Former league star helps Larks exit cup
Larkhall Athletic have been knocked out of the Southern League Challenge Cup after suffering a 4-1 defeat to Swindon Supermarine.
Former Football League striker Chris Zebroski was on the scoresheet for Swindon on debut, netting the fourth ten minutes before half-time.
Matthew Liddiard and a Harry Williams brace had already looked to put the Preliminary Round tie to bed after 21 minutes.
Dale Evans did net eight minutes into the second half for Larkhall, but it wasn’t enough to spark a comeback.
■ WESTERN LEAGUE Keynsham Town survived a ten minute scare with nine men and no manager as Seth Locke pulled off a penalty save to earn a point at Street.
After falling behind within ten minutes when Harry Foster capitalised on a misplaced back-pass, Keynsham were gifted a route back into the game ten minutes before the break when Street keeper Liam Norris made a mess of a clearance to allow Will Hailston to equalise.
Street were then awarded a penalty early in the second half to restore their advantage in what was a contentious decision.
However, the vocal protests from manager John Allen and one of his assistants proved a step over the line for the referee and he sent them both to the changing rooms, with two further players heading to the sin bin to reduce Keynsham to nine men for ten minutes.
After Locke’s penalty save from Foster, Keynsham largely kept Street at bay despite the numerical disadvantage. Locke was called upon to save from Kyle Strange before the rest of the match largely petered out to earn Keynsham their fourth draw in five matches.
Premier Division leaders Bitton suffered their first defeat of the campaign at Brislington.
Bitton found themselves 2-0 behind before the Western League Fans’ Premier Division Player of the Month for August Dean Griffiths netted from the spot to make it 2-1 at half-time.
Brislington regained their two goal advantage ten minutes after the restart, but it was to be a nervy final 15 minutes for the hosts when Josh Egan netted a superb freekick. However, Brislington hung on to the three points.
Omar Simpson was named man of the match for Odd Down as they needed a late strike to secure a draw against Bristol Telephones. Liam Atwell had put the Phones in front just before half-time from a corner before Simpson set up namesake Caelen to rescue a point five minutes before the end.
■ WILTSHIRE LEAGUE Corsham Town Development enjoyed the spoils against local rivals Odd Down Reserves last Wednesday in a ninegoal thriller. Will Stead netted a hattrick for Corsham alongside first half strikes for Benjamin Wickens and Jonathan Bazley before Wickens grabbed his second in injury time.
Odd Down substitute Angus Williamson netted on the hour alongside later goals from Ben Riccio and Charlie Saunders as they were beaten 6-3.
They recovered from that disappointment with a 3-1 win at Stratton Juniors. Riccio netted five minutes before half-time after Williamson had scored on the half hour mark. Marley Carpenter added Odd Down’s third on the hour. Corsham suffered a 1-0 defeat at leaders Pewsey Vale.
On Tuesday, Keynsham suffered a 4-0 defeat at home to Clevedon Town, while Bitton were 4-2 victors over Ashton & Backwell United.
■ GLOUCESTERSHIRE LEAGUE Wick made it four wins from four to continue their form at the top of the table. Travelling to Little Stoke, Ben Harris netted the only goal of the game after a goalless first half to claim the three points. The Reserves were beaten 2-0 at DRG SV Frenchay in the Bristol Premier Combination League.
■ SOMERSET LEAGUE Keynsham Town Reserves were held to a point at second-bottom side Ilminster Town in the Premier Division. Liam Crispin and Harry Williams netted for Keynsham as they played out a 2-2 draw to move onto four points from six games. Fry Club suffered a 6-0 humbling at Stockwood Wanderers.
Alex Mcarthur’s 27th minute goal for Saltford helped them to a 1-1 draw at Nailsea & Tickenham Reserves to make it four points from two games to remain unbeaten at the very stages of their Division One campaign.
A Samuel Gregory hat-trick ensured a comfortable enough victory for Timsbury Athletic at Staplegrove.
Rhys Cook was also on the scoresheet as Timsbury ran out 4-1 winners to make it three wins from three and continue their perfect start.
Fry Club Reserves netted four goals in their Division Three tie at home to Burnham United Reserves, but it proved insufficient as they lost 6-4 for their first defeat of the campaign. Mark Chaffey, Will Humble, Danny Lock and Alex Weeks all for Fry but to no avail.
Tunley Athletic suffered a 2-0 defeat at Imperial in the first round of the Somerset County Senior Cup.
■ MID SOMERSET LEAGUE Peasedown Albion had a start to remember, kicking their campaign off with a 9-0 humbling of Pilton United. Craig Dowling and Jack Newman both netted a hat-trick alongside goals for Josh Addicott and substitutes Ben Brown and Luke Higgins. Weston were also winners on opening with a 4-1 success against Evercreech Rovers.
A hat-trick for Jack Davis helped Coleford Athletic to a 5-2 win over Chilcompton Sports. Oliver Chapman and Daniel Hucker netted the other goals from Coleford.
Braces for Andrew Minchin and substitute Samuel Speed saw Saltford Reserves to a 5-2 victory at High Littleton in Division One. Fellow replacement Chris Watts was also on the scoresheet for Saltford. Paulton Rovers Reserves could only manage a 2-2 draw a Coleford Athletic Reserves in Division Two. Lee Gould scored both of Coleford’s goals.
■ WOMEN’S FOOTBALL Keynsham Town continued their difficult start to the Southern Premier campaign with a 6-1 defeat at Portsmouth. After the game, head coach Steve Lilley said: “Once again, we competed admirably for long periods of the game, against strong opposition. However, we lost focus for a couple of ten minute spells and were ruthlessly punished.”
The Reserves drew 2-2 with Chichester & Selsey in the Reserve SW Division.
In Division One South West, despite more than matching their opponents, small lapses in concentration and some excellent strikes saw Larkhall Athletic beaten 3-0 at Cheltenham Town.
ACES M&E Ltd were thanked for their support as Jess Osborne was named the Opposition Player of the Match by Cheltenham.
■ SOUTH WEST COUNTIES YOUTH LEAGUE Bath City got their campaign underway with a 3-1 win at Swindon Supermarine. Harley Prior netted twice alongside a strike for Jack Taylor.