Larkhall Athletic shook off the disappointment of their derby defeat by Frome Town to overcome hosts Swindon Supermarine in the Pitching In Southern League on Friday 27th February.
Larkhall Athletic’s Dawid Regula – here on the ball against Sporting Club Inkberrow on Valentine’s Day – netted against his old club Swindon Supermarine on Friday 27th February | Photo © Phil Scovell
Watched by a crowd of 344 – almost double the gate for Marine’s home game with promotion-hopefuls Shaftesbury on Monday 2nd March – the Larks took the Division One South points thanks to a 3-1 victory.
Larkhall – who had been beaten 4-1 by Frome on Saturday 21st February – took the lead at The Imagine Cruising Stadium when Harvey Pritchard fed Ryan Beckinsale to fire past the Wiltshire outfit’s gloveman Lucas Myers in the 32nd minute.
Former Supermarine striker Dawid Regu?a almost doubled Athletic’s lead six minutes later, only to thwarted by a fine save by Myers.
Two Marine efforts flashed narrowly wide but Larkhall keeper Liam Armstrong’s first serious save did not come until the 74th minute, when he thwarted a shot from substitute Joe Asamoah.
But it was not long before the visitors scored their second goal, Regula taking advantage of a stray pass by Swindon to drill home in the 79th minute.
Sal Abubakar headed in from an 86th-minute corner to give Supermarine brief hope that was extinguished three minutes later, when Alex Camm seized upon a poor back-pass by the hosts and got the better of Myers.
Larkhall starting XI: Liam Armstrong, Jack Goodall, Spencer Dymond-Hall, Sam Boulton, Lewis Graham, Jack Camm, Alex Camm, Ryan Beckinsale, Dawid Regula, Harvey Pritchard, Freddie King.
The Larks will face Shaftesbury in a Division One South match at the Camella Stadium on Saturday 7th March (3pm).
The Rockies are having a great season after struggling to avoid the drop during 2024-25. But they will go into the Plain Ham tussle on the back of a defeat, having lost that game at Supermarine 3-1.
Larkhall Development needed penalties to see off visitors Pewsey Vale on Saturday 28th February in the quarter-finals of the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League’s Fountain Trophies Senior Cup.
The Devs edged past Pewsey Vale 5-4 in the shootout after regular play at the Camella Stadium ended 2-2.
Matty Morris went close for the hosts inside the opening minute. And it was not long before Athletic did break the deadlock, Arlo Stone setting up James Okell to net in the 12th minute.
Shortly afterwards, Okell almost made it 2-0 – and then the Larks appealed for a penalty, the referee having none of it.
However, Pewsey fought back and levelled through Finn Kiddle just before half-time.
And the travellers moved in front on the hour when Connor Marsdon let fly from 25 yards.
The equaliser came when James Horrocks tapped in following an Angus Williamson pass in the 78th minute.
Larkhall had an opportunity to win the match without the need for penalties, as Harvey Kendrick headed narrowly over the bar in injury-time.
But spot-kicks there were – and the first nine were converted to leave Larkhall 5-4 up.
Pewsey missed their final attempt and the home side progressed to the semis, where they are joined by Calne Town Reserves.
The other two spots in the last four are still up for grabs, with Down Ampney due to receive Supermarine Development on Saturday 14th March and Melksham Town Reserves set to entertain Letcombe on Saturday 21st March.
The Larks will go to Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development for a Premier Division game on Saturday 7th March (3pm).
