Larkhall Athletic 0

Shortwood United 2

By Jim Cunneen

SHORTWOOD picked up their second Southern League win in the week with a comprehensive display at Larkhall Athletic.

And boss Alex Sykes praised his side after they weathered an early Larkhall storm.

“This was a great effort," said Skykes. "We weathered it a bit in the first half but in the end we could have won by three or four.”

The result could have been much different if the Larks had taken their first half chances and Wood can consider themselves fortunate to be a goal up at half-time, but in the second half the Nailsworth side were dominant and had plenty of chances to have won by a far greater margin. The goal Wood scored in the first half was a very early contender for goal of the season.

Wood had already created several chances to open the scoring before they took the lead after 15 minutes with a great team goal.

Wood built down the right flank and Steve Davies fed Jake Lee who wasted no time in hitting a perfectly measured cross to the far post. Liam Meredith had raced through a powered a superb header past keeper Ben John.

Two minutes later Nick Hancock sent over a corner and Ed Weeks’ header was somehow kept out by John at full-stretch.

After that Larkhall took up the reins and put Wood under a great deal of pressure which Rhys Lovett generally kept at bay, but the Larks missed a glorious chance to level after 35 minutes when a low cross evaded everyone apart from Knighton who blazed wide from six yards.

Hancock put his body on the line to block another Knighton effort and Nathan Marks did the same to deny Hulbert before the break.

Larkhall also started the second half brightly but Will Morford should have doubled the scoring after 51 minutes - toe-poking over a Lee cross - although he was at full-stretch.

Davies was put through after 70 minutes, but John denied him, but he made no mistake just a minute later. Marks slid him in and as John advanced Davies slotted the ball past him for Wood’s second.

Wood dominated and sub James Singh set up Lee, but again John denied him with a save and when the ball rebounded he hit the outside of the post.

Lee smacked a shot inches wide and in the last minute and Wood should have scored their third when Lee put Withington in and he was caught in two minds whether to shoot or return the ball to the unmarked Lee. He elected to pass – but it was wayward.

SHORTWOOD: Lovett, Marks, Humphreys N, Lewis, Weeks, Hancock, Davies (Singh 74, Peare 89), Withington, Lee, Morford (Bennett 79), Meredith.

Star Man: Ed Weeks.