Larks off to a flyer in FA Trophy triumph
Larkhall Athletic marched through to the first round proper of the FA Trophy after dismantling local Southern League Division One South rivals Paulton Rovers 5-1.
The match got off to a dramatic start when Larkhall’s Lewis Powell saw his snapshot strike the hand of defender Dan Dempsey and, despite the Paulton protests, the referee pointed to the spot. Powell stepped up to give Larkhall the earliest of leads.
Larkhall managed to extend their lead just four minutes later when Harry Simons’ cross from the right evaded the defence and allowed Sam Crumb to volley on the turn and leave Paulton shell-shocked.
Rovers finally began to show some organised forward play. Leighton Thomas made a fine run on the right with Ed Butcher on the left and Liban Ibrahim finding themselves in promising situations without really testing Shaun Semmens in the Larks goal.
Larkhall’s strong running forwards were constantly interchanging, regularly stretching the defence despite Neil Martin’s calming influence. At the other end, a terrific pass set Butcher up but his shot was saved, while Aaron Sainsbury was called upon to stop a fierce shot from Matt Britton.
After a spell of Paulton pressure, a quick break from Larkhall saw Alex Lambert out-pace the defence and cross in for the unmarked Tom Fry to make it 3-0. With four minutes to go before half-time, Paulton looked to have gained a way back into the match when Thomas curled a delightful free-kick from 22-yards into the top corner for 3-1 at the break.
Paulton tried hard to reduce the deficit further in the second half as Ibrahim fired just over after great link up play with James Byrne. But any hopes of a comeback were dashed just after the hour as Mike Baker bundled the ball home from a corner to restore Larkhall’s three goal advantage.
Substitute Thierry Swaby offered a new attacking dimension for Rovers as they began to pile on the pressure. Both Butcher and Thomas had opportunities but the final, telling pass eluded them. As time ticked away, Larkhall won a header from a goal kick and Powell fired low into the far corner to finish the game off at 5-1.
Larkhall now face a trip to Isthmian League South Central Division side Marlow on November 13.
Noel Avis ■ WESTERN LEAGUE Keynsham Town snuck past local rivals Cadbury Heath in a seven-goal thriller. Having fallen behind to Dean Preddie’s opener, the K’s got back on level terms just before the break when Will Hailston followed up a free-kick from
Jordan Metters which was spilled into his path before tapping home.
A penalty soon after the interval from Matt Huxley restored the Heath’s advantage, before Hailston struck for the second time to draw the hosts level as the game headed into the final quarter. The fifth goal of the contest was the pick of the bunch, with Dan Cottle picking the ball up 30-yards out before unleashing an unstoppable strike into the back of the Heath net.
That goal sparked a frantic final ten minutes, with Octavian Gala levelling for the visitors, before Jordan Anstey headed home the crucial winner five minutes from time for the victorious K’s.
In the First Division, Odd Down denied Lebeq United victory, when Raphael Waugh equalised 20 minutes from time after Sacha Tong had put the visitors in control before the break.
Odd Down then progressed through in the Somerset Premier Cup on Tuesday after they beat Southern League Paulton Rovers on penalties. Cam New equalised for Down before Raphael Waugh scored the winning penalty to go through 3-2.
■ HELLENIC LEAGUE Corsham Town enjoyed a 2-0 win over Westfields on Saturday. Brandon Mundy gave Corsham a 1-0 lead at half-time before the points were secured by Mark Cooper in the second period to remain fourth in the table.
Corsham players and staff members are taking on Movember this month to raise awareness for men’s health, cancer diagnosis and suicide prevention. To help donate to the cause, visit uk.movember.com/ team/2411007.
In the Wiltshire Premier Shield, George Box netted a hat-trick and provided an assist for Olly Sterling as Bradford Town beat Amesbury 4-1 to progress.
■ WILTSHIRE LEAGUE Odd Down Reserves fell to a third consecutive defeat after going down 2-0 at Pewsey Vale. They are now 12th in the table with just four wins and four draws from their 16 matches.
■ SOMERSET LEAGUE A devastating 17-minute spell at the beginning of the second half in which they scored four times saw Timsbury Athletic strengthen their challenge at the top of the Division One table after beating fourth-placed Uphill Castle. Timsbury were a goal down at the break but turned the match around, thanks in part to two defensive howlers, to secure the points.
The hosts had the better of the early stages and Rhys Cook forced Castle keeper Ryan Scott to save well.
Callum Taylor headed wide from a Liam Craze corner and Tim Midgely was also off target from a long-range effort. At the other end, Jack Askins headed wide and Jesse
Bishop did well to block another Askins attempt.
Castle had a great to score when Dave Mccabe sent Sam Beresford clear, but he shot wide with the goal at his mercy. Five minutes before the interval, Beresford burst through again and this time made no mistake, burying his effort past Ashton Tucker to put Castle in front at half-time.
Within a minute of the restart, Timsbury were level. Midgley crossed and Mccabe somehow sent an unstoppable volley past his own keeper and, just two minutes later, two defenders got themselves into a tangle and Midgley took advantage, crossing for Cook to tap home.
Timsbury were now irresistible and Cook should have scored again after Ellis Hancock played him through. Hancock then hit the post himself as Scott saved from Midgely and Matt Brooks headed over from a corner. Timsbury weren’t to be denied though and made it 3-1 on the hour when a superb run from Cook was ended with a pinpoint cross for Midgley to hammer home. Two minutes later, Hancock thundered a header past Scott to virtually end the game.
Castle battled away and, after captain Askins headed against the bar, he struck a free-kick past Tucker to reduce the arrears to 4-2, but it mattered not.
■ ELSEWHERE, Keynsham Town Reserves came away from Worle with a point in the Premier Division after drawing 1-1. Adam Barabasz score Keynsham’s goal which moves them up to 12 points, ninth in the table. In Division One, Saltford needed a goal from Scott Wilson 17 minutes from time to rescue a point in a 1-1 draw with Street Reserves. They remain 12th having received a points deduction.
Fourth-place Peasedown Miners Welfare were edged out 1-0 at home to leaders Ashton & Backwell United Reserves in Division Two. A double from James Phillips helped Fry Club Reserves to a 2-2 draw at home to Somerton Town Reserves.
■ MID SOMERSET LEAGUE Timsbury Athletic Reserves missed out on a place in the Dimmock Green Cup semi-finals after awarding Coleford Athletic a home walkover. Weston will be joining them in the final four after demolishing Pilton United 13-0. Gary Jones netted five of the goals alongside braces for Tyler Matthews, Tyrone Mulholland and substitute Andy Marks, with Aaron Ford and Jack O’brien also getting on the scoresheet.
Saltford Reserves are through to the quarter-finals of the Tony Baxter Shield after beating Somer Valley Sports 3-1. Peasedown Albion Reserves beat Haydon Sports 1-0 in Division One.
■ WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
Athletic were held to a 1-1 draw at Poole Town in the only game to survive the weather in the FA Women’s National League Division One South West. Rhian Robbins had given Larkhall the lead on 33 minutes, but
that was cancelled out ten minutes later by Emma Acott.
Keynsham Town Reserves were beaten 2-0 at home to Southampton Development in the Reserve South West League.