Nat Bell's second half goal was not enough for Royal Wootton Bassett Town Development who fell to defeat after Wiltshire League Premier Division newcomers Larkhall Athletic Development scored twice in the opening period through Harvey Kendrick and James Book.

Larkhall were forced to postpone their game the previous week, but came into their match with Bassett unbeaten in the two games that they have played so far this season.

And Larkhall got off to a storming start on the 3G at the Gerard Buxton Sports Ground, Kendrick hitting the cross bar in the very first minute of the match - a lucky escape for the home side.

The first chance of the game that came the way of Bassett was on 15 minutes when Larkhall keeper Oliver Eglon produced a fine save to deny Akeem Stewart from point blank range.

Moments later it was the turn of Bassett keeper Dan West to deny the opponents from going in front, diving to turn away a powerful shot from Tom Ricketts.

A minute later Ricketts went close again, his shot from the edge of the box going just the wrong side of the post and into the side netting.

The deadlock was finally broken on 23 minutes, and it was a solo effort from Kendrick. Picking up the ball on the edge of the box, he twisted and turned past a couple of defenders before firing in from close to the penalty spot for 1-0 to the visitors.

There was almost an instant response from Bassett, Stewart being denied by another fine save from Eglon in the Larkhall goal.

Having gone close themselves the home side were to fall further behind just after the half hour mark, when poor marking at a corner saw captain Book have space to volley in from the edge of the box to make it 2-0 to Larkhall and it remained that way at the break.

Having hit the bar in the opening minute of the first half, Larkhall repeated the feat at the start of the second. This time it was Ricketts who struck the frame of the goal, the ball bounced down and appeared to cross the line but, unlike the Russian lineman in 1966, Kaz Bedry, back running the line after his recent health scare, was not convinced and did not flag for a goal and it remained just the two.

Having survived that scare, and just after a heavy downpour, the home side got themselves a foothold back in the game, Bell firing in for his third of the season.

Bassett began to have more of the possession but struggled to create any more chances of note due to a well organised and disciplined Larkhall defensive performance. Indeed it was the visitors who went closest to scoring again, Ricketts being denied by the home keeper West with a fine save from another powerful shot 15 minutes from time.

So that is now three games unbeaten for Larkhall who look like they are going to challenge at the top end of the table in their first season in the Premier Division. Bassett meanwhile have two wins and two defeats, though can take confidence from being very competitive in those two losses against a pair of strong sides.

Credit: Mark Smedley
Last modified on Sunday 27th August 2023 at 11:23