Ladies finally able to make it through
Keynsham Town Ladies are through to the second round of the Women’s Cup after finally getting their clash against Marine Academy Plymouth played.
Following the last few weekends of poor weather, Keynsham managed to welcome their Devon hosts to the AJN Stadium in this first round clash while many played out their second round contests.
The game proved worth the wait as the sides shared six goals, with National League Division One South West Keynsham being held by their lower league visitors over the 90 minutes. The subsequent penalty shoot-out proved just as tense, before Keynsham finally held their nerve to win 8-7 and book their place in the next round.
Due to the lateness of their first round game taking place, Keynsham’s second round match against another South West Regional League Premier Division side in Bristol Rovers is scheduled to go ahead this Sunday, kick-off 1pm.
The winners of that will face a trip to Luton Town in the third round on December 10.
■ SOUTHERN LEAGUE Larkhall Athletic survived an early penalty miss before scoring two spot-kicks of their own in a comfortable 4-0 win over local rivals Paulton Rovers.
Alexander Lambert was a constant thorn in the Paulton side with his pacy runs and one such jaunt on six minutes forced goalkeeper Sam Jepson to brilliantly keep two quickfire chances out. Paulton were given the chance to take the lead on 12 minutes when playermanager Kyle Tooze was fouled in the box, however he struck his effort wide.
This seemingly sapped the Paulton confidence as Larkhall began to turn the screw. It took until the 35th minute for the Larks to finally break the deadlock through when a cross from the left found Archie Morris virtually unchallenged to head home.
As the half entered its final seconds, another probing run on the right led to Paulton handling in the box and Dawid Regula made no mistake from the spot to make it 2-0.
The second half continued in the same vein with Larkhall creating all of the best chances. The game was effectively ended in the 57th minute when Larkhall won another penalty and Regula struck a carbon-copy of the first. Regula then completed his hat-trick three minutes later after striding through to back-line and smashing home.
Jepson made another great save to prevent a fifth and, after Larkhall had another goal ruled out for offside, Paulton rallied towards the end but couldn’t stop the Larks from claiming a clean sheet.
Regula was on the scoresheet again on Tuesday night, however two goals in two minutes saw Larkhall to defeat at Wimborne Town.
Larkhall took the lead just before the half-hour mark and held on to their lead until the 61st minute when Jack Lovell equalised for the hosts. Wimborne then turned the game on its head with a second just two minutes later from Samuel Jackson to take the points away from Larkhall.
■ WESTERN LEAGUE Joe Beardwell had a game to remember as he scored five times in Bitton’s 8-0 thrashing of sorry Division One bottom side Bishop Sutton.
New signing Lewis Russell from Westbury went straight into the Bitton line-up and couldn’t have asked for a better result on debut. Toby Cole also managed to bag a brace, while substitute Harry Neil completed the scoring for Bitton as they remain 14 points off leaders Portishead Town in sixth.
■ Bradford Town are now four points further back in seventh after they were beaten by a single goal at Hallen. Tom Mack had the Bobcats’ best chance of the first half as the sides went in goalless at the break.
The deadlock was broken just seven minutes into the second half when Luke Banfield put Hallen in front. Bradford’s biggest opportunity to get something from the game came when Corey Gardner ran through one-on-one but was thwarted by the goalkeeper as Hallen somewhat deservedly held on to the points.
■ Odd Down scored twice in either half to secure a good 4-2 victory over Gillingham Town and return to winning ways. Raf Waugh and Ben Millett struck in the final ten minutes of the first half to give Down a 2-0 lead at half-time, Millett then struck again in second half injury time to make sure of the points. Lloyd Land was named man of the match.
■ Keynsham Town largely battled well with ten men for 72 minutes before ultimately succumbing to a 4-2 loss at home to Wells.
After Kyle Anderson was shown a straight red card on 18 minutes after conceding a penalty, which was despatched by Michael Duffy. No sooner had they gone behind, Keynsham managed to instantly equalise through Jemar Thomas.
Thomas then turned the tie on its head on 28 minutes after some great play saw him score his second to give Keynsham a 2-1 lead. This time it was Wells’ turn to respond and the managed to do so just before half-time through Harry Warwick.
