Saturday 17th October 2026
Pitching In Southern League
Division 1 (South)
Bristol Manor Farm vs Shaftesbury
‘Rockies looking not to be up the creek on Saturday down at the farm’
By Avril Lancaster
Brandon Mundy seen here celebrating Sonny Pike’s first goal for Shaftesbury at Bristol Manor Farm in the Isuzu FA Trophy last season started on Tuesday night.
Harry Morgan and Brandon Mundy got their seasons up and running on Tuesday night in the 5-4 win against Slimbridge AFC in what has been a testing season for the ‘Rockies ‘ so far as we prepare to make our third visit to Bristol Manor Farm on Saturday with a one hundred per cent win record at The Creek.
This season things could be different as throughout the league their is no side that cannot take points off each other bar perhaps Weymouth and Dorchester Town at present. Sides such as Westbury United, Willand Rovers and Worcester Raiders have put in some impressive performances that could upset the top of the table.
Certainly it will be a major boost for Morgan who has worked so hard to put his injury problems behind him and with Luke Burbidge back to provide some balance and Tom Hewlett in a new role could be key factors as manager Jim Milligan looks for consistency going into the winter.
Brett Pitman has continued to notch the goals and has five in six games since returning in September. His experience and willingness to get back and defend when needed can only inspire the younger players in the squad.
Bristol Manor Farm
Since taking the reigns over after Lee Lashenko’s era at the Creek and making a number of personnel changes to keep the Bristol club in the division it has been quite a journey for manager Will Justin.
His side sit in 17th place on collecting their ninth point of the season with a decent 0-0 draw at Worcester Raiders on Tuesday night. This had followed a 4-1 home defeat to Westbury United with a Bailey Croome penalty the only positive on Saturday.
Manor Farm had won another crucial game the week before that with former Westbury United player Joe Beardwell’s penalty and Mikey Morgan earning a 2-1 win at Slimbridge AFC. This had followed a 0-0 draw at home to Barnstaple Town and a 1-0 defeat at Paulton Rovers.
Form Guide
Bristol Manor Farm
Paulton Rovers (A) (PISLS1) L 0-1
Barnstaple Town (H) (PISLS1) D 0-0
Slimbridge AFC (A) (PISLS1) W 2-1 Beardwell (Pen), Morgan
Westbury United (H) (PISLS1) L 1-4 Croome (Pen)
Worcester Raiders (A) (PISLS1) D 0-0
LDWLD
Shaftesbury
Larkhall Athletic (A) W 2-1 Pitman, Regula
Willand Rovers (H) D 1-1 Pitman
Sporting Club Inkberrow (A) (PISLS1) L 1-3
Murray
Tiverton Town (H) (PISLS1) L 1-4
Pitman (Pen)
Slimbridge AFC (H) (PISLS1) W 5-4
Morgan (3), Pitman, Burbidge
WDLLW
Bristol Manor Farm v Shaftesbury
24/25
23/11/24 (H) L 0-3 (PISLS1) (120)
08/03/25(A) W 2-0 Nixon, Hoey (PISLS1) (225)
25/26
06/09/25(A) W 2-0 Pike Hoey (FAT1Q) (232)
14/10/25 (A) W 3-0 Holmes, Beard, Hewlett (PISLS1) (193)
14/02/26 (H) W 3-1 Ward, Brown, Baker (PISLS1) (233)
Pld 5 Won 4 Drawn 0 Lost 1 F 10 A 4
(Points Available 9/12)
Fun Facts- Brett Pitman has only played once for Shaftesbury against Bristol Manor Farm in a 0-3 at Cockrams in November 2024. Jim Ward scored his first ever Shaftesbury goal against Bristol Manor Farm in the 3-1 win over them in February this year at Cockrams.
Shaftesbury at present have not conceeded a goal at The Creek in three games including last season Isuzu FA Trophy game. Bristol Manor Farm striker Bailey Croome has however tasted victory and scored against us for Cribbs in a 1-0 win at the Lawns in September 2024.
Photo – Avril Lancaster
Charlie Rayfield was a consistent performer last season after returning to the club from Bemerton Heath Harlequins in July 2025.
Paul Collicut’s side have had a similar pre season run into us in that they have faced a mixture of sides and focused more on plsyer developments and trialist opportunities. Of course we are fresh from defeating Chippenham Town 2-1 and the ‘Mitres ‘ had a stunning 2-0 win over Hereford FC in their pre season schdule.
Jamal Lawerence was on target in the 1-1 draw at Pitching In Southern League Premier Division South Evesham United last Friday. The former Melksham Town striker certainly is known to us having scored twice against us. Ross Langworthy as ever is the talisman up front and players such as Matt Liddiard have also been key in the clubs recent success since returning to the Southern League from the Hellenic League as Premier Division Champions in 2021/22.
Shaftesbury manager Josh Staunton and assistant Steve Rutter will be pleased with the progress of Dawid Regula since arriving at the club in the summer to replace Toby Holmes who left for Weymouth FC. The former Larkhall Athletic poacher will be known to the Cleeve backline much in the same fashion Lawerence is to us.
Louis Sweeten signing from Bath City and Cameron Murray from Dorchester Town are signings that Staunton identified to support the talents of Alefe Santos DAbadia, the work ethic of Jack Hoey and creativity of Harry Baker, Tom Hewlett and Harry Morgan. Brandon Mundy is another mainstay though a nasty fall against Chippenham Town saw him stretchered of and no doubt very familiar with ice packs this week. Jim Ward as ever remains consistent in his performances.
Blake Watts from Yeovil Town is a young man who at this time in his career needs the challenge of Step 4 football and to foster a partnership with Sonny Pike and Charlie Rayfield. Staunton looking at the goals we conceeded ratio last season as rather concerning despite being runners up in the play off final. Both Staunton and Rutter both experienced National League/Conference defenders in their careers certainly know about defending.
So, you have two great progressive teams ready to go at it on Saturday with both clubs looking to continue to stay around the top places despite four big clubs all being relegated into the division with Winchester City moved out to the Isthmian League South Central Division 1 and Didcot Town over to the Pitching In Southern League Division 1 (Central).
Whatever happens (you know what the first day of the season is like) it sure will be a great game and hopefully another great season for both clubs on and off the field.
Previous Meetings vs Bishops Cleeve
2024/25
Home L 0-3
Away L 1-3 Holmes
25/26
A L 2-3 Holmes, Hewlett
H W 3-0 Bradbury (2), Morgan
Pld 4 Won 1 Drawn 0 Lost 3 F 6 A 9
Pts aggregate (3/12) GD – 3