Thatcham Town 1 Bristol Manor Farm 2 (Sat 1 st Feb)
Manor Farm handed league leaders Thatcham just their third defeat of the
season with a battling display at a windswept Stacatruc Stadium last Saturday.
With the wind at their backs the home side were happy to launch a series of
long balls towards the Manor Farm goal but time and again throughout a
goalless first half they were thwarted by a dogged collective effort by The
Portwaymen.
Farm took the lead in the 51 st minute from a long throw-in into the box which
was flicked on by Alan Griffin for Elis Watts, enjoying a lively full debut. His
blocked shot fell kindly to Jordan Metters who gleefully rammed the ball home.
With the game in the 91 st minute and Manor Farm clinging gamely to their lead,
Ben John put the visitors into an unassailable two-nil lead – treating the 182
spectators to a sighting of that rarest of footballing items, a score direct from a
drop-kick. Credit is due to Farm substitute Olly Mehew who made just enough
of a nuisance of himself to disrupt the communication between Kingfishers
‘keeper Archie Matthews and central defender Zak Westlake as John’s long
clearance bounced down on the edge of the opposition penalty area. With
Matthews and Westlake both missing the ball entirely, Mehew and the visiting
fans could hardly contain their glee as the ball bobbled forward and over the
goal line.
A 94 th minute penalty conversion by Kyle Tooze made the final score 1-2 but
this was as stirring a league victory for Manor Farm and their fans as they’ve
enjoyed all season long.