Larks through after mammoth Trophy tie
Larkhall Athletic have made it through to the second round of the FA Trophy after a mammoth tie against Marlow on Saturday.
Hold ups on the M4 meant kickoff had to be delayed until nearly 3.30pm and Marlow immediately showed their speed and agility. Somewhat against the run of play, Larhkall won a corner in the tenth minute which was taken by Alex Lambert. Marlow failed to clear and Matt Britton lashed home from the edge of the area.
Parity was instantly restored though as Marlow equalised through Nnamdi Nwachuku, who proved to be a thorn in the Larks’ defence all game. Nwachuku put Marlow ahead on 22 minutes as Larkhall now had a mountain to climb, with only Mike Baker’s header cleared off the line to show in the remainder of the half.
A couple of tactical substitutions at the break though seemed to change the game as Dale Evans and Aysa Corrick spurred the Larks on. Josh Jones and Baker stood firm in defence as the final stages of the game became hectic. Shaun Semmens made a series of superb saves to deny Kahlil Francis, with fatigue seeing the game open up.
Larkhall showed tremendous character and managed to find an equaliser in the final minute through Joe Hillard to send the tie to penalties. The shoot-out was finally settled after 20 spot kicks. Semmens had saved five of Marlow’s attempts, while Larkhall had missed four before Jones fired past Simon Grant to see them through 6-5.
Larkhall will now travel to Wimborne Town in the second round on November 27. The Larks were knocked out of the Somerset Premier Cup last Wednesday after going down 2-0 to Yeovil Town.
Tracey Hill ■ WESTERN LEAGUE Bitton now sit seven points off the top of the Premier Division after they suffered a 4-0 loss at home to an ever-improving Mousehole outfit. The opening half was a pretty tight affair, but it was the visitors who managed to go in-front with Louis Price forcing the ball home in the 20th minute.
Price was also on target during a much more one-sided second half, which also saw Hayden Turner notch a brace of his own for Mousehole who are now unbeaten in four.
Keynsham Town were another top-six outfit to win big away from home, scoring twice in either half to topple Bridport 4-0.
Sam Jones and Will Hailston struck at either end of the first half to put the K’s in control by the midway point of the contest, and the second half then belonged to Dan Cottle, with the visiting forward maintaining his fine run of form with a pair of excellent finishes as Town rolled to a big win.
Warminster Town moved second in the Division One table after goals from Eben Mortimer-taylor and Jack Miluk led them to a 2-0 win at Odd Down.
■ HELLENIC LEAGUE A single goal was enough for Corsham Town’s five-game unbeaten streak to come to an end. Hosting Westbury United, Corsham suffered a 1-0 loss as Westbury moved two points behind having played two less games in seventh.
Bradford Town failed to close the gap to Corsham as they suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Bishop Cleeve. Jacob Brown netted for the Bobcats in the 17th minute, but ended the game with ten men when Mark Wall was sent off six minutes from time.
That came after Bradford’s 4-0 victory over Shrivenham on Wednesday night. Harvey Baker opened the scoring on 15 minutes before adding a second five minutes before half-time. The Bobcats took a three-goal lead into halftime though when George Box struck in stoppage time. The scoring was completed seven minutes from time when Baker secured his hat-trick.
Bradford sit four points off Corsham, but also two have games in hand.
■ WILTSHIRE LEAGUE Odd Down Reserves put bottom side Purton to the sword with a 7-0 thrashing. Brad Evans broke the deadlock on 12 minutes before Charlie Saunders added a second six minutes later. James Payton added a third on 25 minutes and secured a brace five minutes before half-time.
Saunders followed suit with his second and Down’s fifth five minutes after the restart. Harvey Kendrick made it six on 62 minutes before Marley Carpenter rounded off the scoring ten minutes from the end.
Corsham Town Development were drawing 1-1 with Stratton Juniors before the match had to be abandoned after a serious arm injury to Tyler Johnson. A speedy recover is wished for Tyler.
■ SOMERSET LEAGUE Timsbury Athletic again demonstrated why they are one of the front runners in Division One with a comprehensive 6-2 win at home to Yatton & Cleeve United. A combination of fluent football and clinical finishing proved far too much for the visitors who showed fight and were rewarded with two late goals.
Positive from the outset, Timsbury forced Yatton keeper into a save from Jack Nix’s free-kick and an effort from Rhys Cook. Timsbury eventually took the lead on 15 minutes when Toby Neilson beat the keeper from distance, albeit with a deflection. Sean Derrick was just wide with another effort before assisting the second goal as he crossed for Reuben Hobbs to head home.
Yatton had created few clear chances, but the danger when it did come was largely orchestrated by George Frost down the left with a cross headed wide by Alex Bird. Cook hit the outside of the post for Timsbury before Ashton Tucker saved a snapshot from Yatton’s Tom Starr.
Three minutes into the second half, Timsbury went 3-0 up when Cook raced clear and hammered home. Cook then cleverly backheeled to fellow striker Hobbs sidefooted wide. Ellis Hancock made it 4-0 with a thumping header from Ebner Heatley’s corner.
Bird headed over for Yatton in a rare attack before Timsbury won a penalty on 65 minutes when Cook was pulled back in box and it was Cook who stepped up the penalty but it was saved by Murphy. Cook made amends by laying on a perfect chance for Hancock who notched his second.
Timsbury’s sixth was the best of the lot as Hobbs found the top corner with a fine shot. With two minutes remaining, Yatton earned a penalty and Elliott Shipway pulled a goal back before Frost added a second in stoppage time.
Elsewhere, Fry Club enjoyed a 3-0 win over Premier Division bottom side Westfield. Sam Hewitt scored a brace alongside one for substitute Toby Cooke to end their two game run without a win. Peasedown Miners Welfare played out a goalless draw with Chew Magna in Division Two.
Nathan Baker scored for Tunley Athletic but they were beaten 4-1 at Clevedon United Reserves in Division Three. Fry Club Reserves enjoyed a 5-1 win at Congresbury. There was a brace for James Phillips alongside goals for Bradley Bush, Danny Lock and Steven Probert.
■ MID SOMERSET LEAGUE Premier Division second-place Weston enjoyed a 4-2 win at Westfield Reserves to go level on points with leaders Wells City A, having played a game more. Peasedown Albion Reserves lost 3-0 at High Littleton in Division One, while Saltford Reserves drew 4-4 with Meadow Rangers.
■ TROWBRIDGE LEAGUE Freshford United have been handed a place in the third round of the Somerset County Cup after a receiving a walkover from Wyvern United.
■ WOMEN’S FOOTBALL Keynsham Town Ladies have been knocked out of the FA Cup. The K’s scored three times at home to Plymouth Argyle in the first round but succumbed to a 5-3 defeat to exit the competition. The Reserves enjoyed a 5-1 win at Frome Town in the Eastern Division of the South West Women’s Regional League. Olivia Bees, Fleur Jenkins, Kirsty Smith, Vicky Vipond and Katie Williams all scored for the K’s.