Battling Larks are buoyed by cup win
Larkhall Athletic are still without a victory in the Southern League Division One South after suffering a 4-0 defeat at the hands of local rivals Frome Town on Bank Holiday Monday.
The Larks were below par in the first half, falling 2-0 behind. But despite a better showing in the second half and a debut for Jaden Browner, Frome added two more to win 4-0.
Larkhall had continued their battling ways on Saturday, coming from a goal down to rescue a point against Bristol Manor Farm. Falling behind in the first half, Shea Mannings equalised with a lovely shot off the far post to equalise in the second period.
Last Wednesday, two goals in extra time saw Larkhall progress to the first qualifying round of the FA Cup. Having drawn in the Isle of Wight the previous weekend, the Larks welcomed Cowes and looked to be struggling as they fell 2-0 behind. Captain Dan Restorick pulled one back before half-time, while Brad Norris was on hand to level and force the tie into extra time.
Despite a debate for offside, Harry Brock looked to have given Larkhall the lead before Max Williams sealed the tie in the second period of extra time to progress. They will now meet Cirencester Town in first qualifying round on Saturday.
Shortly after the victory, Larkhall announced the signing of Plymouth Parkway’s Carlo Garside on the day of his 18th birthday and the return of Wayne Nderemani from Swindon Supermarine.
■ FA VASE Bitton strode through to the second qualifying round following a 4-1 victory over Combined Counties League side Wokingham & Emmbrook. Bitton began the brightest without really testing the goalkeeper and they squandered a few chances as it remained goalless at the break.
It took just two minutes of the second half for Bitton to take the lead when Jesse Howe converted from the spot. As Bitton pushed for a second, Wokingham managed to equalise on 68 minutes before Bitton retook the lead with nine minutes remaining when Archie Thayer found Charlie Maddison with a cross to guide home into the far corner.
Bitton made it two in three minutes when substitute Jack Sheppard-cozens found the top corner. The game was rounded off in stoppage time when fellow substitute Alessandro Pelliccia drilled home into the bottom corner for 4-1. The match ended on a sour note though as both sides saw a man sent off. Howe the one to go for Bitton. They now face Eversley & California of the Combined League in the second qualifying round on September 24.
Corsham Town are also through following their 3-1 victory at home to another Combined Counties League side, Cove. The visitors struck early but were pegged back by Matty Morris’ penalty to make it 1-1 at half-time. Ryan Bath put Corsham in front before Jamal Chevolleau added a third to see Corsham through to face Brislington in the second qualifying round.
Another side to progress is Odd Down, who needed a single goal from Omari Sims on the hour to see off Bodmin Town. They host Newton Abbot Spurs in the second qualifying round.
■ WESTERN LEAGUE Keynsham Town responded to Saturday’s defeat with their first victory of the Premier Division campaign on Bank Holiday Monday. Keynsham netted all four of their goals against Wellington in the first half, and enjoyed a clean sheet to finally kick their season off at the eighth time of asking. Keynsham had hosted Buckland Athletic on Saturday but were beaten 2-1.
Bitton remain without a win in the league so far this season after going down 4-0 at Saltash United on Monday. Despite the scoreline, Bitton did have chances in the second half to reduce the arrears but were unable to beat the keeper. They currently sit bottom with just one point from six games.
Odd Down enjoyed a very good Bank Holiday with a 6-0 thrashing over Almondsbury. Jake Thomas broke the deadlock for Down on 20 minutes with a 25-yard strike, before Josh Clark found Luke Bryan to make it 2-0 on 37 minutes. It was three five minutes before half-time when Clark turned scorer with a lovely finish.
Bryan notched his second and Down’s fourth just before the hour, before then claiming his hat-trick just four minutes later. The scoring was rounded off with six minutes to go as Bryan notched his fourth and Down’s sixth to be rightly named man of the match.
