FARM ANNOUNCE NEW DEALS
Bristol Manor Farm’s pre-season schedule gets underway next Tuesday evening, as the Farm travel to Merthyr Town with a fresh challenge in its sights.
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UP NEXT: Winchester City F.C. (H)
This Saturday, Bristol Manor Farm host Winchester City at The Creek for the final match of the 2021/22 Southern League Season. The Citizens have already secured their place in the play-offs, however, the Farmers need just one point to join Winchester, Cirencester, Frome or Plymouth Parkway in the top five. Your support has pushed us all the way this season, and we’re calling on your support again as we aim to achieve our highest league finish.
UP NEXT: Larkhall Athletic F.C. (H)
Just two matches remain for Bristol Manor Farm in the Southern League, as Lee Lashenko’s Farmers look to secure a place in the play-offs and set a new record for the club’s highest league finish. Join us at The Creek for what should be a fantastic afternoon of non-league football against Larkhall Athletic.
Last Saturday’s draw away to Frome Town ensured the Farm stay above Winchester and AFC Totton in fourth position – but with Stags being only three points behind having played a game less, Lashenko knows his side need to be on top of their game against a strong Larkhall side.
“The Creek is an exciting place to be at the minute, and we’re looking forward to playing in front of our home supporters in a massive game,” Lashenko began.
“Larkhall have played 10 years at Southern League level compared to our five – which shows their quality as a football club. We know how hard this competition is, so this week is all about maintaining our form and having the right mindset going into the match.
“As a football club we hope to see as many of you back at The Creek once again,” Lashenko expressed.
The Larks will be hoping to end their season with a positive string of results, especially after the disappointing 1-0 home loss to Bideford AFC at Plain Ham last Saturday.
Overall it’s been a strong season for the visitors, which includes their great run in the FA Trophy where they reached the fourth round and met Vanarama National Premier side Stockport County.
However, the Larks’ current form doesn’t read well with the club winless in their previous nine matches and only winning twice since that match against Stockport in January.
The two sides previously met in August, where the Farm were pegged back after leading twice through Ben Bament and Owen Howe. Larkhall’s Jack Camm was given his marching orders, but Sam Crumb’s towering header meant the spoils were shared.
It’s set to be a thrilling end to the season and we’re going to need all the support we can get. Come on down to The Creek and show your support for Lee and the team.
CLUB STATEMENT: Bristol Manor Farm U18 vs Street FC U18
Bristol Manor Farm AFC would like to make a statement regarding this evening’s cancelled Western Counties Floodlight Youth League match between Bristol Manor Farm U18 and Street FC U18.
After 5pm today, the club’s Under-18’s Secretary, Richard Lloyd, was informed by Street that their Under-18’s would not be travelling to The Creek for the match, and therefore the game would be called off.
Like all fixtures, preparations for this evening’s match started much sooner than 5pm with the various volunteers and supporters working hard to ensure that both teams would be catered for. Before the match the grounds team prepared the pitch, and the club staff prepared the food ready for the players once it was over – all to ensure that both sets of players were adequately looked after.
Bristol Manor Farm strongly believes this behaviour is unacceptable, and it does not represent how we should be treating players, parents, and fans – most of whom had already left their homes and workplaces to attend this evening’s fixture. From our Under-15’s side through to the first-team, we want everyone to feel connected here at The Creek. We would like to apologise to our hard-working members of staff who had already prepared this evening’s fixture, and most importantly to the players and parents who had planned on attending this evening’s fixtures.
We have already had correspondence with the Western Counties Floodlight Youth League, however were told that the match can be ‘rearranged for a future date’. We are more than disappointed with the response, given the time and resources already spent in ensuring the fixture goes ahead as planned.
Bristol Manor Farm AFC will not comment further at this time.
