Larkhall Athletic scored three late goals to come back from the dead against Falmouth Town and earn a dramatic point in Pitching In Southern League Division One South on Saturday 29th November.
Larkhall Athletic lost here at Malvern Town on Tuesday 25th November and looked to be on the way to another loss when they trailed Falmouth Town 3-0 on Saturday 29th November, only to force a draw | Photo © Richard Briggs
A crowd of 165 at the Camella Stadium saw the Cornish side go 3-0 up and hold that lead up to the 85th minute, when the Larks began a remarkable recovery that saw them snatch a 3-3 draw.
Having lost 3-2 at Malvern Town on Tuesday 25th November, Athletic seemed to be heading to a second successive league reverse when Falmouth’s Rubin Wilson completed his hat-trick to give the Duchy men their three-goal cushion in the 66th minute.
But in what must surely be one of the most thrilling games ever played at the Plain Ham venue, the Larks pulled back what seemed to be a consolation goal through Alex Camm and then netted twice in injury-time to complete the great escape.
The result left Larkhall in ninth place in the table, 14 points adrift of the play-off places. Their recent results have put a serious dent in their bid to make the play-offs, with one win, one draw and three defeats in their last five games.
A penalty from Wilson in the 12th minute broke the deadlock and he doubled the lead when he put away the loose ball in the 28th minute after an Oscar Massey piledriver crashed off a post.
The match seemed as good as all over when Wilson struck again with 24 minutes remaining.
But Larkhall were having none of it. Camm scored from an angle six yards out in the 85th minute. Then Gloucester City loanee Kieran Phillips found the target from 18 yards two minutes into injury-time. And debutant Henry Westlake beat Falmouth keeper Ethan Fearn to save an unlikely point two minutes later.
Larkhall starting XI: Liam Armstrong, Will Banks, Jack Goodall, Sam Boulton, Ewan McMillan, Jack Camm, Max Williams, Alex Camm, Kieran Phillips, Dawid Regula, Milo Murgatroyd.
The match at Malvern – who look in with a good chance of winning the championship – saw Athletic undone by a 76th-minute goal from Charles Johnson after twice fighting back from behind.
Ryan Brunt opened the scoring by netting for the Worcestershire team in the 23rd minute – burying the rebound after Larks’ gloveman Liam Armstrong tipped onto a post a cross by Ben Hayes – only for Milo Murgatroyd to tap in a close-range equaliser 16 minutes later.
A Lewis Graham own goal restored the Midlanders’ advantage two minutes before the break but Will Banks levelled on the hour, following a corner.
However, Larkhall were beaten when Ben Baxter crossed, Armstrong parried and Johnson popped home the loose ball from six yards.
Larkhall starting XI: Liam Armstrong, Lewis Graham, Jack Goodall, Sam Boulton, Ewan McMillan, Will Banks, Milo Murgatroyd, Alex Camm, Kieran Phillips, Dawid Regula, Spencer Dynmond-Hall.
The Larks will make the trip to promoted Portishead Town for another league clash on Saturday 6th December (3pm). Posset have had a superb season so far and top the table.
Larkhall Development’s scheduled Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division match at Wroughton on Saturday 29th November was postponed because of the weather.
Swindon Supermarine Development took advantage of that call-off by drawing 0-0 with Pewsey Vale and pushing Athletic out of second place in the table.
The Larks will return to Wiltshire Senior League action on Saturday 6th December, when they take on Calne Town Reserves at the Camella Stadium (3pm).
