Hartpury FC suffered a 3-1 to a 10-man Larkhall Athletic in the Southern League Div One South at Plain Ham on Wednesday night.
Drew Robinson’s equalising strike wasn’t enough to avoid defeat to the Larks thanks to a goal from Matt Bowman and a brace from Dawid Regula.
It was an even start to proceedings with the Acorns having the best of the early chances, when Riley McGregor saw his strike deflected past the post on 14 minutes.
Vanylson Silva came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock but saw his towering header cannon back off the crossbar on 21 minutes.
But against the run of play, Larkhall took the lead as Regula bounded down on goal, before calmly slotting underneath Ryan Smallwood on 27 minutes.
However, almost instantly the Acorns levelled the game, when Robinson placed the ball in the top left corner after meeting a low Louis Manning cross.
The Larks retook the lead on 35 minutes when Bowman rose highest from corner to head down into the goal.
Renato Prifti went close to equalising deep into the half but could only direct his poked effort, from close range, wide of the post, seeing the Acorns head into the break behind.
HALF TIME – LARKHALL ATHLETIC 2-1 HARTPURY FC
The Larks came flying out the traps in the second period, adding a third on 47 minutes when Regula rounded Smallwood and slotted home his second of the evening.
Smallwood was forced into a smart stop moments later to deny a driven Alex Camm effort.
Manning tried his best to get the Acorns back in the game but saw his volleyed effort saved by Liam Armstrong in the Larks net, on 54 minutes.
Manning was on hand again to come close next when his effort from a free kick was smartly saved by Armstrong on 65 minutes.
The Acorns threw everything at the Larks and came close again when Akai Bonnick drove across the area before drilling a low shot, which was well saved again on 76 minutes.
Manning again went close on 80 minutes when; after twisting and turning, he lashed an effort on the angle, but Armstrong made another smart stop at the near post.
The finish was made slightly more tense for the Larks when fullback, Jack Goodall saw red on 90 minutes.
But that didn’t change the outcome of the evening, and the Acorns will look to get back to winning ways on Saturday, when we take on Gloucester City in the FA Trophy at the 4ED.
FULL TIME – LARKHALL ATHLETIC 3-1 HARTPURY FC
STARTING XI: Smallwood (GK), Kent ©, Robinson (Kelly 90’), McGregor (Machisa 45+3’), Sims, Jenkins, Aldridge (Bonnick 55’), Prifti (Coates 48’), Manning, Shyamapant (Osborn 48’), Silva
