Larkhall Athletic bounced back from their defeat by Shaftesbury to beat another of the Pitching In Southern League Division One South promotion-chasers on Saturday 14th March.
Larkhall Athletic’s Dawid Regula – here looking to dispossess a Winchester City player at the Camella Stadium in November – struck the clincher and set up the opener as the Plain Ham men earned a 2-0 away win over the Hampshire club on Saturday 14th March | Photo © Phil Scovell
The Larks lost 3-1 to the Rockies on Saturday 7th March for their second successive home defeat to one of the big guns, Frome Town having prevailed 4-1 at the Camella Stadium a fortnight earlier.
But they recovered from the loss to the Dorset outfit by winning 2-0 at Winchester City in their next match, gaining revenge for a 2-1 home reverse against the Hampshire club on Wednesday 12th November.
After the Larks’ fantastic run of five consecutive league victories under the management of John Durbin, results have been mixed, with three wins, one draw and three defeats from seven outings.
But they showed in their triumph against Winch that they could well be among the challengers for promotion next season.
A cracking goal from Ryan Beckinsale – following an assist by Dawid Regula – handed Athletic a 56th-minute lead in front of a crowd of 285.
And victory was sealed when Regula netted six minutes from the end, the result consolidating Larkhall’s ninth place in the table.
The closest City came to scoring was late on, Callum Baughan being denied by a goal-line clearance and the goal-frame.
The Larks felt they made a gutsy performance at the Charters Community Stadium. They named Beckinsale their man of the match.
Larkhall starting XI: Liam Armstrong, Jack Goodall, Spencer Dymond-Hall, Sam Boulton, Lewis Graham, Jack Camm, Milo Murgatroyd, Ryan Beckinsale, Dawid Regula, Harvey Pritchard, Freddie King.
Athletic will take on lowly Brixham at the Camella Stadium on Saturday 21st March (3pm). The Bath club will be looking to make amends for their 3-2 loss in Torbay on Saturday 23rd August.
Second-placed Larkhall Development came out on top in their Corsham Print Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division derby at Trowbridge Town on 14th March, winning 2-0 to keep the pressure on table-toppers Shrewton United.
The mid-table Bees rode their luck at times at The Town & Country Estates Ground, the Larks being shut out until the 65th minute despite having much of the play up to that point.
The opener finally came when Ben Wickens released Angus Williamson and he fired home.
Trowbridge raised their game and they were unfortunate not to equalise through George Bendle, whose drive was parried by Larkhall keeper Kit Bond and attempts to bury the loose ball were shut down by the guests’ defence.
It was not until five minutes from the end that the Devs ensured the points were safe, Toby Little making ground and curling the ball home.
The Larks will visit Salisbury-based strugglers Bemerton Heath Harlequins Reserves in the Premier Division on 21st March (3pm).
