Bottesford Town 1–2 Handsworth

📍 Barrett Steel Stadium

📅 Saturday 1st November 2025

🏆 NCEL Premier Division

Bottesford Town fell to a frustrating 2–1 defeat at home to Handsworth, despite a dominant first-half performance at Barrett Steel Stadium.

The Poachers made a dream start, taking the lead in the 4th minute. Luke Ayris sparked the move with strong play in midfield, feeding Jake Brown, who slipped a perfectly-weighted pass into Jack McMenemy, and McMenemy finished clinically to give Bottesford an early advantage.

Bottesford continued to dictate the game, moving the ball well and keeping Handsworth quiet. On 16 minutes, McMenemy went close again, seeing an effort cleared off the line as the Poachers pressed for a second goal. Handsworth struggled to create any meaningful chances, and Bottesford went in at half-time fully in control.

The momentum shifted early in the second half as Mitchell Dunne levelled for the visitors in the 49th minute, finding the bottom right corner with a well-taken finish. Handsworth then turned the game on its head with a second goal in the 62nd minute, capitalising on their spell of pressure.

Bottesford responded with a triple substitution on 68 minutes, which helped regain control and territory, but despite pushing forward, the Poachers couldn’t create a clear-cut opening to find an equaliser.

Handsworth were reduced to ten men in the 90th minute, as Dunne received his second yellow card for simulation, but the late man-advantage wasn’t enough for Bottesford to turn the game around.

A disappointing result after such a strong first-half showing, with the visitors’ clinical second-half display proving decisive.

Focus now shifts to Tuesday night, as we welcome Golcar United to Barrett Steel Stadium in a big response opportunity.