Match Report by Kevin O'Brien

Shepton eventually improved to contribute to a highly entertaining match and they almost took the tie into extra time, ultimately losing by the odd goal in seven.
The home side went into the game on the back of 12 straight wins whilst Shepton were playing only their second game in 8 weeks, and the difference in form and fortunes was quickly evident as Farm raced into a 3 goal lead by the 17th minute. Shepton's Ben Lacey shot just wide in the 5th minute after good play between Jake McCormick and Tyson Pollard, but Farm went ahead a minute later after stand in full back Ben Cleverley lost possession to Ryan Radford, who worked a quick one-two with Dean Stamp before slotting home past Shepton keeper Rhys Lovett. Four minutes later Radford beat Lovett again, this time with a well hit shot from fully 30 yards after Radford was left with time and space by the unsuspecting opposition. Shepton's Ash Willmott went close with a half chance from Dave Thorne's pass, but on 17 minutes the hosts scored a third goal after a Shepton move broke down just inside their half and Farm's Jack Durrant picked up the loose ball to send Jordan Metters on a run clear of Shepton's defence, before rounding the onrushing Lovett and shooting into a now empty net. There were no more goals before the break and few chances at either end, Willmott going closest for Shepton with a header that brought the first save for home keeper Ashley Clark, and a shot that went too high from Metters.
Shepton dominated the third quarter of the game, and Willmott tested Clark with a decent shot on 47th minute that the keeper saved well, before substitute and debutant Rob Claridge headed a good chance wide from Cleverley's cross. Clark then saved well from Pollard, but Shepton's best player on the day beat the keeper from distance on the hour mark after Claridge fed Alex Russell who in turn set up Pollard. Clark got to his shot but did not do enough to stop it going in, and two minutes later they almost added a second as Claridge again headed just wide, this time from Thorne's cross. Lovett had nothing to do until 20 minutes into the half when he then tipped a corner kick from Aron Robbins out from under his crossbar. A couple of minutes later and against the run of play, Farm scored their 4th when a long ball upfield caught out another Shepton debutant Dale Peckham, who had hitherto kept the league's leading scorer Stamp quiet. For once Stamp got the better of his marker, rounding Peckham and then Lovett before shooting home to restore his side's three goal cushion. Back came Shepton on 70 minutes though, when Pollard netted his and his side's second, after Thorne had stretched to knock Cleverley's far post cross back into the danger area for Pollard to pounce and reach the loose ball first. Metters had a shot saved by Lovett and Stamp shot wide, before Shepton set up a close finish when they scored a fine 3rd with 10 minutes to go following a good move started by Russell, who found Pollard with a long pass down Shepton's right flank. Pollard went round his marker before drilling a low cross into the middle for Willmott to rush in and score from close range, and although Stamp had a couple more half chances for Farm, Shepton went close to taking the tie into extra time with three minutes left as Pollard hit a shot on the turn which went inches the wrong side of the post and rippled the side netting.
By the end of the afternoon after an awful start, this turned into a commendable effort from a Shepton team playing without most of their regular back five, against a very good Manor Farm side, who we wish well when they travel to Northumberland to play Morpeth in the FA Vase this weeked, two games away from a potential Wembley final.
Tyson Pollard was again the pick for Shepton with two goals and an assist, but Joe Burnell also had a fine game and ran him close in only his 3rd start for the side this season. Dale Peckham did well on debut as did fellow new man Rob Claridge, on for the sick Jake McCormick at the break, and who proved a handful for Farm's defence.
Manager Andy Jones will hopefully have more of his squad available soon, and good to see George Zaharia back in contention.

Team

1. R.Lovett
2.D.Thorne
3.J.McCormick
4.J.Burnell
5.D.Peckham
6.A.Russell
7.B.Cleverley
8.C.Loxton
9.B.Lacey
10.T.Pollard.....scored two goals
11.A.Willmott....scored one goal

12. R.Claridge
14 J Billing
15 G Zaharia