Following a hard-fought draw against Bideford on Tuesday night, Manager, Lee Lashenko, reflects on what was another ‘positive result’ and shared his anticipation for the upcoming FA Cup tie against Roman Glass.
“Tuesday’s result was another really pleasing one at the start of this campaign,” Lashenko began, reflecting on the team’s performance. “The Southern League is proving to be another extremely competitive division once again, and last night was a big test for my players. Bideford are very effective at what they do, and logistically it was difficult with the amount of travelling midweek that they had to do. That being said, I think they came through with flying colours and the right result showed at the full-time whistle. The first half play was spent up in the air probably a bit too much for our liking, but second half both teams got the ball down and played some very good stuff.”
In his candid assessment, Lashenko also praised the role of the match officials. “I want to say that I thought last night’s referee was excellent,” he expressed. “I think just because officials are given directives from higher up, ultimately it’s still down to the referees to make the final calls on the day. He allowed the game to flow as much as possible, and had we had the same officials that we did last Saturday, quite a few players from both sides will have left the match with a fair few cards to their name.”
One player which has certainly impressed Manager Lashenko this summer has been the ever-reliable Jayden Nielsen, who’s goal and performance made him a ‘standout player’ from the draw against Bideford at The Sports Ground. “I was really pleased for Jayden that he got his goal last night,” Lashenko remarked. “With Jayden it’s all about maturity and helping him develop both as a person and a player. He’s turning out to be a fantastic human and I really hope that this season puts him on a pedestal, as I know that he can play much higher up the pyramid. Over the past couple of years he’s had decent seasons, where he’s received many plaudits from his teammates and the Farmy Army, and this season we’re going to enjoy the impact that he will have for Bristol Manor Farm.”
Looking ahead to the FA Cup tie against Roman Glass, Lashenko recognised the significance of the game. “Saturday’s game will have added intensity as both teams will be familiar with people in each camp,” he noted. “We know that Roman Glass have some great players, and I have the utmost respect for their Chairman Roger Hudd and Manager Andy Gurney. We know from our perspective that we need to win the game for a number of reasons. We’ve had some great moments in the FA Cup over the years and we want to get another run going. Plus, it provides essential revenue to supporting our football club. Hopefully, we can attract a big crowd and have the Farmy Army’s full support on Saturday afternoon.”
With Lashenko’s strategic mindset and the team’s dedication, Bristol Manor Farm is poised to take on Roman Glass in what promises to be a thrilling FA Cup encounter. The anticipation is building, and fans are gearing up to witness another chapter in the club’s storied football journey.