Duffy and Warwick would both get themselves on the scoresheet again in the second half as Wells finally got the better of the tiring ten men to ultimately take the points away from Keynsham.
On Tuesday, Keynsham had a game to forget as they were thrashed 8-0 at home to AEK Boco. ■ HELLENIC LEAGUE Corsham Town remain a top clear at the top of the Premier Division despite being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Hereford Pegasus. The Quarrymen found themselves under pressure early on as Alfie Kelsey had to palm away a powerful effort.
Daniel Price saw his flicked header saved at the other end, before Charlie Cooper shot over as Corsham began to get into the game. It was Hereford though who broke the deadlock on 18 minutes through a Nathan Davis own goal.
As Corsham tried to respond, Matthew Jones’ free-kick rattled the post before he then sent a longrange effort wide. After a couple of set pieces to Hereford, Corsham were gifted a way back into the game from the penalty spot which was duly converted by Matthew Swann in first half injury time. Matthew James received his second yellow card in the process to leave the visitors a man down.
Corsham seemed to take that momentum into the second period as Ethan Hill saw his effort well saved before he then struck the woodwork with a curling shot. Jack Taylor fired narrowly wide from a volley but the Quarrymen soon found themselves a man down as well when Nathan Davis was shown a second yellow card, before Leon Greenland was sent to the sin bin to leave Corsham temporarily with nine.
Cooper thought he had won the game though with nine minutes to go when his header came back off the crossbar and Hereford were then down to nine men for the final five minutes as Connor Daviesaustin was shown his second yellow card. Jones would strike the woodwork once more as Corsham somehow failed to take the three points from the fixture.
After the game, manager Kieran Baggs said: “More than enough chances created to win the game, was obviously a frustrating afternoon when a team goes down to ten and they create a low block that sits in. You’ve got to be patient and wait for the opportunities.
“From my point of view, as a management team and in the way we’ve set up, I don’t think we could do much more. Loads of firepower, really creative, the opportunities that we created we really wellworked and on another day that’s comfortable and it’s three or four.”
■ WILTSHIRE LEAGUE Last season’s Fountain Trophies Cup winners Larkhall Athletic Development, despite not being at full strength, had enough to secure the win at Calne Town Reserves to progress.
A first for the club from Percy Winter set Larkhall on their way, with Angus Williamson adding a second to ensure the cup holders’ safe passage into the quarter finals. They have been drawn away to Division One leaders Faringdon Town in the quarter finals.
Odd Down Development are out of the competition following their 5-0 defeat at home to Wroughton. Down conceded three goals in the first half to all but the contest, before Wroughton completed the victory with two more strikes in the second period.
■ SOMERSET LEAGUE Timsbury Athletic made light of playing over half of the match with ten men as they comfortably beat visiting Uphill Castle 3-0 in the Premier Division. Three goals in the opening 19 minutes effectively killed the game off as Timsbury moved into the top five.
The hosts were ahead after just six minutes when player-manager Liam Craze’s free-kick evaded the wall and sneaked in via a post. Uphill failed to create many clearcut chances throughout the match, but Timsbury goalkeeper Jack Scrivens had to move smartly to cut out a dangerous cross.
Rhys Cook made it 2-0 on 15 minutes with a typical opportunist goal and then made it 3-0 four minutes later. Ellis Hancock had a great chance to add a fourth, but his shot was deflected wide.
Another Craze free-kick went just wide while, in a rare foray at the other end, Dan Thomas struck over. A great cross from Dan Barresi set up Cook again but his header went into the side netting.
Three minutes before half-time, a melee in the Timsbury area ended with Scrivens being sent off to leave Liam Ward in goal up to the break. Substitute Sam Gregory took over in the second half and saved well from James Hodgkinson.
Despite pressing for a goal, Uphill failed to significantly trouble a resolute home defence. At the other end, a header from Pele Sobers was easily held by goalkeeper Ryan Scott while two shots from Rio Bryant were comfortably dealt with. Late attempts from the
visitors went too high, while Timsbury nearly added a fourth when Sobers’ tantalising cross just evaded his brother Rico.