UP NEXT: Sholing F.C. (H)
Just four matches remain for Bristol Manor Farm in the Southern League Division One South, who look to cement their name amongst the four play-off teams in their bid for promotion. The Farm welcome seventh placed Sholing to The Creek who themselves will have their eyes on a top four spot. Here is all the information ahead of what’s set to be a colossal fixture…
League Launches New Channel
The Pitching-In Southern Football League has announced the official launch of their new YouTube channel, with lots planned for the current season and beyond.
Howe About That
Bristol Manor Farm Football Club is thrilled to announce that striker Owen Howe will be rejoining the club for the remainder of the 2021/22 Southern League Division One South Season. Subject to Southern League paperwork, Howe will be available for selection on Saturday at AFC Totton.
Manager Lashenko ahead of Willand Rovers
Bristol Manor Farm Manager Lee Lashenko says new signings will add extra strength to his side ahead of the club’s final seven league matches. In our latest interview, we caught up with the boss ahead of Saturday’s fixture.
Following the completion of Southern League paperwork, Lashenko will have striker Kye Simpson available for selection, along with fellow new signing George Fowler and defender Mason Winter who has recovered from a knee injury.
“Just before our last unbeaten run, I said that our biggest downfall would be unavailability. We’ve now brought in Kye and George who are going to strengthen our options, and we haven’t got any injuries to report on which will put us in good stead for Saturday’s match,” Lashenko said.
The Farm were pegged back midway through the second-half at Slimbridge, but Lashenko was pleased with his sides resiliency and feels that three points could have been secured on another day.
“If you look at all of our matches at Thornhill Park – we’ve only ever had one comfortable match there. It’s a tough place to go, and Slimbridge are working hard on and off the field to be a successful as they can be,” Lashenko expressed.
“We took the lead through another set piece, but were undone on the counter shortly after half time. We had a number of chances to score again, and I think that on another afternoon we’d have scored two or three. We’ll take the point and look ahead to another big match on the weekend against Willand.
“We’ve got seven cup finals to go, and I feel that as a squad we’re in a very good place.”
Earlier this week, Lashenko joined BBC Radio Bristol Sport’s Richard Hoskin to discuss the club’s efforts to support the Ukraine crisis.
“For our last match the players and coaches wore blue and yellow armbands, and the supporters proudly displayed the Farmy Army Ukraine flag that was given to me just after my dad passed,” Lashenko said.
“Myself and Tony ‘The Scarecrow’ Parsons will be driving from Dover to France, and then across Europe to Poland to deliver care packages for the people of Ukraine.”
You can listen to the full interview with Lashenko here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0bp1gzj
We hope to see as many of you at Saturday’s match which kicks off at 3pm. Come on down and show your support for Lee, Grantley, Stowey, and the team. You can read our match preview HERE.
UP NEXT: Willand Rovers F.C. (H)
Bristol Manor Farm turn their attention to a home tie against Willand Rovers at 3pm on Saturday afternoon. Here is all the match preview, ticket and travel information ahead of Match day 30.
Simpson Is a Farmer
Bristol Manor Farm Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Kai Simpson from Mangotsfield United. The striker swaps Cossham Street for The Ceeek, becoming the Farm’s second new signing this week.
Simpson, brother of former Farm promotion winner Troy, joins the club looking to follow in his brother’s footsteps as the club closes in a Southern League play-off finish for the first time in its history.
Simpson has already met the Farm three times this season, scoring a double at The Creek in Mangotsfield’s 4-0 victory in the Southern League Cup.
Despite Mangos bottom half position, it has been a blistering goal-scoring season for Simpson who has already netted double figures this season in all competitions, including scoring last time out against Melksham.
Speaking on his new signing, Manager Lashenko commented: “We’re very pleased to bring Kai to the club. I think this is a ruthless signing from our point of view, and Kai is a proven goal scorer that will add extra quality to our attacking options.
“He’s a player that knows the club very well already having played for us when he was younger, knowing Geoff and his family, as well as his older brother Troy who did very well for us in the Western League,” Lashenko added.