Norris on mark as Larks’ run goes on
Larkhall Athletic extended their unbeaten run to three games in the Southern League, but will perhaps feel it was two points dropped after surrendering the lead at Melksham Town.
Bradley Norris crucially struck two minutes before half-time to give Larkhall the lead, but Jay Malshankskyj ensured the points were split with Melksham’s equaliser on 63 minutes.
The point proved enough to move Larkhall out of the bottom two, but Bideford have two games in hand.
■ WESTERN LEAGUE Premier Division bottom side Keynsham Town were unable to build on last week’s draw at Falmouth as they went down 5-0 at Wellington, with three goals in the final three minutes perhaps flattering the hosts. Wellington took the lead as early as the fourth minute through Joseph Wragg before he added his second on 65 minutes.
Jason Quick added a third with three minutes to play, with Jake Quick and Jamie Keletea Nicholson adding the gloss as Keynsham fell to their 12th defeat of the season.
In Division One, Odd Down continued their free-scoring form with a second successive 6-0 victory. Hosting Longwell Green Sports, Luke Bryan opened the scoring on 27 minutes before Raf Waugh added a second five minutes later. Bryan made it 3-0 just before halftime to give Down a real hold on the game. Waugh and Caelen Simpson added to an own goal in the second half to complete a fourth consecutive league win for Down as they move up to eighth.
■ HELLENIC LEAGUE Corsham Town showed no ill-effects of the departure of the talismanic Gary Higdon to Westbury United after they thrashed Lydney Town 6-1. Higdon was not in the squad on Saturday before the following day’s announcement, but Corsham made a bright start following the impeccably observed minute’s silence.
After Lydney curled over from their first chance, Dan Demkiv cut inside and struck the post at the other end, with Neikell Plummer tapping the ball home, but he was in an offside position. That proved a signal of intent as Matthew Jenkins headed wide before Corsham took the lead on 14 minutes as Demkiv’s cross was stabbed home at the second attempt by Ollie Pitt, his first goal for the Quarrymen.
Pitt almost turned provider as his free-kick was flicked into the goalkeeper’s hands by Callum Demkiv, before Pitt struck the bar with a deep cross-cum-shot. The Demkiv brothers then combined for Callum to head wide from Dan’s delivery and, after Leon Greenland blocked a Lydney chance, it was Dan Demkiv who crucially made it 2-0 right on half-time.
Callum Demkiv was denied early on in the second half, but he made sure of his goal and Corsham’s third on 56 minutes despite being clattered by the goalkeeper. Another followed just three minutes later after Matt Swan’s cross was finished well by Plummer. Lydney pulled a goal back on the hour and almost had the chance to claim a second from the penalty spot, but an offside in the build-up changed the decision.
Greenland’s ball over the top was fired over by Ryan Bath before Corsham’s best goal came on 74 minutes with a superb turn and shot by Plummer from 25 yards into the top corner. Lydney never gave up the fight, though, and Samuel Jepson had to be on hand to save from a free kick, but they were reduced to ten men with seven minutes remaining following a straight red for a poor challenge on Dan Demkiv.
Substitute Sam Dowell made an instant impact in setting up Bath, but his effort was saved by the legs of the keeper, who then also did well to block the follow-up from Nathan Davis. But the sixth did arrive in stoppage time with a thunderbolt from Chris Allen that went in off the underside of the bar. ■ Bradford Town came back from 3-1 down at half-time to somehow win a remarkable seven-goal thriller at home to Hereford Pegasus. The visitors took the lead as early as the third minute before making it 2-0 within a quarter of an hour. It was 3-0 just six minutes later, with Bradford finally getting themselves into the game just after the half-hour mark through Seth Wain on the rebound following a good save.
Wain added his second just a minute into the second half and it was all square just before the hour when Bevan Cross netted from close range. The game was won via a stoppage time penalty that Jasper Jones converted to somehow give Bradford the three points in a fantastic game.