■ HELLENIC LEAGUE Corsham made it two wins from five on Monday with a narrow 1-0 win over Royal Wootton Bassett Town. Callum Demkiv netted the only goal of the game following Dan Demkiv’s assist as Corsham extended their unbeaten run. Joel Smedley was voted man of the match by matchday sponsor Boca Teamwear.
Bradford Town suffered two defeats in a week. After going down 5-0 at home to Bassett last Wednesday, the Bobcats lost by a single goal against Mangotsfield United to have now won three and lost three of their six games so far this season.
■ SOMERSET LEAGUE Having had the bare 11 last week, Timsbury Athletic were able to have 12 in the squad for their Premier Division tie at Mendip Broadwalk on Saturday. Ellis Hancock gave Timsbury the lead within the first minute with a controlled finish from an excellent square ball by Rico Sobers.
Broadwalk looked to retaliate and hit the crossbar on 15 minutes, but were beginning to rue missed chances and that final pass as the first half wore on. They turned things around within ten minutes of the second half though as Mendip moved 2-1 in front. Which is how it stayed come the end.
Keynsham Town Reserves were
beaten for the third time in three games as they went down 2-1 at Worle.
Keynsham and Timsbury met on Tuesday night and played out a five-goal thriller, which Timsbury narrowly edged. Rhys Cook netted twice alongside a goal for Ellis Hancock.
Fry Club were without a point in four, having lost 1-0 at Stockwood Wanderers.
However, on Tuesday, Frys reversed that scoreline at home to Worle to gain their first win of the campaign.
In Division One, Saltford made it two wins from three games in beating Westfield 2-0. Samuel Sarre opened the scoring for the visitors on 22 minutes, before substitute Warren Edgell added the second five minutes before half-time.
The performance of the weekend though went to Peasedown Miners Welfare who thrashed AFC Brislington 10-1 in Division Two. Joe Gurner opened the scoring as early as the sixth minute, netting off the goalkeeper from Scott Baker’s cross. Baker was on hand once again as this time his shot was palmed into the path for Corey Rawlings to make it 2-0.
After missing a fair few chances, Peasedown added a third when Baker again assisted, pulling back for Gurner to nab his second. Despite losing Nathan Maggs to the sin bin, Peasedown went 4-0 in front when Gurner and Baker swapped roles - the former crossing for the latter to slide past the goalkeeper.
Baker returned to assisting duties shortly after, crossing for Rawlings to grab his second and Peasedown’s fifth. Kieran Rhymer got in on the act for number six, battling through midfield before finding Baker to score into the far corner
for his second of the match.
In a race to grab a hat-trick, it was Baker who made it 7-0 with a delightful lob over the goalkeeper before running the ball into an empty net after Gurner’s cross-field ball. Rawlings then dribbled past three defenders before laying the bal to substitute Callum Payne for 8-0.
Not to be denied, Gurner made a breaking before hitting a weak shot which went through the goalkeeper’s legs for nine, before Rawlings also netted his hat-trick to complete the demolition. The only blot on their copybook was conceding a goal as Peasedown made it two wins from two.
■ WILTSHIRE LEAGUE Odd Down Development were unable to break Kintbury Rangers’ unbeaten start to the campaign, losing 3-0 on Saturday. First half goals from Luke Conner and Aidan Maycock Kintbury lead 2-0 at the break and a second of the game from Maycock in the second half made sure of the three points.
On Tuesday, goals for Tyrone Mulholland, Corey Patterson, Lee Rudland and Bill Turner saw Odd Down recover from Saturday’s defeat with a 4-2 win at Melksham Town Reserves, after the sides were locked together 2-2 at half-time.
■ FA WOMEN’S NATIONAL LEAGUE Keynsham Town’s first home game of the Division One South West campaign ended in a 3-1 defeat against Selsey. Keynsham are still awaiting their first victory following relegation last campaign.
Larkhall Athletic are also without a win after spurning a 1-0 halftime lead to lose 2-1 at Swindon Town. Grace Eagles poked Larkhall in front after 14 minutes before an Annabelle Colston brace on 75 and 88 minutes broke the visitors’ hearts.