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Bristol Manor Farm continue their hunt for promotion with a hard fought victory away to Cinderford Town, writes Jack Davies.
Farm started brightly and had a couple of early chances, Mike Bryant glanced an early Jake Gosling corner wide before Gosling himself cut inside a couple before curling wide.
Kye Simpson was next to try his luck, he sprung the offside trap cleverly but his own curling shot went just over.
Former Farm striker Lewis Bamford was Cinderford’s liveliest spark early on. He left no ball lost as he battled to win a few early free kicks that Farm defended well.
Farm’s opener came just before the half hour. Simpson challenged in the air and the ball dropped to Bryant, whose superb pass played Ben Bament through. The sharp forward showed incredible poise to slide the ball past the onrushing Nick Jones to make it 1-0.
Cinderford had their first effort almost immediately following going behind. The marauding Marcel McCintosh freed himself down the ride and his excellent cross was met by the stretching Bamford, who headed just over.
Farm pressed for a second as the half wore on and a clever move almost doubled their lead. Simpson flicked Aron Robbins’ throw into Jayden Nielsen who in turn teed up Bryant, who fired straight at Jones.
Farm would go two ahead in the final minute of first half normal time. Gosling’s pinpoint driven corner was met by an emphatic Josh Ford header. The defender getting his sixth of an extremely productive season.
Cinderford would have the final word of a pulsating half in injury time. Bamford had his claim for a penalty waved away, but the ball dropped to Rio Dyer, who hammered home to half the home side deficit.
Farm came out looking to finish the contest rather than preserve the narrow lead. A superb break saw Simpson release Gosling. The Gibraltan left his man for dead before his low finish was well saved by the legs of Jones.
Cinderford were pressing but struggling to break down a stubborn away defence. Jack Freeman only able to fire over from 30 yards when presenting with a rare half yard of space.
Farm created but wasted a few more chances to pull clear. Ford’s raking 50 yard diagonal fed Neilsen who fired wide before Gosling collected neatly but fired tamely at Jones.
Cinderford caused a couple of nervy moments before the end. Bamford was denied by a superb Mason Winter block before Josh Ford hacked clear after keeper Ben John was somehow denied a free kick for being pushed in to his far post late on.
Final whistle brought wild celebrations and a chorus of ‘Manor Farm are massive’ serenaded the players as they celebrated a huge three points.
STAR MAN, Josh Ford.
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