The hosts first chance came down their left, with Jake Mawford firing wide after a well worked counter. A training ground quick free-kick almost gave Farm the lead after 10 minutes, Winter combining with Gosling then Grubb before the full backs cross was headed wide by Josh Ford. Farm would take the lead in their next chance, Bryant slipped Gosling through and he was clattered by Hall, resulting in a Farm penalty. Ben Bament took responsibility and hammered the ball home. Gosling was involved again as Farm tried to ram home the advantage. Grubb was hacked down as he advanced forward and Gosling’s free kick curled narrowly wide. Melksham did rally after the half hour and were creating chances. Vaugn Covil forced a good save from Ben John before the returning Kyle Tooze sent successive efforts wide. Farm had the final chance of the half and it was a presentable one. Evander Grubb slipped in by Bryant and his low effort trickled inches wide.
Lee Lashenko’s half time team talk certainly had the desired effect! A mere few minutes after the break and the lead was doubled. Brilliant work from Jayden Neilson saw him get to the byline and his low cross was put into his own net by Melksham captain Parsons. Kyle Tooze was determined to make his mark against his former club and almost set about getting the hosts back in the game on the hour. A slaloming run saw him evade a few challenges and his pass looked to had set a simple chance for Covil, the winger with one to forget as he found the backrow of the car park. The back 4 for Farm were defending superbly as Melksham earned a spell of pressure after the hour, Kyle Ford headed two dangerous crosses away in quick succession before captain Aron Robbins turned away a really dangerous low cross at the near post. Dean Stamp had been seldom seen since his dual contract move in the Autumn but was thrown on for Farm as the minutes ticked by. His first touch was almost decisive too as Gosling’s trickery got him down the flank before the low cross found the big striker, who’s effort was blocked. Stamp though would not be denied. The striker had an unbelievably proliflic first spell with the club a few years ago and rolled back the years with 5 minutes left. Gosling found Bament outside and his low cross fell to Stamp, the striker took a touch and looked the calmest man in the stadium as he rolled home for 3-0. Incredibly, Farm and their substitute weren’t done there. Another clever ball forward saw Stamp spin behind and shake off his man before his superb finish nestled in the near post for 4-0. The gloss added to a truly fantastic performance.
UP NEXT: Melksham Town F.C. (A)
Bristol Manor Farm travel to play-off hopefuls Melksham Town this weekend, as the Portwaymen search for a victory which would turn their victories tally into double figures. Here is all the information ahead of the Farm’s next match.
For the first time this year, Manager Lee Lashenko’s Portwaymen will step out onto the pitch following a 19 day break from competitive action, after last weekend’s match fell victim to poor weather in the South-West. With 15 games left in the Southern League Division One South, Saturday’s match could well be a play-off ‘six-pointer’ against Richard Fey’s Melksham who sit just three points behind the Farmers with a game in hand. Manager Lashenko will will also hope for a better performance against Town after their 1-3 defeat at The Creek last September.
One familiar face from the Melksham side is former Farm winger Kyle Tooze, who only recently departed The Creek just before the New Year. It was a dream start to life at Town for Tooze, who opened his account by scoring in their 3-3 thriller away to Frome. Despite that battling performance in Somerset, it’s been a tough month for Town who have picked up just one point from a possible 12 in their last four matches.
Manager Lashenko ahead of Willand Rovers
Earlier this week, the Portwaymen were boosted by the news that Midfielder Theo Llewellyn rejected a move to Southern Premier South side Merthyr Town to continue our battle for the play-offs. Manager Lee Lashenko was full of praise for his midfield engine, and knows that Llewellyn is here for the fight.
“Theo came to the club with high pedigree. He’s completely bought into our vision here, and has been a standout player since he joined in the summer.
“The fact that he’s turned down an offer from a massive club in Merthyr Town shows that he wants to see out the season here. We’ve got 15 cup finals to go, and Theo will play a big part in all those matches,” Lashenko said.
The first of those 15 finals begins with a home tie against the Devon All-Whites, Willand Rovers, tomorrow afternoon and Manager Lashenko is full of confidence that his side can display another strong performance.
“We know what Willand will be about,” said Lashenko. “We’ve played against them many times in both the Western League and Southern League, and we know it will be another tough test. That being said, my players are brimming with confidence at the minute.
“They trained really well on Thursday night, and everyone knows what needs to be done to achieve a position in the play-offs in 15 games time,” Lashenko expressed.
Join us at The Creek tomorrow afternoon (08/01/22) for another thrilling match in the Southern League Division One South against Willand Rovers at 3pm. If you can’t make the match, follow the action across our social media channels throughout the afternoon.
MATCH REPORT: Mangotsfield United 0-3 Bristol Manor Farm
Bristol Manor Farm produced arguably their best performance of the season as they defied awful conditions with a dominant win away at rivals Mangotsfield United, writes Jack Davies.
UP NEXT: Mangotsfield United F.C. (A)
Christmas is just 48 hours away, and despite being the hot topic around the globe, Bristol Manor Farm look ahead to a Bank Holiday clash against local rivals Mangotsfield United on Monday 27th December. For those looking to make the trip to Cossham Street, here is all the match preview, ticket, and travel information for #Matchday 21.
TOOZE DEPARTS
Bristol Manor Farm AFC can confirm today that winger Kyle Tooze has departed The Creek by mutual consent.
Tooze joined the Farm after an impressive spell at fellow Southern League side Thatcham Town, when he ended the 2019/20 season as their player-of-the-season and top scorer with 15 goals respectively.
Since then, Tooze made a number of appearances for the Farm including scoring a hat-trick over Welton Rovers in December 2020 and a thumping volley against Melksham earlier on in the season.
Speaking to the club after Tooze’s departure, Manager Lee Lashenko commented: “We are sorry to see Kyle go. Melksham Town showed their interest, and after speaking with Kyle we decided that the two parties would go their separate ways.
“I have great respect for Kyle, and Bristol Manor Farm would like to thank him for all of his efforts since joining, and we wish him all the best with his new challenge at Melksham Town,” Lashenko said.
MATCH REPORT: Bristol Manor Farm 0-0 Cinderford Town
Bristol Manor Farm couldn’t find the elusive home goal as they made it consecutive goalless draws at The Creek, writes Jack Davies.
EVANDER GRUBB JOINS ON LOAN
Bristol Manor Farm AFC is thrilled to announce that Evander Grubb has re-joined the club from Huddersfield Town on a work experience loan deal. The FA Cup history-maker will team up with Manager Lee Lashenko and the Portwaymen, going straight into the first-team ahead of Saturday’s fixture against Cirencester Town.
UP NEXT: Cinderford Town F.C. (H)
This Saturday, Bristol Manor Farm will be looking to climb back into the play-off positions with a victory over Cinderford Town. Kicking-off at 3pm, here is all the match preview, ticket and travel information ahead of #Matchday 20.