Plain Ham thriller! Larks 4-3 Bideford

The Larks notched up their first ever win against Bideford thanks to a towering performance from centre-forward Archie Ferris. 

We had to claw back a 2-0 deficit, though, as Ryan Turner took advantage of lax defending twice. Archie scored his first, a characteristic header from close range, on the stroke of half time to give the hosts a toe hold in the game. 

A pulsating second half saw four more goals and more than made up for an under-par first period. Archie levelled the score by collecting a long ball from midfield and calmly slotting past Adam Seedhouse Evans. He then got his hat-trick with the best of the bunch, a cheeky side-footed chip. The Larks were in the lead for a spell afterwards and so it was an unwelcome surprise when Bideford made it 3-3. Turner’s third was assisted by a mistake by the Larks defence and it looked like the spoils would be shared. Archie however had other ideas, nodding home the winner from a header by sub Lewis Graham to delirious celebrations from the home crowd.

Photo of Archie’s winning goal by Jeremy Richards. Full gallery here.