Larkhall Athletic Football Club missed a penalty, had a ‘goal’ disallowed and conceded a last-minute decider on an agonising opening day in the Pitching In Southern League.
Larkhall Athletic, blue and white, go close during the second half at Bishops Cleeve | Photo © Richard Briggs
The Larks were beaten 1-0 by Bishops Cleeve at the Everyone’s Energy Kayte Lane Stadium in Division One South on Saturday 9th August.
Although Athletic – who are in their 12th campaign at Step 4 – were under the cosh for much of the first half, they fared much better in the second period against a side that reached the play-offs last term.
And the men from Plain Ham came so close to earning at least a point.
Cleeve played with the wind in the opening period. After five minutes, Jack Watts crossed and a shot from skipper Ross Langworthy was parried by Larkhall keeper Liam Armstrong.
Watts and Langworthy combined again three minutes later, this time the latter finding the net – but the ‘goal’ was disallowed.
A cross-shot by the Mitres’ Jay Malshanskyj curled just wide in the 16th minute – but Larkhall created their first chance seconds later, Dylan Tate’s long-ranger going well wide.
Larkhall have the ball in the net – but the 87th-minute ‘goal’ was disallowed | Photo © Richard Briggs
And the visitors were awarded a penalty in the 20th minute. Ryan Beckinsale was fouled in the box but Max Williams’ spot-kick was parried by Cleeve gloveman Lewis Clayton and Beckinsale put the loose ball over the bar.
Tate fired at Clayton from 18 yards before, in the 28th minute, the hosts almost extended their advantage. Malshanskyj shot from just inside the box but his effort was turned away superbly by Armstrong.
Lewis Spurrier lashed wide from 20 yards for the Gloucestershire outfit three minutes later. And in the 40th minute, Cleeve’s Luke Payne tried his luck from 25 yards, only for his shot to be narrowly off target.
The last word of the first period went to Athletic, Beckinsale firing at Clayton from eight yards.
Larkhall – who narrowly avoided relegation last season – were far more confident in the second half.
An angled drive from Tate was parried for a corner by Clayton. And then, in the 52nd minute, Tate’s cross from the right set up Will Sage, who blasted the ball well over the bar from close range.
Bishops Cleeve, green, on the attack during the first half against Larkhall Athletic | Photo © Richard Briggs
Langworthy hooked wide from the edge of the box in the 55th minute but back came the Larks. Spencer Dymond-Hall was off target with a long-ranger and, with 65 minutes gone, Clayton produced a flying save at the expense of a corner to deny Alex Camm’s 19-yarder.
Tate fired wide from the edge of the box in the 74th minute but Cleeve again found their rhythm.
Armstrong held a low, angled 17-yarder from Joe Jeremiah and, with five minutes left, Watts fired across the face of goal.
But two minutes later, Larkhall thought they had gone ahead from a Williams corner, only for the ‘goal’ to be ruled out for a foul.
And the visitors’ hearts were broken when, after 89 minutes, the Mitres grabbed the winner.
Debutant Curtis Jemmett-Hutson, a Barbados international, headed home from 11 yards after a cross by his fellow substitute Harry Leeson.
Larkhall starting XI: Armstrong, Goodall, White, Boulton, Banks, Sage, Williams, A Camm, Tate, Beckinsale, Dymond-Hall.
Athletic’s next league game is against Malvern Town at Plain Ham on Wednesday 13th August (7.45pm).
The Larks return to Emirates FA Cup duty on Sunday 17th August.
They will visit Berkshire team Wokingham Town, from Cherry Red Records Combined Counties League Premier Division North, in the preliminary round (3pm).
