Larks so near to first win of the campaign
Larkhall Athletic were five minutes away from their first victory of the Southern League campaign.
Hosting Bideford, they took the lead five minutes into the second half through Robert Hobbs – although there were also strong claims it was scored by Sam Boulton – before Craig Duff-dick equalised five minutes before the end to rescue a point and leave Larkhall without a victory in six games.
■ WESTERN LEAGUE
Bitton remain bottom of the Premier Division after losing 6-2 at Buckland Athletic on Saturday, with Ryan Bush grabbing a hattrick.
Jamal Chevolleau claimed a couple of consolation goals for Bitton.
On the previous Tuesday, Sherborne ended a six-match winless run in all competitions, beating Bitton 3-1 at Raleigh Grove.
Also on Tuesday last week, Keynsham lost 2-0 at high-flyers Shepton Mallet. Goals came from Nick Hewlett and Callum Gould at either end of the match.
In the First Division on Saturday, Odd Down fell to a 2-0 loss at Shirehampton, for whom Dan Morne and Scott Bamford each struck during the final 20 minutes.
This followed a 5-0 win for Odd Down over Radstock Town on Tuesday last week, with Louis Short bagging a hat-trick, alongside Curtis Dunn’s double for the Bath side.
■ HELLENIC LEAGUE
Bradford Town paid tribute to former player Lee Ayliffe, who died in 2019, before their 1-1 draw at home to Roman Glass St George.
After an even start to the game, good defending from Ashley Fowler broke up a Glass attack as the visitors edged the opening 20 minutes. Bradford’s first chance of note came on 25 minutes as Tyson Pollard went close before the Bobcats were awarded a penalty a minute later, which was dispatched by the striker.
After Bradford won a corner, Bevan Cross saw his effort saved at close range as they remained in front at the break. The second half appeared to be a battle of corners which came to nothing, until Malachi Benjamin’s effort was straight at the goalkeeper.
That was punished three minutes later as Glass equalised from a free-kick with 16 minutes to go. With few chances due to substitutions and injuries breaking up momentum towards the end, it remained 1-1 as Bradford picked up their third draw of the season. ■ Two goals in the second half saw Corsham Town to a 2-0 win over Mangotsfield United. Callum Demkiv got off to a lively start for the Quarrymen after being played in by Neikell Plummer, which was blocked. Demkiv was denied again shortly after with a double save from the goalkeeper.
After a quiet ten minutes, Marko Radovanovic made two comfortable saves from Mangotsfield attempts, while Dan Demkiv fired over at the other end from a good position. The remainder of the half became scrappy as it finished goalless.
It took six second half minutes to break the deadlock. Dan Demkiv forced a good save from the keeper, but the striker wasn’t to be denied from the subsequent corner.
Not to be outdone, it was 2-0 five minutes later when Callum Demkiv finished off from a long Nathan Davis throw after the Mangotsfield goalkeeper had done well to make a save beforehand. Despite the double blow, Mangotsfield sought a way back into the game with an effort just poked wide, while Plummer was also off target at the other end. There were good late chances for Brandon Mundy and Gary Higdon, but Corsham had to settle for 2-0 – their fifth win from ten games.
■ WILTSHIRE LEAGUE
Odd Down Development suffered a 5-0 thrashing at home to Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development. It was Down’s sixth loss from nine games so far.
■ SOMERSET LEAGUE
Larkhall Athletic Development are through to the third round of the Somerset Senior Cup after beating Wincanton Town Reserves 3-0. Captain Charlie Saunders opened the scoring on the half hour before adding his second on 65 minutes. Substitute Finley Norris wrapped up the tie with 15 minutes to go.
Keynsham Phoenix United offered Yatton & Cleeve United a home walkover, while Peasedown Miners Welfare managed to beat Wellington Reserves 4-1 to go through. Saltford are also in the next round after holding their nerve in a penalty shoot-out at home to Cutters Friday. Warren Edgell netted in the 62nd minute as the sides drew 1-1 in normal time, before Saltford won 5-3 in the shoot-out.
Keynsham Town Reserves are another side through after winning 6-1 at home to St George Easton in Gordano.
Timsbury Athletic are through to the next round of the Somerset Senior Cup after a 5-1 home win against Clevedon United Reserves.
In the end it was a comfortable victory, but it took the home side a long time to assert their authority against a side from Division Three of the Uhlsport Somerset Senior League.
Timsbury created a number of early chances. Rico Sobers had a shot cleared off the line, Toby Neilson chipped over the top and both Sobers and Ellis Hancock headed over the top with clear chances.
At the other end, Ashton Tucker had to move quickly to foil two dangerous Clevedon free-kicks before the home side took the lead after 22 minutes.
Neilson’s shot was only parried by the visiting keeper and Sobers was on hand to tap into the empty net. Within eight minutes the visitors were level, however, converting a penalty after a goalmouth scramble.
Hancock was then dispossessed just as he was about to shoot after breaking clear before the home side went in front again right on the stroke of half-time.
Once more it was the Neilsonsobers combination which did the trick, with Sobers finishing in clinical fashion after being set up by Neilson.
Timsbury dominated possession in the second half but took a long time to put the game to bed.
Sobers, Rhys Cook and Hancock saw shots saved by the visiting keeper while Cook volleyed over the top from Sobers’ cross.
At the other end, Dominic Barresi cleared off the line and Timsbury were lucky to survive the goalmouth melee that ensued.
A great run from Cook then set up a wonderful chance for Sobers but the forward got his legs in a tangle and spurned a great opportunity for his hat-trick.
Sobers soon made amends with a telling centre from the right which Neilson converted confidently to put the home side 3-1 ahead.
The dogged visitors kept going to the end but a brace of goals from Cook wrapped the game up for the visitors.
Fry Club needed penalties, but they too are through. After the sides drew 2-2 after normal time, Fry won 3-1 in the shoot-out to progress.
In the league, Tunley Athletic gained their first point of the Division Three campaign after fighting to a 3-3 draw at Worle Rangers. Fry Club Reserves moved on to four points from four games after they were held to a 1-1 stalemate at home to Nailsea United Reserves.
■ MID SOMERSET Peasedown Albion continued their unbeaten start to the Premier Division campaign with a 3-1 win at Chilcompton Sports Reserves.
Kane Frith managed a double hat-trick for Timsbury Athletic Reserves as they wiped the floor with Peasedown Albion Reserves in Division One. Substitutes Will Dugan and Benjamin Flower (2) were also on the scoresheet as Timsbury recorded a 9-1 win to make it two from two. Peasedown remain without a point after three games.
Saltford Reserves doubled their goal difference tally, making it three wins from three, with a 12-0 hounding of Westfield A in Division Two.
■ WOMEN’S FOOTBALL Keynsham Town responded to their 6-0 defeat at Cardiff City last Thursday with a 6-4 win at AFC St Austell. Shannon Redhouse and Nathali da Silva netted twice for Keynsham, alongside goals for Naomi Clipston and Nadine Grogan as they secured their second win of the campaign at the bottom side. Larkhall Athletic remain without a win in six games after losing 3-0 at home to Selsey.
Keynsham’s Reserves were beaten 4-0 by Bridgwater United Reserves in the Reserves South West Division.