MATCH REPORT: Bristol Manor Farm 4-1 Bideford

Farm’s deadly duo steal the show as a pair of braces give Farm a dominant win at home to Bideford.

Kiwi Dylan Tate was making his debut following his move from Queensland and was involved in the game’s first chance. Bullish hold-up play allowed him to find Josh Bissett who crossed for Tate’s strike partner, Louis Britton, who lashed just wide. Despite a dominant start from the home side, Bideford took the lead with their first attack. Finn Roberts got in behind out wide and his cross landed right on the head of Jordan Ewing, who made no mistake from close distance. Farm almost levelled immediately when George Dowling picked a lovely pass for Britton but his low finish was saved. Farm were in control but Bideford came inches away from getting a second, Ewing caught Seth Locke out with an instinctive finish but the ball bounced onto the underside of the crossbar and out.

Farm would get a deserved equaliser and it was the man of the moment, Dylan Tate. He outmuscled a pair of defenders before sending a crisp finish into the corner on 35 minutes. The home side were creating chances at will as they looked to steal ahead before the break. Bissett and Winter linked well down the right before the latter’s cross came inches from finding Britton at the back post. Farm thought they’d taken the lead in stoppage time but were denied contentiously. Bideford keeper Michael Searle dropped the ball and landed on Farm fullback Aron Robbins before Harry Lucas swept the loose ball in. To the bemusement of many in red, the referee gave a foul Bideford’s way.

Dylan Tate wheels away in celebration of his opener.

Farm continued where they left off after the break and took the lead within 5 minutes of the second half, Dowling floated a ball over to Bissett who laid it on a plate for Britton to get the goal his performance deserved finally. Within a flash, it was 3-1 and all but game over. Tenacious work from debutant Tate saw him steal the ball back and he sent an unstoppable drive from fully 30 yards which nestled into the bottom corner for his second. Britton then had two further chances as the Farm onslaught continued. First, he combined with Tate once more to set himself away and his low finish trickled inches wide. Then from a corner, his sweeping effort just missed the near post. Farm and Britton in particular kept coming. An audacious overhead kick attempt from the striker was just off target before another Tate flick set Britton in again, this time forcing a very good save.

A rare foray forward gave Bideford a golden chance to set up a grandstand finish. A Farm defender was adjudged to have handled inside the area and the referee gave the spot kick. Alex Moyse stepped up but Farm keeper Seth Locke saved superbly to keep up his impressive penalty record. Almost immediately, Bideford were punished again. Dowling and Tate were involved once more before Britton lifted a superb finish over Searle for four. The Britton and Tate show continued into the game’s final minute. Tate with a delightful backheel pass to Britton but this time Searle was equal to the attempted lob as the final whistle shortly followed.

Farm will be looking to ride the high of Saturday’s performance as they head to neighbours Cribbs for what is set to be a mouth-watering Bank Holiday Derby.

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