Depleted Larkhall Athletic were beaten 2-0 in their Pitching In Southern League derby at Bristol Manor Farm on Easter Monday, 6th April.
Dawid Regu?a, foreground, celebrates with team-mates after netting for Larkhall Athletic against Portishead Town on Good Friday | Photo © Phil Scovell
The closest the Larks came to scoring was when a piledriver from Milo Murgatroyd cannoned off the hosts’ bar in the 38th minute with the game still goal-less.
But Farm recovered to record the win that put them two places behind Athletic in the Division One South table.
The side from the NL Services Stadium in Sea Mills broke the deadlock just before half-time, the ball bobbling over Larkhall keeper Liam Armstrong’s foot following a back-pass and being put into the empty net by Elliott Dugan.
The opening period was even – but Larkhall admitted they were lacklustre after the interval.
Dawid Regu?a scores Larkhall Athletic’s goal in the Pitching In Southern League draw with Portishead Town at the Camella Stadium | Photo © Phil Scovell
So it came as no surprise that Farm doubled their lead in the 64th minute. Ryan Cainey crossed and Dugan stabbed home from close range.
Armstrong produced a good save 15 minutes later, keeping out a free-kick from Dugan as the striker on loan from Premier Central outfit Alvechurch looked to complete his hat-trick.
The match attracted an attendance of 282.
Larkhall starting XI: Liam Armstrong, Iestyn Rhys Williams, Spencer Dymond-Hall, Sam Boulton, Ewan McMillan, Will Banks, Milo Murgatroyd, Ryan Beckinsale, Dawid Regula, Harvey Pritchard, Freddie King.
A Camella Stadium crowd of 310 saw the Larks draw 1-1 with promotion-chasing Portishead Town on Good Friday, 3rd April.
And Posset – who are targeting a third successive elevation – needed a late goal to escape with a point.
Larkhall Athletic on the attack during their 1-1 draw with promotion-chasing Portishead Town on Good Friday | Photo © Phil Scovell
Dawid Regu?a gave Athletic a 71st-minute lead but the travellers equalised with two minutes left, Ollie Woodhouse forcing in a corner from captain Kyle Egan.
Larkhall starting XI: Liam Armstrong, Jack Goodall, Spencer Dymond-Hall, Sam Boulton, Lewis Graham, Jeff Forkuo, Ryan Beckinsale, Jack Camm, Dawid Regula, Harvey Pritchard, Freddie King.
The Larks will take on Bideford at the Camella Stadium on Saturday 11th April (3pm) and visit another Devon club, Willand Rovers, on Wednesday 15th April (7.30pm). Both games are in the Southern League.
Third-placed Larkhall Development romped to a 7-0 success at Melksham Town Reserves in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division on Saturday 4th April.
Melksham, who started the game in fourth spot in the standings, made the early running but the Larks grabbed a 20th-minute lead when Ben Wickens dispossessed the home keeper and tapped in.
It was 2-0 in the 30th minute, Wickens setting up James Okell to fire in from 18 yards.
Athletic struck again before the break, Angus Williamson the 40th-minute scorer after a James Horrocks header was cleared off the line following Arlo Stone’s corner hitting the bar.
The lead became 4-0 in the 47th minute, when Okell shot into the Melksham net after an assist from Stone.
Larkhall completed their nap hand in the 57th minute, Okell passing for Wickens to apply the finish.
Okell secured his treble to make it 6-0, this after more good work by Stone, and Noah Turner got onto the end of a free-kick to bag the seventh goal.
The Devs will be back in league action on 11th April, when they visit Wroughton (2pm).
