Non-League Farm see off Saltash to secure Southern League status
BRISTOL Manor Farm can look forward to another season in Southern League Division One South after a 2-0 playoff win against Saltash United at The Creek.
A crowd of 379 saw Manor Farm secure their Southern League status, having finished third bottom in the table, thanks to goals from Aron Robbins and Jayden Nielsen.
Saltash, runners-up to fellow Cornish club Mousehole in the Toolstation League Premier Division, rarely threatened to stop Manor Farm completing their survival mission.
Nielsen, Robbins and Josh Ford all came close for the home side in the opening 20 minutes, before Robbins broke the deadlock on 33 minutes with a superb left-foot strike from the edge of the penalty area, which found the top right corner of the net.
Ben Bament had a shot saved at the near post early in the second half, and he then provided the cross from which Nielsen smashed home the second goal with a back-post finish on 63 minutes.
In the Toolstation League First Division, Oldland Abbotonians will host Shirehampton today in the promotion play-off final after a tension-packed 11-10 victory on penalties against Wincanton Town on Saturday, following a 2-2 draw in 90 minutes.
All the goals came in the first half.
Mason Davis put Oldland ahead with a tap in at the back post on eight minutes, only for Wincanton to quickly equalise. Oldland went back in front in the 15th miknute when Cash Vinall headed home from an Austen Shopland cross, but Wincanton again equalised just before the break.
AEK Boco finished 11th in the table following a come-frombehind 4-2 triumph at home to Odd Down. Boco trailed 2-0 at the break, but stormed back to win thanks to an Ollie Williams hattrick and a Tomas Menezes strike.
It was a similar story at Moorhouse Lane where Hallen, 2-0 down at half-time to Radstock Town, ended up as 5-2 victors. Harrison Fairman and Nathan Hewitt both struck twice, with Elliot Gardner also on target.
Portishead Town ended their season on a winning note after two goals from Hamish Hurst clinched a 2-1 success at home to Hengrove Athletic.
Ashton & Backwell United ended an excellent Premier Division campaign in ninth place with a 4-0 home win against Torpoint Athletic. Reece Hedges and Kitan Jaiyeoba struck shortly before halftime, then a late double from Jarmani Langlais wrapped up a comfortable victory.
It was Ashton & Backwell’s last Toolstation League game for now after the club announced it was taking voluntary relegation to the Somerset County League.