Match Preview: Larkhall AFC vs Tavistock AFC

Tavi head to Bath to take on Larkhall Athletic, in first game of 2025!!

By Luca Sperti

The Lambs clash with Bideford on New Year’s Day was postponed, due to pitch conditions with the Lambs last in action on Saturday 28th of December, as they welcomed Falmouth Town to Langsford Park. Infront of a big crowd and on a difficult service, the away side started the better of in the encounter, taking the lead in the 11th minute through Luke Barner. Four minutes later, it was 0-2 to the Cornish visitors after Barner sent in a cross which deflected of Ethan Wright into the path of Rubin Wilson, who made no mistake. Despite Falmouth in control, the Lambs hit the post in the 23rd minute, after Captain Ed Harrison laid the ball of to Luke Steer, whose effort cannoned of the upright before being cleared to safety by the away side. In the 42nd minute, Lambs Captain Harrison had to be substitute after picking up an injury, with Jacob Shore replacing the Number Eight. A minute later, it went from bad to worse for the Lambs as Falmouth added a third through Olly Walker. Despite a poor first-half, Tavi came out the better in the second half, pulling a goal back in just the 50th minute. Good play by Liam Prynn, saw the forward lay the ball of to Steer, who bent an effort into the far corner, leaving Morgan Coxhead with no chance in the Town net. Tavi pulled another goal back in the 84th minute, after a Brooklyn Wilkins cross was headed into the far-corner by Shore, making the last six minutes very interesting. However unfortunately for Tavistock, Falmouth held on for an impressive victory which sees them leapfrog the Lambs, who dropped into the bottom four after the defeat.

Larkhall have already kicked of their 2025, as they took the trip to the Platinum Hyundai Stadium to take on Westbury United on New Year’s Day. Despite both sides having chances in the first half, it took to the second half for the deadlock to be broken in the game. It was the home side who took the lead, after a brilliant finish by Brad Selwood put the Wiltshire outfit ahead. 16 minutes later, the White Horse men had a second, after a great past by Joe Beardwell, Selwood got on the ball and rocketed a shot into the top-corner, for his second. In the 80th minute, the centre-midfielder then added his hattrick after great composure to flick the ball into the far-corner, despite pressure from Larkhall players in the box. The Larks will also in action on Saturday the 28th, just like the Lambs, with all Blue outfit taking the long trip to Hampshire to take on Bashley. In the 69th minute in the encounter, the Larks took the lead as Eben Mortimer-Taylor, stabbed home an effort after a goalmouth scramble, despite Dan Walster’s best efforts on the line. Evra Yao came close to adding a second for the Larks, in the last knockings of the encounter with the former Frome man smashing a shot which was saved well by Mac Allan. Despite chances for the home side in the encounter, the out of form Larks, held on for an important three points in the league, which sees them jump away from the relegation places.

The Larks currently sit in 15th place in the League, after eight wins, four draws and 10 defeats from their opening 23 games, seeing the Somerset outfit sit on 28 points. Stuart Henderson lambs currently sit six points from safety, after six wins, three draws and 12 defeats, from the Lambs opening 21 games. Tavistock currently sit on 21 points but do have two games in hand on the teams above them in the table. Larkhall remain one of two sides in the Southern League, yet to draw away from home this season, with the Larks winning four and losing eight games on the road this term. Despite this the Larks have picked up four draws at home this season, which is the joint-most in the league. The Lambs going into this game, have picked up one more point away this season than at home, with the Devonshire outfit picking up 10 points at home and eleven away from home soil. Despite being three places and seven points above the Lambs, Larkhall have conceded more than the Lambs this term, with the Bath outfit conceding 41, with Tavi conceding 37 this term. A win for Larkhall in this encounter, could see the Somerset outfit move up to 11th place, if other results go their way. A win for the Lambs in this encounter, would still see them stay in the bottom four, however Tavi could tighten the drop to three points, if other results go their way.

