Bristol Manor Farm returned to winning ways on Saturday afternoon as they emerged comfortable winners over Bashley at the NL Services Stadium.
The Farm started brightly against their high-flying opposition and created an early chance. A neat move down the right saw Josh Bissett slip a reverse pass into Rhys Thomas, who opted against a shot at goal and rolled the ball into the six-yard box, but nobody was there to get a touch. Manor Farm almost took the lead in spectacular style midway through the half. A ball in wasn’t properly cleared, and George Dowling hit a superb volley from twenty-five yards that the visiting keeper, Mack Allen, somehow flicked over the crossbar. The Farm then had the ball in the net, only to be denied by a late flag. Thomas was adjudged to have gone too early before he squared to Britton, who tapped home in vain. Deep into the final minute of first-half stoppage time, Manor Farm finally took a deserved lead. Dodimead was well found by Bissett and, while his effort was parried by Allen, Abu Sama was quickest to react, showing brilliant composure to roll the ball in via the far post.
The second half continued in a similar vein, with The Farm in the ascendancy, and they had a golden chance to double the lead shortly after the restart. Aron Robbins intercepted superbly, and his raking sixty-yard pass was perfect for Dodimead, who forced a smart save by Allen. Bashley were finding it difficult to deal with Farm’s pressure but had their own big chance to level before the hour. Jamie Arnold broke free from a long ball and ran through on goal, but Seth Locke stood tall to smother. The Farm were buoyed by the let-off and went in search of a second. Mason Winter found Dodimead with another peach of a pass, but the striker hammered the ball into the side netting. Dodimead’s persistence finally reaped rewards as Farm put the game to bed after seventy minutes. Theo Llewelyn snapped into a challenge and found Britton, who then found Bissett; his clever flick wide picked out Dodimead, who lashed the ball into the far corner. The Farm continued to probe and were denied a certain third by a very strange refereeing decision. Dowling flicked wide to Bissett, and after his low cross found Britton completely unmarked in the area, the official decided to blow the whistle for an earlier foul in Farm’s favour, ending the attack with a free kick. Two would be enough, despite forcing Allen into one final late save. The irrepressible Sama slipped a pass into Bissett, whose near-post drive was well saved.