FA Cup Preliminary Round
LARKHALL ATHLETIC 1-0 TIVERTON TOWN
Plain Ham, Charlcombe Lane, Larkhall
Admission: £6
Programme: £1
Attendance: 164
Food: Cheese Roll, £1.30
Drink: Stowford Press Cider, £3.20
With the hopmobile injured for the next 2 weeks it was a trip on First Great Western Trains to Bath Spa and a short bus ride on the no7 bus from the bus station next to the Rail Station Exit. I got off at Hill View Road and walked up the narrow steep hill with a regular supporter to Plain Ham, home of Western League Larkhall Athletic. There is plenty of parking available inside the ground but be wary of the limited access for entry/exit.
The clubhouse and paybox/turnstile is inside the grounds and leads to the clubhouse, which has been updated several times over the last 15 years and now encompasses larger changing rooms, toilets, hospitality area and refreshments kiosk as well as the bar. At the end of the clubhouse building, the players have a staircase to reach the pitch, with is several metres below the Changing Rooms and Main stand, apparently there used to be a large slope from one side to the pitch to the other. Today the pitch is level and in great condition.
Tiverton are a Step higher in the pyramid but I was impressed by the quality and team spirit in the home side, especially as they are without their manager, Wayne Thorne, who has just been released from hospital after horrific injuries in the summer. This was a typical cup tie with more than a few niggly challenges, which I thought the referee was very lenient with. The only goal came with 20 or so minutes left as good work on the left hand side allowed the cross to be steered home by Rob Hobbs. Larkhall settled for the 1-0 and played out the game for the last 15 minutes which could have backfired with Tiverton counter attacks but they held on for a deserved progression to the 1st Qualifying Round.
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