Gosling inspires play-off hopefuls Manor Farm to victory
BRISTOL Manor Farm showed no sign of play-off nerves as they put Larkhall Athletic to the sword, winning 3-0 at The Creek, writes Jack Davies.
A cagey opener saw limited chances at either end before Farm began to take control.
The first real effort on target came from direct from a free-kick. Mike Bryant’s persistence saw him win the set-peice and Jake Gosling’s swinging effort was tipped wide by Larkhall goalkeeper Shaun Semmens.
Farm were cranking up the pressure as the half wore on, and Ben Bament was denied from close range by the flying Semmens in goal.
The opening goal came just before the break and was beautifully crafted. Mason Winter snapped in to steal possession and send Gosling away down the right. The Gibraltan sold defender Tom Warren with a neat dummy and his blocked shot dropped perfectly for Owen Howe, who made no mistake from 12 yards.
Farm controlled the second half, and effectively put the result beyond doubt early in the period when Dean Stamp laid the ball back for Winter, who, via a deflection, scored his first goal of the season.
In a contentious moment, Aron Robbins’ dangerous ball bounced through to Howe and his driven effort bounced off the underside of the bar. Despite protests by fans and the forward that the ball had bounced over the line, the linesman waved played on.
The Gosling show continued after the hour. His corner was met by Howe who’s shot was blocked before Steve Kingdon lashed the rebound over.
Gosling then left another pair of
defenders for dead down the Farm right and played Winter in again. The right-back’s effort beat the ‘keeper but defender Dale Evans slid the ball wide.
Ford and Howe headed just wide from consecutive corners from Gosling before Bryant found Semmens’ hands when he picked up the ball just outside the box.
Farm would add some gloss that the performance fully merited. Robbins cannoned his defensive header to Stamp, who swivelled and found Simpson. The striker didn’t have the finest angle to work with but finished superbly with his second touch to make it three.
Fourth-placed Manor Farm are one point ahead of Winchester City, in the final play-off place, and three ahead of AFC Totten, but both those sides have two games left compared to Manor Farm’s one.
In Premier South, seventhplaced Yate Town remain outsiders to make the play-offs despite a 3-1 home win against Kings Langley on Saturday.
Jamie Adams fired Yate ahead on 16 minutes with a shot from outside the penalty area. Alfie Williams quickly equalised, but two secondhalf strikes won it for Yate.
Will Tunnicliff scored a goal of the season contender when he found the top right corner of the net with a left-footed piledriver from 25 yards.
Then Matt Bower got on the end of free-kick to score Yate’s third goal with a header.
In Division One South, Mangotsfield United have been relegated back to Step 5 football following a 4-0 defeat at leaders Plymouth Parkway.
First-half goals from Callum Hall, Adam Carter and Jack Crago put the big-budget Devon club in command.
Callum Rose added the fourth goal on 88 minutes.