Southern Farm good value for point against promotion rivals
BRISTOL Manor Farm and Frome Town played out a 0-0 stalemate at Badgers Hill, writes Jack Davies.
It was second versus fourth in Division One South at kick-off and Farm took the game to their hosts early on. Farm did havethe ball in the net in the first two minutes, but the linesman’s flag halted celebrations after Ben Bament flicked in Owen Howe’s shot.
James Carey was next to deny Farm, making a flying save as Howe powered a header towards goal.
Josh Ford then headed a Gosling corner past Carey before Alex Monks hacked off the line for the hosts.
Frome weathered the early storm and were starting to come alive themselves. Mike Baker headed tamely towards Ben John’s goal, after rising highest form a Jonathan Davies free-kick.
John’s next save wasn’t nearly as routine. Good work by Davies allowed Kane Simpson to drive infield and force a smart stop by Farm’s number one.
Farm’s big first-half chance came just before the half-hour. A great run by Jake Gosling saw him collect from a one-two and his low cross fell for Bament, but he failed to make a clean connection and Carey made the save.
Frome came close to scoring just before the hour-mark. Davies combined well with Simpson again before the striker lashed into the side-netting.
The second half petered out with both teams given nothing away. Farm did end as strongly as they started however, with Mike Bryant inches away from connecting with a late Mason Winter cross.
At Winterfield Road, Paulton Rovers battled out a 1-1 draw with second bottom Mangotsfield United.
There were few chances in the first half, although Paulton’s Liban Ibrahim was denied by a fine save from Marko Radovanovic in the early stages.
Ibrahim did break the deadlock on 51 minutes with a composed finish, but a great 84th-minute strike from Isaac Flynn rescued a point for Mangotsfield.
In Premier South, Westonsuper-Mare occupy fifth place - the final play-off place - following a superb 3-1 victory at Gosport Borough. Levi Cox fired Weston ahead in the 34th minute, and Marlon Jackson added a second just before half-time.
Gosport gave themselves hope when Matthew Paterson pulled a goal back in the 53rd minute, but Jackson restored Weston’s two-goal advantage in the 63rd minute.
Yate Town’s play-off hopes are fading after a 4-0 defeat at leaders Hayes & Yeading.
Moses Emmanuel put the hosts ahead in the 28th minute. Then, as Yate pushed for a vital point, the home side grabbed three goals in the last 10 minutes through Francis Amartey (2) and Hassan Jalloh.