Larks ascending after cup win

Larkhall Athletic booked their place in the third round qualifying of the FA Trophy for the first time with a hardworking 3-1 win against fellow Southern League Slimbridge.

The scoreline belied the balance of play in the first half and as has happened a number of times this season it was the visitors who struck first.

Just 12 minutes in, winger Marley Thomas laid on a good ball into the home box and centre half Nathan Dennis headed home.

Larks captain Mike Baker very nearly levelled the scores with a superb direct free kick that went through the defensive wall only to cannon off the crossbar of Lewis Adams’ goal.

After this near miss the Larks improved, and only moments later man of the match Lewis Powell equalised with a header off the far post. Sensing the momentum, the Larks took the lead thanks to Sam Crumb five minutes before the break.

As the second period got underway Crumb thrilled the crowd with an audacious 40-yard drive that hit the bar and Lewis too spurned an excellent chance from the edge of the box.

The Swans’ young squad were visibly tiring and with the Larks dominating the final stages of the game it was only a matter of time before Powell struck again.

Showing great skill and resolve, he held the ball under pressure and sent at least two Slimbridge defenders the wrong way to slot home from close range. The Larks progressed in both the Somerset Premier Cup and the FA Trophy last week.

In the next round of the Somerset Cup the Larks will play a home tie against National League side Yeovil Town. In the Third Round Qualifying of the FA Trophy they have drawn neighbours and fellow Southern League side Paulton Rovers, where they will head on Saturday 30th October hoping for a bestever Trophy run.

■ Western League

On a high-scoring Saturday afternoon in the Premier Division, the game of the day most likely took place at the Kimberley Stadium where Saltash came from behind to defeat Bitton 4-3.

After falling behind to Jack Ball’s 11th minute header, the Ashes hit back to lead after half an hour thanks to excellent finishes from Callum Martindale and Sam Farrant.

Ball then found himself free to head home his second of the game, before teammate Jordan Whittaker struck in first half stoppage time to put the visitors ahead at the interval.

The Ashes came out with a purpose in the second half, and having drawn level in the 62nd minute through Tom Harris, they then scored the crucial seventh goal of the contest when Dave Barker’s cross ended up nesting in the visitors’ net.

Brislington were demolished at home by Exmouth, who scored seven times after the interval on their way to an 11-0 scoreline.

Street secured a much-needed win after Harry Foster’s 29th minute header helped them beat Cadbury Heath 1-0.

The points were shared in Clevedon, where visitors Keynsham salvaged a 2-2 draw despite trailing by two early in the second half.

A deflected Syd Camper effort gave the hosts a second minute lead, which then became 2-0 in the opening stages of the second half whenglen Hayer converted a Camper corner.

Will Hailston’s excellent season in front of goal continued, with the K’s front man halving the deficit, but in the ensuing melee which followed his goal, teammate George Rooke was given his marching orders.

Incredibly, it was the ten men who managed to force home an equaliser, with debutant Dan Cottle scoring four minutes from time to rescue a point in what looked like a lost cause for much of the afternoon.

In the First Division on Friday evening, Longwell Green Sports almost ended their two-month wait for a victory, but let slip a twogoal lead before drawing 2-2 with Cheddar.

Odd Down produced a second half fightback to defeat Gillingham Town 2-1, ending a three-match losing streak in the process.

Having fallen behind after just 12 minutes, the Bath side got back on level terms soon after the break through Josh Clark, before a winner five minutes from time from Bradley Norris saw the visitors snatch all three points.

Top-six duo Radstock and Warminster battled out a 2-2 draw at the Southfields Rec.

■ bath & DISTRICT Sunday League

Lots of action across all three divisions this weekend and the results didn’t disappoint the neutrals either in the Bath & District Sunday League.

Kingsmead and Batheaston, last season’s first and second faced off and it ended in similar style for the Kings as they were victorious again, by a score of 3-1.

A brace from Norris was made better by Ifill’s strike and Batheaston did score but it wasn’t enough to take anything from this match.

Lansdown welcomed Bath United, both searching for their first win in this campaign, in what turned out to be a seven-goal thriller that the away side just edged 3-4. Goals Kearney (2) and Boyce (2) gave United a much needed win, while strikes from Chapman, Cradock and Hardy was not enough for the hosts.

Meanwhile, PF Loco hammered Trinity 7-0, keeping themselves in second position and the pressure on the Kings.

Team Nathan AFC’S 5-4 win over Gringos in a nine-goal thriller started things off in division two.

The away side went 1-0 up early before Spurrey equalized from close range, a cracker from skipper Bradbury put Nathan 2-1 up but by the break it was all level.

On around the hour mark Paget grabbed his first TNFC goal for 3-2, it seemed to all be for nothing though as two quick-fire long range stunners saw the game flip on its head and it was 3-4 all of a sudden.

In the last 15minutes Nathan scored two of their own, first Rowlands finished in style after Bradbury’s third assist and then right-back Payne-blackmore played a hit and hope turned peach long ball to Spurrey who with four minutes to go punished Gringo’s and ended the game at 5-4.

Odd Down Reserves hosted Farrington Albion in another bottomof-table clash in which both teams were hunting a first win.

Taylor, Russell and Farr all finished impressively giving the home side all three points at 3-1.

Olympic Victoria lost 0-3 to Dunkerton as the high flying league leaders won again in style, and look the team to beat right now.

Puckle Vale third division’s league leaders continue to dominate, with a 9-1 win over Keynsham Rangers this time. Bayliss (2) Densley (2) Hanham (3) Shaw (1) and an own goal done the damage to Rangers.

Bear Flat beat Team Nathan Reserves 4-3. The newly formed reserves went 0-2 up through Blackmore and Kelly but fitness kicked in and Flat turned it around.

The final game of the weekend saw Lansdown reserves lose 4-5 to Heritage Reserves.