Goal fest at Plain Ham!

Those supporters who braved the high winds and torrential rain were treated to a 10 goal thriller at the Securitas Stadium which saw the Larks’ unbeaten league run stretch into October.

Barnstaple travelled to Larkhall on the back of successive losses and so it was a shock when they took the lead within the first minute. The Larks appeared to be mentally still in the dressing room and put up little resistance as Rhys Thomas put the visitors ahead. However, Lewis Powell picked up a pass from Tom Fry, spun round on the edge of the Barum area and equalised less than two minutes later.

The goals then started to flow in earnest and the home side led 5-1 by half time. Man of the match Matt Britton poached his first goal from close range to make it 2-1, and only moments later Sam Crumb rose above the Barum defence to head home our third. Shortly before half time Ginge made it 4-1 with a superb volley from distance. Barum keeper Dominic Larter then pulled off an impressive double save but the Larks were not to be denied and Tom Fry scored his first competitive goal for the club with a stunning direct free kick.

One might have expected the second half to be a quieter affair but there were four more goals to come. About 15 minutes after the restart Ginge powered a strike past the keeper for his hat-trick. After a less eventful spell when Barum saw more of the ball the Larks started pelting the away defence again, and winger Alex Lambert was next on the scoresheet with a rebound shot after a good parry from Larter.

As full time beckoned the Larks did not lose focus, and Ginge put the icing on the cake with an unprecedented fourth goal. Lewis finished off an emphatic win in added time, and nearly got a hat-trick himself with an effort that came off the post.

Barnstaple’s young squad deserve much credit for continuing to battle for 90 minutes and we wish them well for the rest of the season.

Our manager Phil Bater spoke to Owen Houlihan of Radio Bath after the game and you can listen again here.

Photo gallery by Liz Bugg here.

Next up for the Larks is the Somerset Premier Cup away at Street on Tuesday 5th October – 7.30pm ko. On Saturday we host Slimbridge in the FA Trophy and hope to see as many of our supporters as possible then.