Bristol Manor Farm share the spoils as they take a point home from an entertaining game at Melksham, writes Jack Davies.
Farm had been out of action for three weeks and that rustiness showed early on as they fell behind after just a few minutes. A scramble from a Melksham attack saw the ball fall kindly to Ralph Graham, who hammered the loose ball past Ben John. The early pressure continued with a flurry of home efforts that were blocked and deflected away, including a last-ditch Ollie Woodhouse tackle, to deny Melksham a second. Farm did eventually settle down in a lively first half and they were rewarded just before the break. George Kellow making it 4 in 3 games with a drilled finish to level the game.
A few of the pre match headlines came in the form of former Farm striker Ben Bament who had made the switch to today’s opponents in the week, and he had a big chance early in the second half. Graham slid a pass towards him inside the area, but his effort lacked the power to trouble his old side. Farm would take the lead just before the hour to compound that earlier miss. Returning defender Mason Winter found Jayden Nielsen whose effort flicked up and in via a defender to put the visitors ahead. Melksham would equalise to set up an exciting last 15 minutes. Farm asked for an offside flag that never arrived and Otis Lewis headed home for 2-2. Both sides went for a winner, and it was Farm who had the best chance of taking all 3 points. Daniel Dodimead rounded the home keeper, but his effort was brilliantly blocked on the line.