Match report: Bashley suffer 2-0 loss against Bristol Manor Farm
Bashley took to the field with a depleted line-up once again, this time in a valiant 2-0 losing effort against Bristol Manor Farm on Saturday afternoon.
Bashley have hovered around the play-off zone all season despite rarely being able to field their strongest eleven – a situation repeated this weekend.
They missed at least three influential first-choice players in skipper Steve Walker and midfield dynamos Luke Holmes and Charlie Wooding.
The hosts dominated much of the first half, but it looked like Bash would go to the break level. However, they fell behind in the last minute of first half stoppage time.
Just when they had a head of steam in the second half in search of an equaliser, the Farmers ploughed up all hope of a recovery with a second goal 20 minutes from the end.
Farm skipper George Dowling caused keeper Mack Allan his first real problem. The young shot-stopper found his shot too hot to hold, but he pounced on the loose ball before danger-man Louis Britton could get there.
A thunderous volley high towards the top corner had the hosts celebrating, but Allan launched himself up to tip it over the bar.
Bashley breathed a sigh of relief and then took up the running themselves. Brett Williams started to bother the home defence and keeper Seth Locke had to look sharp to keep out a header from Bashley’s veteran assistant manager.
In added time in the first half, Manor took the lead. Daniel Dodimead’s shot was not dealt with by the Bash defence and Abu Sama’s snapshot deflected in off a post.
Manager Dave Lewis changed the attack for the second half, with teenagers Jamie Arnold and Scott Bungay replacing the experienced Williams and Mitchell Speechley-Price.
Bungay soon became prominent, having one strike on goal saved, then another blocked, with Jamie Arnold unable to keep the follow-up header on target.
Bashley had an extended period of sustained pressure, but Manor’s Dodimead had been a danger all afternoon. With 70 minutes played, he took aim and buried his shot in the corner out of Allan’s reach.
Bashley threw caution to the wind as they tried to find a way back into the game, but it was all in vain.
Dave Lewis and his men have a week to re-group for next Saturday’s date with Bishops Cleeve at the Veho Community Stadium at 3pm.
Bashley: M. Allan, H. Bertrand, J. Bertie, R. Flooks, D. Walster, L. Waterfield, B. Williams, C. Wagstaffe, M. Speechley-Price, L. Ross, L. Delaney. Subs: S. Gadsby, S. Bungay, C. Whiteley, J. Arnold, J. Webber.
