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Match Reports will be posted below.....

Score: 3 -2 Cheltenham Town   

The Larks settled quickly, taking the control of what looked like an even mid-field battle within the opening 15 minutes. After 20 minutes Cheltenham were handed a controversial in-direct free kick for a ball which was deflected off the Larkhall defence and gathered by keeper Jodi Steenaart.  This was given as an apparent back pass. Cheltenham took full advantage of this and took the lead 1-0 with an unstoppable close range shot. 

This seemed to give the Larks the spark they needed and with continuing pressure on the Cheltenham defence they levelled the game through a fantastic strike from Anna Walby and went on to take the lead minutes later with a well worked goal, set up by Jodie Whaley and finished by Sophie Hammer.

The Lark’s back four of Kelly Mackintosh, Tasha Miller, Charlene Rooney and Katie Ransome stood strong once again this week with well timed and accurate challenges.

Ten minutes before half time Cheltenham were handed a corner which looked to be threatening but the Larkhall keeper got a crucial touch on it to push it away, where it was cleared out of the defence. The Larks managed to hold on to the lead before the half time break.

Tensions were high in the second half with the Larks pushing for a third and Cheltenham for the equaliser.  The Larks coped well with the pressure and seemed comfortable with the lead until the 30^th minute when Cheltenham made the break through to equalise with a well placed finish. 

This made the Larks even more determined going forward and with a great ball through the middle from Walby, Emily Harrington beat the Cheltenham defence and ran on to execute a precise finish which gave the Larks the lead they deserved.

The Larks managed to hold on, winning 3-2 and taking the three points which has taken them to the top of the table

Man of Match: Emily Harrington

Team: Jodi Steenaart, Charlene Rooney (C), Tash Miller, Katie Ransome, Kelly Mackintosh (Jennifer Morris), Nicola O’Connell (Laura Gregory), Emily Harrington, Leanne Couch, Anna Walby, Sophie Hamer, Jodie Whaley (Simone Broad)

Score: 4 - 0 Poole Town   

This week the Larks entertained Poole Town. The game started with Larkhall having most of the possession. Many good runs were made by Lucy Kember and Jodie Whaley but Poole held a tight back line catching many off sides. Due to Poole playing a high back line the Larks midfield attempted some long range shot. Sophie Hamer came very close just skimming the cross bar in the first 10 minutes.

Nicola O’Connell and Emily Harrington made lots of creative runs and play down the wings accompanied by Katie Ransome. The majority of these runs resulted in brilliant crosses but unfortunately the Larks just could not find the back of the net. In the 20th minute the Larks had a quick break down the left side. Kelly Mackintosh put the ball through to Harrington. Harington shot and force a great double save by the keeper. Shortly after the Larks had another break, Anna Walby put Kember through on goal one on one. Kember was denied by another good save from Poole goal keeper.

More one on one’s with the keeper came from Walby and Harrington but the Poole goal keeper stood strong.Many corners were made from these attacks but the Larks still struggled to find the back of the net.

Poole started to gain a bit more possession as the 1^st half drew closer to the end. One quick break from Poole forced Poole through on goal but Charlene Rooney made a well timed sliding challenge to clear the ball. A follow up shot from Poole forced Jodie Steenaart to produce a finger trip save. The first goal of the game came just before the end of the 1^st half. O’Connell took the corner. Long ball to the back post resulted in Rooney scoring a fantastic header.

The second half started off with pressure from Poole. The larks defence of Mackintosh, Tasha Miller, Rooney and Ransome stood strong and tight. 10 minutes in to the second half Walby challenged the keeper who pushed out for a corner. Then O’Connell had a long range shot which was saved by the goal keeper’s foot. Poole defence picked the loose ball up.

Second goal of the game came when Hamer put Kember through one on one and chipped the keeper. Poole started attacking strong again down the wings but the Larks defence stayed strong and won possession of the ball back. Poole carried on making breaks at the lark’s defence but solid Miller was hard to beat.

As the end of the second half drew closer Larks added extra pressure to Poole which resulted in two further goals being scored by O’Connell and another by Kember to make the final score 4-0.

Man of Match: Charlene Rooney

Team: Jodi Steenaart, Charlene Rooney (C), Tash Miller, Katie Ransome, Kelly Mackintosh, Nicola O’Connell, Emily Harrington (Leanne Couch), Anna Walby, Sophie Hamer (Simone Broad), Jodie Whaley (Corrine Dunsford), Lucy Kember

Score: 4 - 2 Uni of Exeter   

This week the Larks took a trip to Exeter.

