Southern Paulton stunned by Larkhall’s late show

PAULTON Rovers’ players will be wondering for a long time how they contrived to throw away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 at home to Larkhall Athletic in Division One South.

Larkhall struck in the 89th, 90th and 91st minutes to snatch the three points - and Paulton’s dismay was made all the worse by two missed penalties during the game.

Will Hailston blasted a 38th-minute spot-kick over the crossbar, but Paulton took the lead in the 42nd minute via a Craig Allan header.

Lee Ibrahim wasted another penalty on 53 minutes when his effort struck the crossbar, but it didn’t look like it would matter when Dan Cottle converted Hailston’s cross for a second Paulton goal on 85 minutes.

Michael Baker reduced the deficit by heading in from a free-kick, then Matt Britton tapped in the equaliser after a handling error from goalkeeper Aaron Sainsbury. Larkhall were in dreamland a minute later when Jake Thompson headed home from a corner.

There was late agony, too, for

Mangotsfield United as they were denied a first point of the season by Danny King’s 92nd-minute strike for Slimbridge.

Jay Malshanskyj gave Slimbridge a 20th-minute lead, but Abe Noad equalised, direct from a corner, for the hosts just before half-time.

Johan Flo made it 2-1 to the visitors on 79 minutes and, although Wayne Nderemani levelled for Mangotsfield on 84 minutes, King secured victory for Slimbridge after his initial shot had been saved.

In Premier South, Yate Town crashed to a 6-2 home defeat against Poole Town, despite two fine goals Ryan Beckinsale on his first start for the club.

Beckinsale opened the scoring on four minutes with a shot which found the far corner of the net. However, two strikes from Corby Moore and one from Josh Carmichael put Poole 3-1 up by the 22nd minute, and Will Spetch and TonyJames Lee increased the lead early in the second half. Beckinsale found the top corner on the hourmark to make it 5-2, but Poole had the final say when David Jerrard struck in stoppage-time.