Bridgwater Town 1 Bristol Manor Farm 3

Bridgwater Town 1 Bristol Manor Farm 3
Bristol Manor Farm finally put a gloss on the final score in injury time that
better reflected their dominance of this pulsating FA cup ‘derby’.
Since their last meeting both clubs have swapped ‘Step’ positions on the Non-
League pyramid with Manor Farm now playing at the higher level of the two,
but with Bridgwater going well just a step below and currently scoring goals for
fun, this eagerly awaited game had been touted amongst non-league fans as a
potential banana-skin for Lee Lashenko’s Southern League side. With decades
of shared Western League history between the two clubs and the memory of a
4-4 / 2-1 win for Bridgwater in the same competition in 2013 still fresh in the
minds of many, this tie, when drawn out of the hat, always had that extra bit of
spice about it and not to disappoint, both teams duly delivered – helping create a
great atmosphere in the crowd of 291 at Fairfax Park on Saturday.
Bridgwater almost got off to a dream start in the 2 nd minute when a long throw
into the box from Tom Ellis caused early problems for the Manor Farm defence
but Jack Taylor’s goal-bound effort was well-saved by Ben John, diving low to
his left to scoop the ball out.
Tackles predictably flew in during a frenetic opening quarter of an hour but it
was Manor Farm who probed forward with the greater menace courtesy of some
fluent approach-play that linked midfield to attack with slick precision.
With Josh Nelmes slotting effortlessly in beside Steve Kingdon at centre-half,
the Manor Farm pair rarely looked threatened by Bridgwaters potent, free-
scoring attack – Nelmes was all calm authority whilst captain Kingdon was at
his swashbuckling best, both experienced players setting a great example for
their team-mates and especially Farm’s young, exciting full-backs Tyler
Ashmead and Mason Winter.
Nelmes’s inclusion allowed Lloyd Mills to step into a central midfield
partnership with Jamie Adams and it was here that Mills flourished above all
others on the day with a complete midfield display that was not so much ‘Man
of the Match’ but ‘Full Spectrum Dominance’. Both in the air and on the ground
Mills took control of everything that came his way, allowing the forward
creative players – particularly Jordan Metters, Lewis Leigh-Gilchrist and Joe
McClennan – a live-wire influence all afternoon – to express themselves fully
with some exciting wing and link-up play that entertained the cup-tie crowd
royally.

With Mills leading the way Farm continued to threaten. On 20 minutes the
Bridgwater goalkeeper Jake Viney pushed away a clear back-pass but to the
obvious consternation of the Farm bench and supporters no action was taken by
the referee.
This only added more spice to an already ‘heady’ cup brew and four minutes
later Leigh-Gilchrist clipped Viney’s crossbar with a fine, raking effort from 20
yards. Metters squeezed a low shot across the box which Viney did well to
smother on the half-hour mark and McClennan dropped deep to collect before
sending a sweet pass forward for Joe Tumelty, who couldn’t quite get enough
power on his effort whilst under pressure in the box. For all of Manor Farm’s
own brand of pressure and the many chances that they created it was something
of a surprise to most in the ground when the ref blew his whistle to send the
teams in goalless at half-time.
Two minutes following the restart McClennan rifled in a shot that Viney tipped
behind as Manor Farm continued where they’d left off in the game’s opening 45
– on the attack.
In the 51 st minute the visitors got their deserved lead following some neat
interplay down the right before play was switched to the left where Mason
Winter’s surge forward finished with what was intended as a deep probing cross
flying over Viney’s head and into the far top corner of the net.
Freed up with the boost of a lead, Lashenko’s men just kept on coming. Viney
had to save well again five minutes later as McClennan and Tumelty linked
deep in the penalty area and Adams lifted an effort over the bar from 20 yards
on 68 minutes. In the 72 nd minute Metters set a nice ball up for a Leigh-Gilchrist
shot but Viney saved again.
It soon followed just two minutes later that Farm took a 2-0 cushion in the tie
when another electric team break, led by McClennan, set Adams up for a finish
but he unselfishly squared for Leigh-Gilchrist instead who found ample time in
a crowded penalty area to set himself before placing a well-aimed drive beyond
Viney’s reach.
Bridgwater were now in a do-or-die situation in the tie and pressed forward with
a sudden urgency they had not been able to find for much of the afternoon. Sam
Towler and substitute Dave O’Hare linked well to set up centre-forward Steve
Murray but the former Street man saw his lofted effort sail just over John’s
crossbar.

Both Farm full-backs, Winter and Ashmead, were on call to clear the ball off or
close to the goal-line as Bridgwater threw everything they could at their visitors
during the games last ten minutes and it was in the penultimate one of the ninety
that the home side finally got a foothold on the scoreboard – bringing the tie
back to 2-1 when Harry Horton unleashed a fierce drive that swerved into the
top corner from 30 yards out. The home supporters roared their team on for an
equaliser who even sent the ‘keeper Viney forward into a packed Farm box for
another long throw from Ellis two minutes into added time. The throw however
was bundled clear by the Farm, allowing substitute Lewis Bamford to race away
with three Bridgwater defenders chasing him down the left flank before
sweeping the ball into an unguarded net from all of 35 yards.
The final 3-1 scoreline only tells half the tale of Manor Farm’s dominant
display and on a better day their tally could have been higher. But days don’t
get much better than when your club is advancing again through the qualifying
stages of the FA Cup. On this evidence Manager Lee Lashenko can be upbeat
about his sides chances of progressing further when the draw for the next round
is made this Monday lunchtime.
STAR MAN (Lloyd Mills, Bristol Manor Farm)