Larkhall Athletic struck at the death to snatch a draw from a goal fest at the Camella Stadium on Saturday 13th December.
Kieran Phillips, left, puts Larkhall Athletic 1-0 up from close range against Bishops Cleeve | Photo © jeremyrichardsphotography.com
Visitors Bishops Cleeve appeared to have done enough to take maximum points when they went 4-3 ahead in the second minute of injury time, having come from 2-0 behind.
But the Larks netted a last-gasp equaliser in the Pitching In Southern League Division One South encounter.
Watched by a crowd of 208, Kieran Phillips gave the hosts a 16th-minute lead.
Mitres’ keeper Lewis Clayton – a former Cheltenham Town youngster who also played for IFK Mora in Sweden – parried a shot and Jack Camm got onto the loose ball, squaring for Phillips to net with a tap-in.
And when Larkhall made it 2-0 five minutes later, it seemed that revenge would be gained for their defeat in Gloucestershire on the opening day of the league campaign. Jack Camm was brought down in the box and Dawid Regula drilled in the resulting penalty.
David Regula scores from the spot to hand Larkhall Athletic a 2-0 lead over Bishops Cleeve on Saturday 13th December | Photo © jeremyrichardsphotography.com
It was almost 3-0 in the 26th minute, Alex Camm narrowly off target with a free header when he attempted to put away a cross to the back post.
But Cleeve, who are chasing promotion again this season after falling in the play-off semi-finals last term, were not about to capitulate.
They reduced the arrears when Ben McLean volleyed in on the turn in the 27th minute and almost levelled when skipper Ross Langworthy sent a drive just past a post six minutes later.
However, Larkhall twice went close to adding to their tally as the interval approached.
First, Ryan Beckinsale was denied by a block from Jake Lee. And then Beckinsale drove over after being set up Phillips.
But the Mitres were in buoyant mood at the break – because they equalised in injury-time, Joe Keeping’s cross going in via a post.
Larkhall Athletic captain Sam Boulton scores from 10 yards with the final kick of the game to ensure the Southern League clash with Bishops Cleeve ended 4-4 | Photo © jeremyrichardsphotography.com
Athletic had two good chances to restore their advantage in the opening 15 minutes of the second period.
But the game swung Cleeve’s way in the 74th minute when they were awarded a penalty after a foul on Lee, and Toby Holland made no mistake from 12 yards.
Regula prodded the ball just wide four minutes later. But the Larks got back on terms in the 84th minute, when substitute Eben Mortimer-Taylor pounced on an error by Clayton and slotted home.
However, Cleeve seemed to have secured three points when, after a cross by Harry Leeson, McLean struck two minutes into injury-time.
But with the last kick of the game, captain Sam Boulton lashed home from 10 yards to earn Larkhall a deserved draw.
Named among the Larks’ substitutes was Freddie King, a forward on loan from Enterprise National League South side Weston-super-Mare.
The draw meant that Cleeve dropped out of the play-off zone, to be replaced by Shaftesbury. The North Dorset team recorded a 2-0 home victory over Brixham.
Larkhall starting XI: Liam Armstrong, Jeff Forkuo, Spencer Dymond-Hall, Sam Boulton, Jack Goodall, Will Banks, Jack Camm, Alex Camm, Kieran Phillips, Ryan Beckinsale, Dawid Regula.
Athletic will make the trip to North Devon to take on Bideford in the league on Saturday 20th December (3pm).
The Robins are four points and four places behind Larkhall in the league table, the Plain Ham men holding 10th spot.
Larkhall Development will go into Christmas in third place in the Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division.
The Larks, who have no game on Saturday 20th December, ensured they hold a five-point lead over fourth-placed Shrivenham by winning 2-0 at Faringdon Town on Saturday 13th December.
Faringdon started well on a heavy pitch at Tucker Park and Mason Nolan-Kemp cleared off the line. But Athletic, who were missing several key players, weathered the storm and Ben Wickens twice went close.
However, Larkhall opened the scoring in the 20th minute, when a Wickens shot was parried as far as Angus Williamson, who tapped home.
A shot from the Larks’ Tobias Little was saved in the second half before a Wickens header from a Rueben Whitson cross crashed against the inside of a post.
But the points were sealed 17 minutes from the end when Wickens flicked on a throw and Nolan-Kemp fired in his third goal in three games.
