Larks condemned by game’s late goals
A late goal in either half saw Larkhall Athletic surrender a one-goal lead and ultimately condemned to defeat at Barnstaple Town in the Southern League.
The game started with a good chance at either end as Alex Lambert forced a good save from Barum goalkeeper Lloyd Irish and Dan Demkiv shot wide when well placed. Larks goalkeeper Christopher Humphries pulled off a number of saves before Lambert was able to fire the visitors in front, rebounding after the ball had struck a post.
Larkhall were seemingly heading into half-time in front, but Harry Baker equalised after Humphries initially saved from a corner in the fourth minute of added time.
Both sides largely cancelled each other out in the second half, although Humphries was on hand to smother one good opportunity for Barnstaple. Larkhall’s hopes of winning the game were made harder when Dale Evans received a second yellow card and they were eventually stung when Humphries brought down Howe in the 98th minute and the Barum striker stepped up to win the game and help their fight from relegation.
Larkhall have dropped to 12th, but still have between two and six games in hand on all of the teams above them.
In another blow, Larkhall have also lost Matt Britton to Swindon Supermarine.
■ WESTERN LEAGUE Bitton had to settle for a point after being pegged back by Buckland Athletic. Dean Griffiths had given Bitton a 24th minute lead, but Buckland substitute Charlie Johansen levelled things midway through the second half to secure a 1-1 draw.
A goal five minutes from time was enough to see Keynsham Town beaten at Wellington. Miles Quick grabbed that only goal of the game to see Keynsham fall to three without a win in 13th.
Keynsham did though progress in the Les Phillips Cup on Tuesday after they scored three second half goals to beat Division One side Wells City 3-0.
Dan Cottle eventually broke the deadlock on 65 minutes before Will Hailston all but secured the victory with 12 to go.
Cottle added his second in the final minute to ease Keynsham through.
In Division One, Odd Down were also stung by a late goal as they too drew 1-1 at Wells City. After Luke Bryan had headed them in front after 65 minutes, they looked set to complete the double over Wells, but the hosts had other ideas, with Craig Herrod levelling affairs in the 97th minute.
■ HELLENIC LEAGUE Both Bradford Town and Corsham Town lost ground in what’s slightly becoming a fight to be the best of the rest behind leaders Bishops Cleeve. The Bobcats hosted Malvern Town and could have taken an early lead when Charlie Walton struck the bar with a header.
Charlie Wiles-richards also had a shot cleared off the line as Malvern rode their luck but got to halftime goalless. Malvern responded in the second half and struck the woodwork themselves before eventually taking the lead with seven minutes remaining through Joseph Bullock.
Kyonn Evan added a second with two minutes remaining to see Bradford defeated for the first time since December 11. Bradford are now 12 points behind Bishops Cleeve, with a game in hand, but Brimscombe & Thrupp have now moved level on points having played a game more.
Corsham have dropped to seventh with just six points separating Bradford in second and Malvern in ninth. An early goal from Thomas Golledge proved enough for Fairford Town to win 1-0 at Southbank and leave Corsham beaten for a second time four games. Corsham remain four points off Bradford.
■ WILTSHIRE LEAGUE Thirdplace Corsham Town had a tricky looking away fixture at Shrewton United. Despite having won their last three, Corsham fell behind when leading scorer Charlie Utterson broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark.
Corsham’s chances of coming back looked even harder when they were reduced to ten men in the second half but the numerical disadvantage seemed to spur Corsham on and they did equalise 20 minutes from time before going ahead five minutes later thanks to goals from Ben Wickens, scoring his 21st of the season, and winger Max Wyatt.
The win moves Corsham to within three points of Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development, but they have played four more games.
Odd Down Reserves hosted Calne Town Reserves in their first -ever league meeting. Odd Down had won three of their previous four games and grew into this one as the first half came and went without incident. Continuing their improvement in the second half, Down began to create chances and captain Charlie Saunders was able to convert with what turned out to be the only goal of the game.
Saunders became Down’s joint top-scorer with 11 for the campaign before they host Shrewton United on Saturday.
■ SOMERSET LEAGUE Fry Club played out a goalless draw at home to Watchet Town in the Premier Division. They sit two points off the top five, but have played a game more and are two matches without a win now. A goal from Oliver Moran helped Keynsham Town Reserves to a point at Middlezoy Rovers. The 1-1 draw moves two points off second bottom following their points deduction, but they do have a game in hand over Stockwood Green.
With their nearest rivals not playing, Timsbury Athletic were only able to extend their advantage at the top of Division One to two points ahead of Minehead. A Rhys Cook goal for Timsbury saw them draw 1-1 at fourth-place Uphill Castle. A goal just before the half hour mark from Sean Seavill wasn’t enough for Saltford as they were beaten 3-1 at home to fifth-place Wrington Redhill.
Joe Gurner’s goal six minutes into the second half proved enough for Peasedown Miners Welfare as they beat Ashcott 1-0 in Division Two. The continue to have an outside chance of promotion sitting four points behind Castle Cary in second. Fry Club Reserves were beaten 3-0 at Burnham United Reserves in Division Three.
■ MID SOMERSET LEAGUE Saltford Reserves’ journey in the Tony Baxter Shield came to an end after they handed Mells & Vobster a walkover in the quarter finals.
Weston’s hopes of claiming the Premier Division title took a hit after they were beaten 2-1 at Evercreech Rovers. They are now just two points above Wells City A but Wells have two games in hand. Coleford Athletic enjoyed a 9-0 thrashing of bottom side Pilton United. Jack Davis netted four of the goals alongside a brace for Daniel Hucker and goals from Lee Tadd, Daniel Willis and substitute Charlie Walton.
Peasedown Albion scored four times at home to Somer Valley Sports, but they were beaten 7-4.
■ WOMEN’S FOOTBALL Jessie Wills opened the scoring in the fourth minute for Larkhall Athletic but they were beaten 5-1 at home to Southampton Women in the National League Division One South West. Keynsham Town Reserves lost 1-0 at London City Lionesses Development in the Reserve South West league.