Southern Boss Lashenko confident his Manor Farm side are ‘in a good place’
BRISTOL Manor Farm boss Lee Lashenko believes his ambitious team are in better shape now to confront the considerable and “exciting opportunities” ahead.
Lashenko’s charges are in Hampshire tomorrow to take on a capable AFC Totton outfit for a Southern League Division One South affair, before welcoming south-east London-based Cray Wanderers, early Isthmian League Premier Division high-fliers, to Farm’s backyard on Tuesday night for a FA Cup third qualifying round tie (7.45pm).
Lashenko’s men fought back from two down at home against Barnstaple Town on Tuesday night to take a point from a 2-2 draw, thanks to goals from new-boy Marcus Day and Lewis Bamford.
The Creek chief reflected: “We should have won it as well with the chances we had, although Barnstaple came to us as an honest and well-prepared side.
“We’re in a good place with one defeat in seven in league and cup and we’ve done it with a lot of injuries. Games have been coming thick and fast and I’ve not had the luxury of being able to rest players when I know that with a fullstrength squad at my disposal, we have it in us to go toe-to-toe with anyone in our league.”
Lashenko should welcome Lewis Leigh-Gilchrist, Aron Robbins and Lloyd Mills back from injury tomorrow and hopes latest attacking acquisition Day, snapped up from league rivals Paulton Rovers a week ago, can continue to hit the heights.
“Marcus came in last Friday and helped us win (on penalties) at Kidlington in the FA Cup at the weekend and was probably our best player against Barnstaple,” said Lashenko.
“He is an outstanding signing for us, a real eye-catching player who fits in well with our free offensive approach.
“He’s fine to take part in the FA Cup and we’re all looking forward to the game with Cray, who lost for the first time since the turn of the year on Tuesday night (3-0 at Potters Bar Town).
“They’re clearly a very good side who perform a level above us. But it’s a winnable one from our perspective and it’s an opportunity to make club history by reaching the fourth qualifying round after two successive years going out at the third qualifying stage.”
Mangotsfield United’s optimistic manager Glyn Ashton accepts he faces a “tough road ahead” with
his young Southern League protégés while insisting: “These lads can only get better.”
The Cossham Street side have lost all three of their Division One West fixtures approaching tomorrow’s away encounter with Larkhall Athletic.
That, however, doesn’t tell a complete picture as aside from a 5-1 away humbling by Winchester City, losses at the hands of Frome Town (1-0) and, on Tuesday night, Willand Rovers (2-1), both at home, have been by single-goal margins, just as their campaign opening at Tavistock in the FA Cup ended in 2-1 defeat.
Ashton remarked: “I can’t be getting too down at this early stage. I recognise it’s a tough road ahead
but I also know these talented lads of ours can only get better. It is a learning process; the average age of our squad is only 19.
“The key task for me is to get them playing well for the whole of a game. We have performed well for portions of our games so far and it’s finding that consistency, that ability to turn it on for a full 90 minutes.”
Of his own yearning to transform Mangotsfield’s fortunes, 48-yearold Ashton, who enjoyed a playing career as a central midfielder and full-back with Keynsham Town, Bishop Sutton and Bitton among others of Western League stature, said: “I’m Mangotsfield born and bred and enjoyed 13 years raising a junior team here right through to under-18s last season before I stepped up to take charge of the first team.
“I’ve long been active behind the scenes, too, and given my strong links with SGS College and Dave Hockaday, who are a big part of what we’re about now, it just felt right to take on the job. My heart was very much in it.”
Of their midweek setback at the hands of Willand, Ashton said: “We deserved at least a point having got our noses in front through Harry Simons just before half-time before starting the second half sloppily and conceding two quick goals, although we had late chances to score.”
The Field supremo hopes to have centre-back Jai Semenyo back from injury tomorrow but expects more “influential players” in attacking midfielder Lewis Saunders, and centre-back and captain Mircea Ilea, to remain sidelined.
Paulton Rovers, meanwhile, head to Portsmouth-based Moneyfields for a Division One South meeting tomorrow in much better heart after following up Saturday’s luckless late 2-1 away defeat by Highworth Town with a 5-0 Tuesday night mauling of Cinderford Town, courtesy of Will Hailston’s brace and Nuno Felix, Ryan Gay and Liban Ibrahim goals.
Yate Town face another stern examination of their Premier South credentials as they travel to take on Truro City in Cornwall keen to cast behind them Tuesday night’s 3-0 defeat to unbeaten leaders Tiverton Town, in front of a 220 Lodge Road crowd.
Bluebells boss Paul Michael snapped up former Bristol City Academy duo Ricardo Rees (striker) and Max Williams (central midfielder) and handed both second-half run-outs on a testing night with Tivvy.