■ ELSEWHERE, a single goal proved enough to see Keynsham Town Reserves suffer defeat at Ilminster Town. They are now seven points off fifth-place Timsbury with a game in hand.
Saltford remain a point off Division One leaders Staplegrove after they were held to a 1-1 draw against Ashcott. That score was matched by Staplegrove who played out a stalemate against Peasedown Miners Welfare, who sit four points off the top three with a game in hand.
Three goals in the second half from Kory Moore, Endrit Qosja and substitute Bobby Ridewood saw Peasedown Albion to a 3-0 win at home to Winscombe in Division Three.
Bottom side Tunley Athletic suffered another difficult day at the office as they were beaten 12-0 at Sporting Weston, while Fry Club Reserves were narrowly beaten 2-1 at home to Highridge United.
■ MID SOMERSET LEAGUE Timsbury Athletic Reserves remain a point off Premier Division leaders Evercreech Rovers.
While Evercreech were just edging past Haydon Sports in a fivegoal thriller, Timsbury enjoyed a 4-0 win at Chilcompton Sports Reserves.
■ CHIP & BATH LEAGUE Whiteway scored in either half to make it through to the semi finals of the Somerset Sunday Challenge Cup. Visiting Division Two leaders Ash Park Rangers, Cameron New scored in the 17th minute to give First Division leaders Whiteway a half-time lead before Bill Turner doubled that advantage three minutes after the restart.
PF Loco are also through after edging past hosts Ramblers in a five-goal thriller.
In the Premier Division, Corsham Pavao and University of Bath shared the points in their 2-2 draw. Corey Harbour-burgess and Ben Selman were on target for Pavao, but they were cancelled out by goals from Will Honeychurch and substitute Vladyslav Pokoievych. The Uni boys also ended the game with ten men following two yellow cards for Olav Evjenth.
Bath Rovers offered Beeches a home walkover in Division One, while Lansdown suffered a 3-0 defeat at Fox & Hounds - having been 2-0 down at half-time.
Combe Down enjoyed a 4-2 win over Marshfield in Division Two, despite leading 3-0 at the break. Drew Lovelock scored twice for Combe, while Kean Hayward was also amongst the goals. Adrian Williams netted both times for Marshfield.
Storm Brand, Patrick Doyle and Matthew Pawley all scored in the first half during Griffin’s 3-1 win at home to Farrington Albion. Elliot Haffenden scored in the first half for Corsham Rovers, however they were pegged back by hosts Kingfisher in the second half as the sides shared the spoils.
Ben Lee was at the double for Olympic Victoria during their 5-3 win over Westbury Rovers, having recovered from a 2-1 half-time deficit. Ciaran Llewellyn, Chris Rogers and substitute Salvatore Boccardi weighed in with the other Victoria goals.
In Division Three, Lansdown Reserves converted a 2-1 lead at the break into a 5-3 win over visiting Bath Road Wanderers. Curtis Jones claimed a hat-trick for Lansdown, alongside goals for Adam Cooker and Charlie Eller.
There were eight goals in the first half at Forest Albion before Weston Village Team Nathan eventually succumbed to a 7-3 defeat. Kai Bingham bagged a brace for Weston, with Ionut-viorel Ranete also on the scoresheet at the visitors trailed 5-3 at the break.
Chris Spurrey scored for Manor, but they were beaten 3-1 by visiting Trowbridge Athletic. Max Wheatley was on the scoresheet for Team Nathan in their 5-1 loss at Warminster Athletic.
■ WOMEN’S FOOTBALL A single goal proved enough to see Bitton defeat by visiting AEK Boco in the Northern Division of the South West Regional League.
Keynsham Town under-18 bowed out of the Somerset Junior Cup by offering Ashton an away walkover.
Corsham Town made it nine wins from nine at the top of the Wiltshire County & Girls League Premier Division as they put nine past hosts Highworth Town. Andrea Chludilova claimed a hattrick, alongside a brace for Shannon Redhouse and goals from Tia Harris, Gabby Menghini, Emma Summerill and substitute Chantalle Church.