Tavi have already played the Larks twice this term, with both games coming at Langsford Park, in the League and the Fa Trophy. Both games saw the Red and Black outfit come out winners, continuing their good form against the Larks. Back in Devon in September in the Fa Trophy, the Larks took the lead in the encounter in the 8th minute through Harvey Pritchard. Great play by Max Williams, saw the midfielder weave inside and out to Tavi defenders before smashing a shot which was tipped onto the post by Dearing before being tapped home by Pritchard. Two minutes later the Lambs equalised, a through ball by former Lambs Charlie Elkington found current Plymouth Parkway fullback Jack Endacott, who won the ball ahead of Forster and smashed the ball into the net. In the 20th minute the Lambs had a second after Endacott slipped the ball to Liam Prynn, who found Tallan Burns who calmly slotted the ball into the net, past a helpless Forster. 15 minutes later, the Lambs had a third after excellent play by Alfie Cunnigham, saw the Welshman head down the by-line before taking his time and squaring the ball to Prynn, who tapped the ball home from close range. Jack Camm, who loves a goal at Langsford Park added a second for the Larks in the 68th minute, after a cross by Adam Lambert but the Lambs held on for an important victory in the Trophy. The reverse fixture in the League between the two sides saw the Lambs take the lead in the 18th minute, after a Ben Steer cross was powered home by Jack Matthews. In the 36th minute the Lambs doubled their lead, after a Prynn cross was smashed into the net by Elkington. Three minutes later it was 3-0 to Tavi. Following a corner the ball fell to Endacott inside the box, who smashed a shot at Forster. Following a goalmouth scramble, the ball eventually fell to Luke Steer, who smashed a shot into the roof-of-the-net. This is where the scoring finish with a defensively sound second-half performance wrapping up an impressive victory for the Devon based outfit. The match between these two sides last season, was one which had it all. It was a game which started with torrential rain and a very muddy pitch, which the Lambs seem to adapt better to as they took the lead in the 2nd minute. Welsh Winger Cunnigham did well to cut inside to Larkhall defenders from the left-wing before smashing a shot into the near-post, which current Wolverhampton Wanders goalkeeper Arthur Nasta got a hand-to but couldn’t keep out. Only eight minutes later and the away side equalised, after a ball was played out-wide to the right-wing to Camm. The winger made his way into the box before playing a cross into the box which was missed by Tavi goalkeeper Aaron Dearing, and rolled in at the far-post by Max Williams. Only four minutes later the visitors took the lead in the hectic conditions. A longball up from defence by the Larks saw the ball find Elkington, who was shrugged off the ball by current Frome Town striker Archie Ferris. The Target man, then laid the ball off to midfielder Matt Bowman, who took one touch before pulling the ball across the box to Camm. The versatile midfielder for Larkhall, opened his body up before poking the ball into the net. Three minutes later the visitors got a third with their next attack. A through ball once again from the Larkhall defence found Ferris, who once again did brilliantly to shrugged of Tavi defender Iestyn Harris, before sending a lovely curling cross towards the six-yard box. The ball into the box found its way to Camm, who cleverly flicked the ball into the top-right-corner. The game looked to be in Larkhall’s hands but in the 36th minute the home side had a lifeline. A cross by Endacott, was overhit and cleared by the Larkhall defence. However, the clearance by Larkhall midfielder Harrison Lea, fell into the path of Alex Battle, who cut-inside before curling a shot with his left-foot into the corner. The second half was still as hectic with snow now entering the field and the pitch cutting up. Despite all this in the 68th minute it was 3-3. A short corner from Battle, saw the forward find Cunnigham who sent in a cross which was flicked in by former Tavi utility man Joe O’Loughlin. The scoring ended there with both teams plays happy the game came to a halt just after the 90-minute mark. The reverse fixture in the 23/24 season came all the way back in August, with Larkhall coming out 3-0 winners on the day thanks to goals from Tom Bradley, Thierry Swaby and Archie Ferris. The 3-0 victory for Larkhall on the day was the clubs first off, the season, in the League.

Larkhall Atheltic Key Players:

