Manor Farm defied the odds to knock out higher league opposition after a superb performance away to Yate Town.
Yate started well and a succession of corners were defended well before Andy Lewis blazed over on the half volley. A few minutes after and it was Farm who forced corner after corner and one found Steve Kingdon, whose flick on found Mike Bryant and his headed effort was well blocked. Farm were well on top after weathering the early storm and Mason Winter was inches away from the spectacular and his half way line attempt was just about kept out by home keeper Andrew Hannah. 20 minutes in and Farm deservedly led, Lewis Bamford’s pinpoint through ball found Lucas Vowles whose unnerving finish nestled in the far corner. Although Yate settled, Farm were still looking dangerous on the counter, Vowles a yard away from connecting with another Bamford delivery on the half hour. The home side looked to hit back with a corner of their own, Sims-Burgess chopping inside before being superbly denied by the onrushing Ben John. Even when John was beaten his defence stood firm, Kingdon hacking off the line just as Yate were set to pounce for a tap in. Despite the league disadvantage, Farm were disappointed to go in only 1 up, Mason Winter and Tyler Ashmead linking magnificently down the right before the formers cut back found Bryant who could only lash over.
Yate expectedly came out with a point to prove, and another fine John save denied them an equaliser in the early stages of the second half. Their second chance really should have seen them level, a superb low cross found Sims-Burgess who somehow placed wide from barely 10 yards out, managing to badly injure his shoulder in the process. Farm got their second on the hour mark to send the away fans into delirium, Stuart Tovey picked out on a rare run forward and he found Jay Adams whose superb shimmy beat his man before his low cross was turned in by Bamford. 2 nearly became 3 as Winter, found by another perfect diagonal, crossed for Vowles and Nick Rhodes nearly diverted into his own net. Farm were holding firm as the minutes ticked by, another fine save by John led to a counter with Leigh-Gilchrist shooting wide of the near post. The superb Adams was having a fantastic game, another diagonal found Winter again, whos cross nearly dipped in at the back post. Adams then went close himself, but his first time effort from range was always veering wide. Farm also had a keeper in unbeatable form, another flying save to deny a sweetly stuck volley following a home corner. The away side would be made to sweat in injury time as Stewart Fleetwood swept home with a minute to go but Farm would hold on to a memorable victory.
Star man – Ben John