With 7 players missing from today’s team due to injury and personal commitments, The Bees went in to today up against it, looking to maintain their excellent home record against a strong Blunsdon side, sitting 2nd before kick off.

Not much of note happened for the first 15 or so minutes, in stark contrast to last weekend, before Wayman sent in a cross which Miluk tried and failed to get on to, allowing Blunsdon to break on the counter. The resulting shot ending up well over the bar.

A minute later, Rustell found himself with a great opportunity from 20 yards out, hit shot struck well but saved equally as well by the keeper, before the follow up was hoofed clear.

On 25 minutes, Gunning sent a corner in which Miluk drove across the box before Finn Young shot agonisingly just wide from 8 yards out.

Not long after, George Bendle was brought down in the penalty box, but the referee waved the appeals away.

The Bees had a couple of chances towards the end of the first half, with Rustell causing problems again; his shot was sent just over the bar on 35 minutes, before Bendle whipped a ball in minutes later and Rustell headed just over again.

The Bees started the second half brightly, with chances for Alfie Francis and a half chance for Sterling, before Blunsdon had a shot saved brilliantly on the line by Ramsey.

Miluk had the ball in the back of the net with a cool finish on 50 minutes, only to be deemed offside. Great work from Bendle again created a small opening but James Rustell’s only option was to try a scissor kick, with two defenders wrapped around bis ankle, and the keeper was able to claim the ball.

On 52 minutes Miluk was sent in one on one but the shot was dragged just wide, before Lewis Wayman tried an outrageous effort (definitely not a cross, eh Lewis?) from 35 yards out, which hit the crossbar. Bendle followed this up with a header which was saved.

Ramsey came to The Bees rescue again on 59 minutes, with an excellent save on the line from point blank range from a Blunsdon corner.

The game then entered a bit of a lull with chances for both teams not really testing either keeper, and The Bees were forced to make a change when James Rustell was injured in the 74th minute. Fred Short replaced him and gave a good account of himself for the remaining 15 minutes.

The Bees rallied late on, with Dan Sibley making a break for goal, before he was taken out by the Blunsdon defender, who received a yellow card.

Ryan Baggs took the free kick which was cleared and then sent back out to him – he took a touch and tried the spectacular from 30 yards out, but the shot fizzed over the bar.

As the referee’s watch struck 90, George Bendle was played in brilliantly, sending his shot low – it had the keeper beaten, but rolled agonisingly onto the inside of the post before being cleared.

The game ended 0-0 – another clean sheet for The Bees, and our unbeaten home record stretching back two years remains in tact – the back of the net seemingly taunting us at the moment.

Result: 0-0
Att: 80
Match Sponsor: Nigel Vile, supporting Crohn’s & Colitis UK
Next Fixture: Frome Collegians (A), 29th Aug, 6.15pm KO.
Man of The Match: Kierran Ramsey
Match Officials: Luke Fabry (Ref), Oderico Rossi (Linesman), Maurice Chilcott (Linesman)