Larkhall Athletic signed off with a victory as they completed a very satisfactory campaign in Pitching In Southern League Division One South.
Alex Camm’s effort goes into the Mousehole net to hand Larkhall Athletic the lead at the Camella Stadium on Saturday 25th April | Photo © Liz Bugg
The Larks hosted Mousehole, from the far west of Cornwall, at a sun-drenched Camella Stadium on Saturday 25th April and recorded a 2-0 victory to put the seal on ninth place in the table just a year after they were involved in a relegation battle.
Two goals in the space of eight minutes early in the second half accounted for Mousehole.
Alex Camm broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute when he finished off a great move – and then a penalty from Dawid Regula doubled the advantage in front of a crowd of 325.
Athletic ended up with 61 points from their 42 games. They were agonisingly close to eighth spot, coming in behind Exmouth Town on goal difference. The East Devonians’ goal difference was just two better than Larkhall’s.
Dawid Regula’s penalty nestles in the Mousehole net to give Larkhall Athletic a 2-0 advantage during the Pitching In Southern League game on Saturday 25th April | Photo © Liz Bugg
With Portishead Town, who took the runners-up spot, being relegated on Monday 27th April due to off-the-field matters, Bishops Cleeve will compete in the play-offs despite finishing in sixth place.
The Mitres, who will visit Malvern Town in the play-off semis on Wednesday 29th April, ended the regular campaign 17 points ahead of the Larks – but seventh-placed Hartpury were only six points better off than the men from Plain Ham.
Larkhall starting XI: Liam Armstrong, Jeff Forkuo, Spencer Dymond-Hall, Sam Boulton, Lewis Graham, Will Banks, Alex Camm, Ryan Beckinsale, Harvey Pritchard, Milo Murgatroyd, Dawid Regula.
Larkhall Athletic on the attack during their Pitching In Southern League success against Mousehole on Saturday 25th April | Photo © Liz Bugg
After the match, Larkhall held their end-of-season awards ceremony in the Camella Stadium clubhouse.
Regula was supporters’ player of the year, skipper Sam Boulton was players’ player of the year and manager’s player of the year and Larkhall Development goalie Kit Bond was young player of the year.
There was heartbreak for Larkhall Development on 25th April as they lost their Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division title decider at Shrewton United.
The Larks had to win at the Recreation Ground to claim the crown. But the Shrews emerged 2-1 victors to take the championship – and that result combined with a 6-1 win for Swindon Supermarine Development at Wroughton meant that Athletic finished in third place in the standings.
Shrewton opened the scoring in first-half injury-time – thanks to an own goal. A long throw hit a defender and bounced into the net.
A penalty from Justin Bennett five minutes from the end put United 2-0 up but the Larks pulled one back when James Horrocks headed in following an Arlo Stone cross.
However, Larkhall Development still have a chance of silverware this term as they will face Melksham Town Reserves in the final of the league’s Fountain Trophies Senior Cup at Devizes Town’s ground on Saturday 9th May (3pm).
Larkhall Development’s players’ player of the year is James Okell – and Angus Williamson is the manager’s player of the year.