Max Williams- A eloquent and determined winger who can also play as a box-to-box midfielder. Williams started his career at the Academy of Bristol City, where he spent numerous years but didn’t make a first-team appearance for the club. The midfielder first taste of senior football was at Mangotsfield United, who he joined on loan from the Robins. Williams made his debut for Mango, against Bristol Manor Farm in 2019, in centre-midfielder where he impressed despite a 0-2 win for Manor Farm. Williams went on to make three more appearances at Mangotsfield, against Bideford, Highworth Town and his current employers Larkhall. After spending another year in the Bristol Academy youth ranks, Williams was released by the Robins in July of 2020 and eventually went on to have trials with Bristol Rovers. After these trials proved to be unsuccessful, Williams joined Yate Town in 2020 making four appearances across the October period. The midfielder’s debut for Yate, came off the bench against Tiverton Town in Southern League Premier Division South. Williams first start for the club came against Chesham United, in a 0-1 loss for the Bluebells. After time away, Williams rejoined Yate the season after going on to make 23 appearances scoring once, with Yate still competing in Step Three of non-league football, at the time. Williams even featuring for the Bluebells in the Fa Cup first round, when they welcome National League side Yeovil to the SouthWest interiors Stadium. In the 0-5 victory for the Glovers, Williams came on in the 71st minute, which I’m sure is a proud day for the player. In the 21/22 season Williams goal came against Farnborough, in a 1-2 win for the Bluebells, with Williams providing the equaliser in his first goal in senior-football. The following summer saw Williams sign for Larkhall. In his first season at the blue outfit, Williams made 40 appearances in all competitions scoring six in the process. This season saw Willimas versatility prove dividends, with the midfielder started the season as a centre-midfielder, before plying his trade as a winger come the end of the season. Williams six goals in the 22/23 season came against Frome, Wells City, Slimbridge and of course Tavi. With the midfielder scoring the only goal at Langsford Park in the 22/23 season between the two sides. Last season, saw Williams play a whole-host of positions including right-back left-winger and centre-forward. In total the former Yate man, played 45 times scoring nine goals. These goals included strikes against Willand, Exmouth and braces against Wimborne Town and Melksham Town. The former Bristol City man also found the net against the Lambs at Langsford Park, for the second season running. This season has seen Williams featured less for the Larks due to injury, but after returning to fitness the midfielder has been an integral part of the side. Williams has once again played a whole host of positions this season, including on the wing, in centre-midfielder and at right-back. Williams also scored for the Larks in the Fa Cup away to Boreham Wood in the Fa Cup 3rd Round Qualifying. Williams also loves a goal against the Lambs, making him one to look out for in this match.

Jack Camm- The versatile midfielder, started his career Bristol Rovers before moving to Weston-Super-Mare in the 2011/12 season. In the 2011/12 season Camm made three appearances for Western-Super-Mare including two appearances in the National League South against Chelmsford City and Dover Athletic. The following season saw Camm move to Cinderford Town, where the midfielder spent three seasons scoring five goals in the process. The next season saw Camm spend time at Yate Town and at Larkhall Athletic, scoring five goals for the latter before moving back to Cinderford. At the start of the 16/17 season at Cinderford, Camm scored once before returning to Yate. At the Bluebells in the second part of the season, Camm scored two goals before once again moving clubs. This time Camm returned to the Larks and play more in a defensive midfielder role. The next season saw Camm make 28 appearances for Larkhall in all competitions. The 31-year-old even feature as a left-back as well as a centre-midfielder in the 19/20 season where he impressed against the likes of AFC Totton, Swindon Supermarine and Didcot Town. The next season saw Camm play 10 times for Larkhall, with saw the utility man score once, in a 2-2 away draw at Bideford. Camm in the following season played an impressive 42 games in all different positions, which included featuring as a right-back, left-back, left-midfielder, right-midfielder and central midfielder. Following four seasons at Larkhall at the start of the 22/23 season Camm moved to Melksham Town, where he was mostly deployed as a left-winger. Whilst at the Oakfield Stadium, Camm 18 appearances, scoring the one goal in a 3-1 win for the Town against Wimborne Town. However, in November of the 22/23 season, Camm returned to Larkhall and played 22 games, mostly featuring as a central midfielder. In the 23/24 season at the Larks Camm played as more of a number eight than a winger and he impressed. Many Lambs and Larkhall fans will remember the diminutive midfielder scored a brace in the hectic 3-3 draw last season in the snow. In total Camm scored four in 40 last seasons. The 31-year-old, has played 25 times for the last this season, scoring twice and playing as a left-winger before returning to play in the middle of the park. The midfielder goals this season have come against Bemerton Heath Harlequins and the Lambs in the Fa Trophy back in September. An energetic player, Camm will be one to look out for in this fixture.

Larkhall Athletic Last Five Results:

Wednesday 1st January- Westbury United 3-0 Larkhall Athletic
Saturday 28th December- Bashley Fc 0-1 Larkhall Athleitc
Thursday 26th December- Larkhall Athletic 0-1 Shaftesbury Fc
Saturday 21st December- Larkhall Athletic 1-1 Bristol Manor Farm
Saturday 14th December- Malvern Town 4-0 Larkhall Athletic

Tavistock AFC Last Five Results:
Saturday 28th December- Tavistock AFC 2-3 Falmouth Town
Thursday 26th December- Cribbs FC 1-1 Tavistock AFC
Saturday 21st December- Tavistock AFC 1-2 Westbury United
Saturday 14th December- Evesham United 1-0 Tavistock AFC
Saturday 30th November- Cinderford Town 2-3 Tavistock AFC

Match Information:
Saturday 4th January– Kick-off 3:00pm
Ticket Information: From Larkhall’s official X Account
Ground: Plain Ham, Bath, BA1 8DJ
Adults: £11
Concessions & Students: £8
Kids: £4