FA Trophy

Larkhall 2

Shortwood 4

SHORTWOOD proved there would be no FA Cup hangover as they defeat Larkhall to book an FA Trophy trip to Southern League Premier Division Weymouth after an impressive performance in the preliminary round, writes Jim Cunneen.

Joint-manager John Evans felt it It was the perfect way to respond for Shortwood after their FA Cup disappointment against Bath City in midweek.

Evans said:“We could easily have had a hangover from Tuesday but the boys bounced back well against a good side.

“We showed patience to break them down.”

Larkhall have two very good front men in Sibbick and Thorne and they posed a threat all afternoon with their fast flowing football but Shortwood were a match for them and the game was richly entertaining.

It only took Shortwood two minutes to take the lead.

Nick Humphreys crossed, Lewis Sommers knocked the ball down and Adam Price, under pressure, drilled the ball home from the edge of the box.

Larkhall responded and put Wood under pressure but Price came the closest to a goal when he fired just wide.

Shortwood doubled their lead after 19 minutes. Sam Rawlings’ long cross was again knocked down by Sommers and this time Bennett crashed a volley past Thompson from 10 yards.

This sparked Larkhall into life. Tom King saved well from Sibbick and Thorne shot just past the far post and they deserved their goal after 31 minutes. A deep cross found Tumelty who controlled the ball, flicked it up and knocked it past King for a fine goal.

Five minutes later Larkhall were level. A free-kick was going straight to Ash Thomas but he slipped at the vital time and Jones was left with a simple finish.

Still the drama of the first half wasn’t over as Thorne launched recklessly into a challenge on Matt Bennett and was shown a straight red card.

If anything the red card galvanised the home side as they had chances in the second half to take the lead and Shortwood lost their way for a while.

Sibbick fired over and then King saved from the same player but slowly Wood regained their footing in the game and started to put some dangerous balls in from the flanks.

The Wood management rung the changes and they started to utilise the space.

Josh Egan had a shot deflected just wide and with 10 minutes to go they retook the lead. Rawlings’ persistence won the ball and he left his marker trailing as he raced into the area.

His low cross was perfect for the onrushing Ross Langworthy to fire home from 10 yards.

With two minutes to go the victory was sealed as Marley Thomas and Nick Hancock harried in midfield.

Thomas won the ball and set Hancock free who charged forward to score.

SHORTWOOD: King, Rawlings, Humphreys, Thomas, A, Lee, Haddock, Egan( Thomas M 78), Hancock, Sommers, Price (Langworthy 63), Bennett (Njoya 66).

Subs not used: Opoku, Veal.

Star man: Jake Lee.