Somerset Premier Cup quarter-final

Bridgwater Town 0 Larkhall Athletic 2

BRIDGWATER Town’s feel good week could only stretch to Tuesday night as they were bundled out of the Somerset Premier Cup by Larkhall Athletic, having missed a penalty and having had a man sent off for the second home game in three days, writes Kerry Miller.

It was a disappointing night for Paul West’s troops who battled well and gave everything but were undone by a first half double strike by Lark’s top scorer Jamie Lyons.

It was the first game of a new era under new chairman Alan Hurford, the long time Robins’ favourite having been voted in at an EGM on Monday night and it almost got off to a fine start as Matt Connick went on a solo run only to see his drive tipped over by former Eastleigh keeper Lewis Noice inside four minutes.

It was a confident opening with Sean Anthony up front with a deeper Reeko Best but both sides were guilty off straying offside in a stop start first 15 minutes.

Former Robin Dean Griffiths netted from one such offside position ten minutes in then Lyons escaped and should have done better with just Jake Viney to beat but he screwed his shot wide.

However, Viney was left exposed on 20 minutes when Joe Raynes was put free and as his lob missed the target he was flattened by Viney, who was booked, and Lyons crashed home the spot-kick.

Anthony then sent a superb cross field pass to the on-running Connick who drilled a shot just past the far post for the best move of the half but moments later the tie was effectively over.

Jack Camm found room to release Lyons and his lob beat Viney for his 18th goal of the season.

Jamie Adams ventured forward before putting his shot wide but after the break Bridgy took the game to Larkhall and after good work from Tom Hopkins, Best’s effort was blocked.

They continued to press until Best took on Neil Arndale, who brought him down in the box, and possibly mindful that he only booked Viney in the first half, referee Jackson surprised a few by only booking the former Bristol Rovers defender.

Anthony, who scored the late winner against Wimborne days earlier, saw his kick saved by Noice and the fightback was nulled.

Best had another effort saved before Ibrahima Diallo received a second yellow card ten minutes from time after an incident in front of the a linesman and what could have been a night of celebration had gone sour.