An injury-time goal got Larkhall Athletic back to winning ways in Pitching In Southern League Division One South.
Dawid Regula takes off to head in Larkhall Athletic’s winner against Sporting Club Inkberrow on Saturday 14th February | Photo © Phil Scovell
The Larks took on Worcestershire villagers Sporting Club Inkberrow at the Camella Stadium on Saturday 14th February and recorded a 1-0 victory to give them their first success in three games.
The win, also Athletic’s first in four weeks, enabled them to complete the double over last season’s uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division play-off winners, following a 2-1 triumph in the Midlands on Tuesday 14th October.
Dawid Regula was among the scorers in that autumn encounter – and he found the target again on Valentine’s Day.
This time, in front of a Plain Ham crowd of 210, he struck two minutes into injury-time.
Larkhall Athletic captain Sam Boulton in control during the home victory over Sporting Club Inkberrow | Photo © Phil Scovell
Jeff Forkuo crossed and the airborne Regula headed past Inkberrow keeper Gabriel Bajrami.
Regula could have opened the scoring in the ninth minute, when he found himself one on one with Bajrami. But the striker fired wide.
Shortly afterwards, home custodian Liam Armstrong pushed behind a drive from Jack Tolley.
The Larks had a lucky escape in the 23rd minute, Inkberrow spurning an open goal.
And on the half hour, the guests’ Alexander Griffiths headed straight at Armstrong.
An injury to one of the assistant referees meant that Larkhall Athletic kitman Rob York took over flag duties during the latter stages of the Valentine’s Day match against Sporting Club Inkberrow | Photo © Phil Scovell
The Eagles started the second half well, and a header from a corner hit the Larkhall bar in the 54th minute.
Freddie King was denied by Bajrami as Athletic battled back. And Bajrami produced an excellent stop to deny a speculative chip from Jack Camm in the 74th minute.
With one of the assistant referees suffering an injury in the closing stages, home kitman Rob York stepped into the breach as the replacement.
But it was far from the final talking point of the contest.
In the 87th minute, Inkberrow broke away but Aaron Evans-Harriott shot wide.
And with the match seemingly destined to be a goal-less draw, Regula netted to secure three points for the Larks.
Larkhall starting XI: Liam Armstrong, Jack Goodall, Spencer Dymond-Hall, Sam Boulton, Lewis Graham, Will Banks, Alex Camm, Jack Camm, Dawid Regula, Milo Murgatroyd, Freddie King.
Larkhall were due to visit struggling Tavistock in the league tonight, Wednesday 18th February, but the game was called off this morning because of a waterlogged pitch at Langsford Park.
The game was due to be the sides’ third meeting of the campaign, the Lambs having recorded a home victory in the Isuzu FA Trophy on Saturday 6th September and Larkhall exacting revenge a week later by winning 2-0 at the Camella Stadium in the league.
Frome Town will come to the Camella Stadium on Saturday 21st February in a league derby (3pm).
Larkhall Development’s scheduled Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division top-of-the-table tussle at Shrewton United on 14th February was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.
With no league fixture programmed for Saturday 21st February, the Devs are hoping to fix up an away friendly.
Their next competitive match will be at home to Pewsey Vale in the league’s Fountain Trophies Senior Cup quarter-finals on Saturday 28th February.
The Shrewton versus Larkhall clash has been rearranged for Saturday 25th April – and it could well be a title decider.
