Disappointment as chances go begging
Larkhall Athletic returned to action for the first time since their historic FA Trophy defeat at Stockport County on January 15 and played out a 1-1 draw at home to Lymington Town.
Alex Lambert gave Larkhall the lead on 32 minutes and overall the home side will be disappointed to have only scored once in a game where they had plenty of chances. Lymington captain Callum Davies equalised on 57 minutes but both teams ended the game with ten men after Larkhall goalkeeper Shaun Semmen and Lymington’s Adam Biss were both sent off.
Larkhall are 11th in the table but have between two and six games in hand over all but one side above them, with 15 points between them and the promotion places. They travel to bottom side Barnstaple Town on Saturday.
■ WESTERN LEAGUE The action got under way on Friday evening in the First Division, with nine-man Lebeq fighting back from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with Odd Down.
Goals either side of the interval from Omar Simpson and Raphael Waugh had put the Bath side in control, before a pin-point freekick from Jennison Williams found the top corner to halve the deficit.
Then, despite having suffered two red cards on a dramatic night, Lebeq managed to grab an unlikely equaliser in the 15th minute of added time when Sacha Tong stroked the ball home.
In the Premier Division, Jordan Harris of Exmouth Town had an afternoon to remember, scoring three of his side’s goals in their 4-1 win away at Bitton.
Having fallen behind to Luke Bryan’s opener in first half stoppage time, Harris got Exmouth back on level terms ten minutes after the interval, smashing his penalty into the bottom corner. Town stayed on top for the remainder of the second half, and after Ben Steer put them ahead for the first time, Harris then struck twice more to complete the turnaround.
Exmouth’s victory cut the gap slightly at the top of the league, after their fellow Devonians, Tavistock, were held to a goalless draw away at Keynsham Town who played the entirety of the second half with ten men and saw goalkeeper Seth Locke save a penalty.
■ HELLENIC LEAGUE Bradford Town remain second with a game in hand over third place Brimscombe & Thrupp despite being held to a 1-1 draw at fifth-place Westfields on Saturday. The game was ultimately a tale of two penalties as first Westbury took the lead from the spot before Ross Lye equalised on 23 minutes when they too were awarded a kick fro 12 yards.
The Bobcats sit three points ahead of Brimscombe & Thrupp but now sit nine points off leaders Bishops Cleeve with a game in hand. Corsham Town were without a game at the weekend and sit four points off Bradford in fourth with a further game in hand on their local rivals.
■ WILTSHIRE LEAGUE Third placed Corsham Town Development went into their game against Salisbury FC Development after back-to-back wins against Devizes Town Reserves and Calne Town Reserves and a second half strike from leading scorer Ben Wickens secured all three points and a 100 per cent winning record for the month.
The win for Corsham ensured the gap to the top two did not get any bigger and they will look to try and close it this weekend when they visit Shrewton United.
Biggest winners of the afternoon were Odd Down Reserves as they made it three wins in their last four with a 12-0 victory over struggling Purton. Purton manager Frankie Hunt was forced to don the goalkeepers’ gloves as he travelled to Bath with just 12 players. However, his side battled away and drew praise on social media from James Riccio in the opposite dugout but found the young Odd Down side too strong on the day.
Angus Williamson led the way helping himself to four goals, Harvey Kendrick hit a hat-trick, leading scorer Charlie Saunders bagged a brace and there was one apiece for Lewis Dixon, Marley Carpenter and Ben Riccio. Odd Down are home again next week when Calne Town Reserves are the visitors.
■ SOMERSET LEAGUE A goal from Chris Midgely eight minutes into the second half was enough to see Timsbury Athletic gain a crucial 1-0 win at home to Minehead and leapfrog their opponents to top spot in Division One in a game where a strong wind did its best to disrupt the flow in front of a good-sized crowd.
After a slow start, Ebner Heatley shot wide with the first chance on 15 minutes but he was causing problems with a lively performance with a telling cross before also missing the target later on. It was 33 minutes before Minehead threatened with Ashton Tucker saving well from a Sam Bruford-harley free-kick.
At the other end, Ellis Hancock was soon in the thick of the action, heading over from Tim Midgely’s cross and then heading wide from Heatley’s centre. In a rare dangerous moment from Minehead, Ellis Shaw headed voer from Guy Burns.
In a lively start to the second half, Rob Vickers shot well over for the visitors, while Hancock was wide for Timsbury. It was Hancock however who created the pivotal moment, slipping the ball through for Midgely to finish well despite goalkeeper Kyran Wilkins getting a hand to it.
Tim Midgely had another effort blocked before Burns had a clear chance saved by Tucker. Heatley almost doubled the lead but Michael Nield was on hand to clear off the line. As tension mounted, Timsbury were forced deeper but their defence performed with resilience, with Jesse Bishop outstanding as Timsbury held on through the large amount of stoppage time. ■ ELSEWHERE, Rhys Messenger was on the scoresheet for Saltford but they fell to a 3-1 at home to third-place Uphill Castle. Peasedown Miners Welfare remain interested in the Division Two promotion race as they sit four points off second in fifth. A hat-trick from Scott Baker ensured a 3-0 win at Banwell to take full advantage of second-place Castle Cary losing.
Fry Club Reserves held secondplace Cam Valley to a 1-1 draw in Division Three. Edward Ryan netted for Fry, who had Steven Probert sent off for a second yellow card. They sit nine points off Cam with a game in hand. A goal for Cordelle Harwood was enough for Tunley Athletic to beat bottom side Congresbury 1-0.
■ MID SOMERSET LEAGUE Premier Division leaders Weston took full advantage of second-place Wells City A being in cup action as they thrashed Belrose 8-1 to move five points clear, albeit having played two games more. Sam Athey and substitute Jack Lewington grabbed braces alongside goals for Tyrone Mulholland, Brendan Brinkworth, Drew Carlin and Jake Ford. Peasedown Albion managed to beat second-bottom Westfield Reserves 2-1.
In Division One, Mark Hancock was at the double, with Antonio Sanfilippo also on the scoresheet for Timsbury Athletic Reserves as they beat bottom side High Littleton. Goals for Luke Higgins and Aidan Wrintmore saw Peasedown Albion Reserves win 2-1 at Clutton Reserves.
■ WOMEN’S FOOTBALL Keynsham Town suffered two defeats in their double-header this week. They first travelled to Cardiff City on Thursday and found themselves a goal down on 27 minutes when Kylie Nolan netted, before Libby Piggott made it 2-0 on 57 minutes. Henna Butcher pulled one back on the hour but Keynsham were unable to find an equaliser..
A longer trip to Crawley Wasps awaited on Sunday and this time Keynsham found themselves 2-0 within half an hour after two goals from Iesha Swaby. Again Butcher reduced the arrears five minutes later and Keynsham were actually level five minutes into the second half when Lauryn Souflard netted.
However, Crawley regained their lead seven minutes later through Natasha Stephens, before Swaby completed her hat-trick and the 4-2 victory in the final minute. Larkhall Athletic were beaten 2-0 at AFC Bournemouth in Division One South West.
Goals from Jamiela Bond and Raffy Briggs saw Bath City earn a 2-2 draw at Highworth Town in the Wiltshire League.