Larkhall Athletic v Yate Town
Southern League Division One South
Saturday 18th January 2025 - Kick-off 3.00pm
On Saturday the Bluebells travel to Larkhall Athletic, in Bath, and fans who have been there before will notice some big changes since our last visit in April 2024. The trees have gone from behind one goal, a 4G pitch has been laid and a 250-seater stand has also been erected.
Yate Town manager, Darren Mullings, will be looking to get his side back into action, with last Saturday’s home game against Willand Rovers called off due to a frozen pitch. Mullings will be hoping to give a debut to new forward King Biadoo and Marlon Jackson is likely to be available having missed the last few games with a groin injury.
Departing is Ollie Dewsbury, whose loan period from Bristol Rovers has now ended.
Form Guide
Larkhall Athletic currently sit in 17th position in the league table and have won 8 of their 24 league games whilst amassing 29 points. Last Saturday’s game at Falmouth Town was postponed and their last 6 games have seen them win just once, a fine 1-0 win at Bashley on 28th December with Eben Mortimer-Taylor scoring their goal to end 2024.
Prior to that they lost 0-3 at Malvern Town on 14th December, followed by two home games – a 1-1 draw at home to Bristol Manor Farm on 21st December and a 0-1 reversal at home to Shaftesbury on Boxing Day.
This year started with a 0-3 loss at Westbury United on New Year’s Day and then a 2-2 draw at home to Cinderford Town, with Mortimer-Taylor getting both goals for the Larks.
Previous meetings
This season the two teams met at the South West Interiors Stadium on a Tuesday evening (24th September) and in a close game it was a Lloyd James goal that settled the match after 71 minutes (pictured below).
Photograph by Aaron Norman.
Last season’s home game was originally scheduled for Friday 10th November as Yate Town looked to see how a Friday night game could boost attendances but the wet weather got in the way and the game had to be postponed and was then played on Tuesday 9th January. With Nick McCootie making his debut and both Joe Guest and James Taylor having also just signed and played the previous
Saturday in a 0-0 draw at Malvern, the Bluebells put on a five-star performance and ran out 4-1 winners with all the above 3 mentioned players scoring and substitute Jack Ball adding a fourth before Dawid Regula scored a consolation late on for the Larks.
In the return game on 10th April, and with both clubs looking a secure a play-off place, and a lot riding on the game, a draw was not particularly useful to either side but it was an entertaining game that ended 2-2. Joe Guest put the Bluebells in front but Harvey Pritchard equalised on the stroke of half time. Calum English-Brown scored a wonder goal to put Yate ahead before Ethan Mortimer-Taylor levelled the scores.
Before these games the teams met regularly prior to Covid – the last season being, when on 9th March 2019, the Larks won their home game 2-1 (Ollie Mehew scoring for Yate) and the game at Lodge Road ended 0-0 on 8th December.
Getting there:
The Securitas Stadium, Plain Ham is the home of the Larks. The postcode for our ground is BA1 8DJ. Larkhall offer a well-stocked bar and hot and cold snacks such as filled rolls, chips, burgers, hotdogs, pasties, and so on. The club has ample parking on site but you are encouraged to walk or use public transport if possible. Larkhall village is just down the hill with its shops, cafes, pubs, etc. The number 7 bus from the city centre stops at Hillview Road, just down the hill from our ground.
Next up
Yate Town entertain MALVERN TOWN on Saturday 25th January at The South West Interiors Stadium then they travel to Cribbs for a Friday night game on 31st January (7.45pm) and this is followed by 2 home games, against BIDEFORD on 4th February and FALMOUTH TOWN on 8th February.