■ SOMERSET SENIOR CUP
Timsbury Athletic are through to the third round after a 4-1 home win over Highridge United. In the end, it was a comfortable victory, although the visitors from Bristol & District League kept battling to the end.
Rico Sobers was in early action for Timsbury, shooting just wide before volleying over from Rhys Cook’s fine cross. In their first meaningful attack, Danny Clark was just too high for the visitors, but it was Timsbury creating the majority of the openings. Goalkeeper Chris Devey saved well from a Sam Gregory free-kick and Ellis Hancock headed wide.
It was Hancock, though, who broke the deadlock after Devey failed to hold a Cook free-kick and Hancock was on hand to tap home. At the other end, it took a timely tackle from substitute Callum Taylor to deny Jack Deacon but Timsbury remained in the ascendancy as Chris Midgley narrowly fired over.
After 35 minutes, Timsbury added their second when Sobers found himself in space in front of goal and although he did not connect cleanly, the effort trickled past Devey. Hancock headed over from
Sobers’ cross before shooting wide shortly after.
Early in the second half, Midgley was again just too high, as was brother Tim. The previous week, Gregory had been commandeered to take over goalkeeping duties from the injured Ashton Tucker, but this week he was in his more accustomed attacking role and he capped an impressive display with Timsbury’s third on the hour after being sent clear by Cook.
With Tucker still out injured, Timsbury turned to former manager Ben Hancock to don the gloves and, after a quiet first half, he more than earned his corn late in the closing stages. There was nothing he could do with Clarke’s penalty that revived Highridge’s hopes on 70 minutes, but he saved well from Deacon and made an excellent stop from Sean Byrne’s close-range header.
Timsbury were always dangerous on the break and, with five minutes remaining, Sobers wrapped up the game. There was still time for Hancock to make another crucial save in a goalmouth melee as Timsbury progressed.
■ ELSEWHERE, Odd Down Development travelled to Somerset County League Division One side Saltford. In a tight contest with plenty of goals, it needed penalties to settle matters after it finished 3-3, the Odd Down goals coming through Perez Nedale (2) and new signing Khaled Harwood on his debut. It was Down who emerged victorious, progressing through to the last 16 courtesy of a 5-4 win in the spot kick contest.
Larkhall Athletic Development, who were not at their best, went down 3-0 to another Somerset County League Division One side, Ashton & Backwell United
Reserves. Fry Club are through to the next round after they beat Bedminster Down 3-1.
Harry Ball scored four as Keynsham Town Reserves also roared into the next round with a 10-1 thrashing of visiting Parson Street Old Boys. Aaron Childs bagged a hat-trick alongside goals for Kyle Box and substitutes Chris King and Samuel Simpson-jarman. Peasedown Miners Welfare were knocked out by defending champions Wells City Reserves, losing 4-1. ■ IN the Somerset League, Fry Club Reserves thrashed Division Three bottom side Tunley Athletic 6-0.
■ MID
Peasedown Albion’s unbeaten start to the Premier Division campaign came to an end at home to leaders Victoria Sports. Peasedown were 2-1 down at half-time and ultimately lost 3-2, despite Victoria having a player sent off with eight minutes of the first half remaining.
Former Division One leaders Timsbury Athletic Reserves also suffered their first loss of the season. They went down 2-0 at Haydon Sports, who now lead by two points with a game in hand over Timsbury.
In Division Two, second place Saltford Reserves remain three points off unbeaten leaders Shepton Mallet Reserves after they narrowly held off Westfield A 3-2.
■ WOMEN’S FOOTBALL Larkhall Athletic secured their first win of the campaign in the FA Women’s National League Division One South West.
Mia Brain netted just after the half-hour mark as Larkhall moved to a 2-0 lead at half-time over bottom side AFC St Austell. Emily Arrell then netted twice in four minutes to ensure the points were finally coming Larkhall’s way.