Match report: Bashley FC suffer 1-0 Southern League Division One South loss to Larkhall Athletic FC

BASHLEY’S miserable December form continued with a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Larkhall Athletic on Saturday, leaving the New Forest side with two points from a possible 12.

Bashley went into the match with one hand tied behind their backs. Scott Bungay, Conor Whiteley, and Mitch Speechley-Price were all missing from the starting line-up, with only Bungay being fit enough for a second-half cameo.

Brett Williams went solo up-front at the start, and although Luke Delaney and Charlie Wooding did their best to support him, the Larkhall defence dealt with what was often an isolated lone raider.

At virtually no time this season has manager Dave Lewis been able to field the team he would have liked to pick. However, despite playing with yet another changed line-up, Bash started brightly.

Larkhall defender Spencer Hall had to make a hectic clearance after Wooding broke down the right and crossed into the danger zone before Wooding delivered another sublime ball, this time into Charlie Wagstaffe, who was crowded out before he could get a meaningful shot away.

When Larkhall got moving, tricky frontman Evrard Yao went sprawling in the area under a typically no-nonsense challenge from skipper Steve Walker. The Larks crowed for a penalty, but referee Tony Cross stood firm and waved away the appeals.

Bash battled on but seldom looked like getting a breakthrough. Larkhall defended well and picked up the ball seemingly every time it spilt loose from Bashley’s possession.

It was almost half an hour before Bash had their first serious goal attempt, keeper Adam Forster guessing correctly the direction of Lewis Waterfield’s fierce shot and clutching it gratefully.

Walker’s influence was again illustrated when Larkhall’s corner king, Max Williams, swung in one of several right under the crossbar. It beat Mack Allan, but Walker rose to head it clear in the nick of time.

At the other end, the skipper found himself in the right place to meet a Lewis Ross corner but could not get the power he wanted, and it was cleared.

For ten minutes in the second half, it looked like Bashley was making little headway, so manager Lewis made three changes.

Bashley improved considerably after the substitutions, but it was still Larkhall who made the breakthrough. With 69 minutes played, Eben Mortimer-Taylor stabbed an effort at goal during a scramble. Bashley felt Dan Walster had scooped it off the line to safety, but the linesman signalled that it had crossed the line, and much to the exasperation of the Bashley followers, the goal was given.

Bashley the kitchen sink at the visitors, and they deserved more than they got with the final whistle signalling a 1-0 defeat.

Bashley next play at home on New Year’s Day when taking on Thatcham Town at 3pm.

Bashley: M. Allan, H. Bertrand, J. Webber, S. Walker, C. Wooding, B. Williams, L. Delaney, L. Waterfield, L. Ross, C. Wagstaffe, D. Walster. Subs: J. Bertie, C. Baughan, S. Bungay, L. Holmes, J. Arnold.