First Team

Dazzling Danny Dodimead’s double does the damage as Farm make it back-to-back wins over Christmas, writes Jack Davies.

Bristol Manor Farm share the spoils as they take a point home from an entertaining game at Melksham, writes Jack Davies.

Double delight for George Kellow as his two goals ensure that Bristol Manor Farm return to winning ways on Saturday afternoon, writes William Ledbury.

Manor Farm slipped to defeat on Saturday away to Bemerton Heath despite leading at half time, writes Jack Davies.

A chilly Friday night at The NL Services Stadium saw Manor Farm and Bishop’s Cleeve share the spoils, writes Jack Davies.

Bristol Manor Farm returned to winning ways on Saturday afternoon, defeating Exmouth Town in testing conditions at The Circle of Care Community Stadium, writes Jack Davies.

Following a breathtaking 90 minutes and a sudden-death shootout, Bristol Manor Farm exited the Senior Challenge Cup into the hands of local rivals Cribbs, as reported by William Ledbury.

Manager Lee Lashenko was determined to put Saturday’s defeat to Paulton behind them and rang in the changes as the Farm set out their stall in very testing conditions. Josh Ford partnered Ollie Woodhouse and Harry Lucas in central defense, while Rhys Thomas anchored the midfield alongside Theo Llewellyn. Despite receiving a straight red card on Saturday, Owen Brain joined Ben Bament to spearhead Farm’s attack. To Cribbs’ credit, the away side took a deserved lead just six minutes into the match. David Duru beat his man at the near post and glanced a header past the returning Ben John in Manor Farm’s goal. Evander Grubb was a constant thorn in Cribbs’ side, and his curling effort almost caught the young Johnson off guard in the 11th minute. However, it didn’t take long for Lashenko’s side to level the score. Grubb’s skillful footwork gave him the time and space needed to find Nielsen at the back post, who emphatically headed in the equalizer. With the momentum swinging in Farm’s favor, Nielsen came close to turning the half on its head with a powerful shot narrowly missing the near post. Keen to make the most of his last appearance before his suspension, forward Owen Brain danced through the Cribbs defense and struck the ball low and hard, forcing Johnson to be alert.

Within seconds of the restart, Brain was fouled on the edge of the area, and his free-kick was smothered to safety. Playing in his favored position, Rhys Thomas came agonizingly close to scoring his first goal for the club when he bent a strike past the far post. Returning keeper Ben John was called into action on 67 minutes when he made two crucial saves. A long ball was misjudged by Woodhouse, allowing Cribbs an opportunity, but like he had done so many times in previous years, Johnsey flew out of his area to deny the visitors. Controversially, Cribbs survived two red card scares in the 83rd minute when two separate offenders attempted to bring down Brain on his countercharge. Due to the class that Brain displays, the forward was desperate to stay on his feet and win the match for Manor Farm. Had Brain gone down, perhaps a different decision would have been made. The conditions severely worsened as the night went on, but both teams rose to the occasion in an action-packed 90-minute match. Nielsen’s effort was fingertipped around the near post in added time before Harry Lucas unbelievably blocked a goal-bound effort with seconds left. With neither side able to find that elusive winning goal, a 15-penalty shootout followed on Tuesday evening, which saw Cribbs smash and grab their way into the next round of the GFA Senior Challenge Cup.

Managerless Paulton Rovers made the most of some big chances at The NL Services Stadium, as 10-man Bristol Manor Farm were beaten in the local derby, writes Jack Davies.

Manor Farm bounce back in style as they make it three wins from four away to Evesham, writes Jack Davies.

Farm have made a habit of fast starts in their recent successes and were keen to continue in the early stages of this one. Owen Brain drove at the home defence but fired his effort narrowly wide. Evesham hadn’t started the season as well as they hoped, but with that incredible late run to the play offs last spring, they always carry a threat. Captain Amer Awadh found himself played through and squandered the hosts’ best chance of the half by firing over. Manor Farm would get the opener, and to their credit, the goal came in some style. Evander Grubb started the attack on the wide flank, followed by Jayden Nielsen’s inch-perfect perfect cross to Brain who firmly guided his header into the far top corner. Five minutes before the break, Farm doubled their lead. Making his return on Tuesday evening, Marcus Day rolled back the years in a Farm shirt when he sent a skimmed shot into the far left corner.

Farm may have expected an onslaught from the trailing hosts, but it was the away side who looked the more likely to grab the game’s third goal. Brain and Day combined again just seconds after the restart, but the latter’s effort was off target. Then young defender Harry Lucas leaped above everybody following a Nielsen free kick, but his header was just over. Farm would have to see the result out with ten men in the 70th minute as Lloyd Mills was given his second yellow card just minutes after his first. The nervous finish that dismissal promised got even worse for Farm just a few minutes later. Alfie Dunn forced a good save by Locke but fellow Robins substitute Will Owens was on hand to tap in for 2-1. Farm had their backs against the wall, but strong defending was enough to see off a potential comeback and send Farm home with three big points.

Bristol Manor Farm endured a challenging day at New Cuthbury as they fell to a 4-0 defeat against a relentless Wimborne Town side, writes William Ledbury.

As described by Manager Lee Lashenko in his post-match interview, Manor Farm were ‘threadbare’ to say the least heading into the fixture, as injuries and illness left him with just two options off the bench. New signing Rhys Thomas made his first start as Aron Robbins was ruled out and Harvey Tierney took his place on the bench. The Farmers began the match with determination and intensity, but Wimborne Town’s home advantage was evident as they quickly took control of the game. It has to be said, Jack Lovell for Wimborne had a fantastic match and his through ball found Harry Baker who rounded Seth Locke and buried the opener. Just moments later, Manor Farm’s Jayden Nielsen squandered a chance that really could have changed the complexity of the match. Nielsen danced his way into the Wimborne penalty area and lashed a low-driven effort wide of the back post. Lashenko and his side were made to pay on 22 minutes as the handy Jez Bedford collected the ball from near 25-yards and struck the ball hard and low past Locke. The afternoon went from bad to worse on 36 minutes as winger Lewis Beale was allowed too much time and space inside the Farm penalty area, and Harry Baker was on hand to grab his second goal of the afternoon.

After a difficult first period, full credit to the Manor Farm players who came out fighting for their pride in the second half. Man of the match Owen Brain was unfortunate to have not scored on Saturday afternoon, as he saw a well taken strike parried away by home keeper Albert White. The fourth goal, however, pretty much summed up Manor Farm’s afternoon on the South Coast. Oakley Hanger, Farm’s thorn last season, was quiet on Saturday, but on 49 minutes he turned provider as Wimborne sealed Farm’s fate. His cross wasn’t properly dealt with and Jack Lovell glanced a header into the far right corner.Despite having at least half a dozen corners in the second period, Manor Farm could not take advantage of their chances because, as the old saying goes, “when your luck runs out, it’s out.” The Farmers then controlled much of the play late on, but the Wimborne defence held firm to earn a clean sheet and put a stop to Manor Farm’s winning run in the Southern League. Manor Farm make the trip to Evesham United on Tuesday night, quickly looking to put Saturday’s performance behind them.