Larks beaten in first home game of Southern League season

Larkhall Athletic’s first home match of the Pitching In Southern League Division One South season ended in disappointment.

Action as Larkhall Athletic take on Malvern Town | Photo © jeremyrichardsphotography.com

The game at the newly named Camella Stadium on Wednesday 13th August resulted in a 2-0 victory for Malvern Town, who reached last term’s play-off final.

The scoreline left the Larks in the relegation zone, going into their Emirates FA Cup preliminary round tie at Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League Premier Division North outfit Wokingham Town on Sunday 17th August (3pm).

Malvern – who admitted that Athletic provided solid resistance – opened the scoring after 15 minutes in front of a crowd of 224.

Piers Walton was brought down just outside the Larkhall penalty area. The resulting free-kick made its way to Harry Clark, who lashed home from 18 yards.

Larkhall Athletic on the ball during their home defeat by Malvern Town | Photo © jeremyrichardsphotography.com

And Walton planted a header into the Larkhall net in the 40th minute, only for the ‘goal’ to be disallowed for a foul on hosts’ gloveman Liam Armstrong.

But it was 2-0 four minutes later, Walton firing in from close range after good work by Sam Clark.

The closest either side came to scoring in the second half was when a Harry Clark effort was cleared off the line in the 59th minute.

Larkhall Athletic keeper Liam Armstrong is forced to stretch against Malvern Town | Photo © jeremyrichardsphotography.com

Larkhall starting XI: Armstrong, Goodall, Dymond-Hall, Boulton, White, Sage, A Camm, Banks, Tate, Mortimer-Taylor, Wyatt.

The Larks announced on Monday 11th August that their Plain Ham home would now be known as the Camella Stadium thanks to sponsorship by Melissa Anderson, owner of local estate agents Camella.