Team: Jodi Steenaart, Lucy Harper (Jennifer Morris), Charlene Rooney (C), Tash Miller, Kelly Mackintosh, Anna Walby, Nicola O’Connell, Emily Harrington, Leanne Couch (Katie Ransome), Jodie Whaley (Lucy Kember), Sophie Hamer.

Score: 0 - 6 Penzance

This week the Larks took a trip to Penzance for the second round of the FA Cup. Unfortunately Larkhall were knocked out by Penzance.

Team: Jodi Steenaart, Laura Gregory, Charlene Rooney (C), Tash Miller, Kelly Mackintosh, Katie Ransome (Anna Walby), Nicola O’Connell, Emily Harrington, Leanne Couch (Lucy Harper), Jodie Whaley, Sophie Hamer.

Score: 3 - 0 Gloucester City

This week the Larks entertained Gloucester City.

This week the Larks entertained Barnstaple in the FA cup first round qualifier. Larkhall dominated from the start, scoring within the first minute from a great strike by Lucy Kember, shaking up Barnstaple’s defence. Consistent pressure from Emily Harrington then resulted in the Larks 2^nd goal scored by Nicola O’Connell. Almost immediately another high pace attack by Larkhall resulted in a near miss by Leanne Couch hitting the cross bar. Larkhall continued to build up the play passing the ball round comfortably. A superb pass by Kember, across the goal was tucked in the back of the net by Jodie Whaley to make it 3-0 ten minutes into the game. Despite Barnstaple conceding 3 early goals they continued to pressurise Larkhall, regaining possession and making some good passes out wide. However Barnstaple couldn’t penetrate the back four, Laura Gregory, Natasha Miller, Char Rooney and Kelly Mackintosh.

The second half brought more attacking play from Larkhall. Another great strike from O’Connell 20 yards out skimmed the cross bar. O’Connell with her persistent attack struck the ball cleanly on her left foot making it 4-0. Larkhall continued to mount the pressure on Barnstaple with Kember stretching the defence, resulting in Kember scoring a further 4 goals to make the final result 8-0, an excellent result for Larkhall! 

In the next round of the FA Cup, Larkhall will be taking the long trip to Penzance!

Man of the Match: Lucy Kember

Team: Jodi Steenaart, Laura Gregory, Charlene Rooney (C), Tash Miller, Nicola O’Connell, Emily Harrington, Simone Broad (Nancy Cameron), Kelly Mackintosh,  Leanne Couch, Jodie Whaley (Corinne Durnford), Lucy Kember.

Score:    0 - 3 Penzance

This week the Larks entertained Penzance. The game started at a very high tempo, which took the home team by surprise. Some good football was played with Penzance dominating the first 20 minutes and scoring the opening goal. Penzance continued to trouble the Larks defence, and scored their second from a break down the left hand side. An injury to Nancy Cameron saw the early introduction of Laura Gregory who had just flown back from America that morning.

The Larks started to settle into the game and managed to take control and slow down the pace. This allowed them to put some good passing together and put pressure on Penzance. A good play between strikers Lucy Kember and Jodie Whaley resulted in a foul on Whaley just outside the box. Anna Walby who had run the Bristol Half Marathon in the morning before the game struck the free kick just wide of the left post.

The second half saw a change in formation for the Larks with the introduction of Kelly Mackintosh (also just arriving back from America) allowing the change from  4-4-2 to 3-5-2. Penzance again came out with the aim to pressurise the home team from the start, however, the back three where strong with good tackles from Charlene Rooney and Gregory. Penzance again tried to pressure the Larks down the wings but were left frustrated by a number of well timed interceptions from Mackintosh.

As the Larks defence stood strong the midfield and strikers were getting more of the ball and started to create opportunities and test out the Penzance defence. Emily Harrington created two chances but along with Whaley and Miller, just couldn’t find the net. Jodi Steenaart had a fantastic performance in goal, keeping the Larks in the game on a number of occasions with some great one on one blocks and a couple of full stretch tips over the bar.Eventually Penzance caught the home team on the break and finished off the game with a third goal. A disappointing result for the Larks, but lessons can be learnt from this performance and there is no doubt that there is enough quality within the team for them to compete well this season.

Man of the Match:  Anna Walby

Team: Jodi Steenaart, Nancy Cameron (Laura Gregory), Charlene Rooney (C), Tash Miller, Nicola O’Connell, Emily Harrington, Anna Walby, Simone Broad (Kelly Mackintosh), Sophie Hamer, Jodie Whaley, Lucy Kember