LARKS FLY UP TO THIRD WITH WIN

LARKHALL Athletic rose to third in the Southern League South Division after a 2-1 victory over Mangotsfield United at

Plain Ham.

The warning signs were there for Mangotsfield as they needed a pointblank save from Marko Radovanovic to deny Alex Lambert on ten minutes.

But United did not respond as Lewis Powell was found free in the box to head home from a corner two minutes later.

There was little flow to what was a scrappy affair but Mangotsfield could have drawn level only for Daniel Demkiv to fire over after Jordan Rogers flicked the ball to him.

Mangotsfield had the better of the second half but Larkhall were always a threat going forward and they doubled their lead on 62 minutes courtesy of an own goal.

Almost immediately the away side got one back after James Ollis found the top corner with a 25-yard strike.

But Larkhall hung on to claim three crucial points in the promotion race.

Cirencester Town

climbed a place to ninth after beating Sholing 2-1 at the Corinium Stadium.

Keeper Lee Clayton was forced into action after defensive slip-up, but he did well, parrying Daniel Mason’s shot before diving at Jamie Bulpitt’s feet.

Ciren then took a deserved lead with a spectacular 30-yard shot into the far corner from Brad Gray on 25 minutes.

Stuart Green wasted a good chance when he smashed over Mason’s delivery.

But Sholing did not have to wait long to get off the mark as Brad Targett prodded in from a tight angle on 38 minutes after surging into the box.

Sholing were level at 1-1 but were then dealt a blow four minutes into the second half when substitute John Dennis struck from long range.

Dennis could have had notched a second on 55

minutes after dancing past two defenders only to stroke the ball just wide.

Sholing created a great chance on 73 minutes when Dan Miller’s flick-on fell to Targett but he skied his shot.

There was also a home

victory for AFC Totton who moved further clear of the drop zone with a 1-0

win over Bristol Manor

Farm.

The visitors created early opportunities but were unable to find the finishing touch with Alan Griffin misfiring with a weak header.

Totton were putting their bodies on the line as Jack Smith stopped a certain goal for Bristol Manor with a great block.

With six minutes to go before half-time, Totton went ahead with a fine curling effort into the top right-hand corner by Oli Bradley.

There were a few nervy moments at the back for Totton, but they managed to hang on with goalkeeper Amadeusz Skrzyniarz pulling off a stunning double save late on.

The match ended on a disappointing note for the home side when Smith received a second yellow for dissent. Seventh-placed Slimbridge are three points behind the play-off places after thrashing bottom club Barnstaple Town 4-0 at Thornhill Park.

Sol Wanjau-Smith put Swans in front with a 15th-minute penalty before converting another spotkick four minutes later.

Javan Wright went close to getting one back for Barnstaple before being hit by a double blow just before the interval as Rhys Sarson struck twice in three minutes. Elsewhere, Cinderford Town’s clash with Basingstoke Town could not be played as fog put paid to proceedings.