Lambs condemned to third league defeat on the trot by Flippance brace at Larkhall

A brace from Harvey Flippance from set pieces condemned Lambs to third league defeat on the trot after a below-par performance at Larkhall.

The Lambs came into the encounter making three changes from the side which defeated Larkhall on penalties in the FA Trophy last weekend. Following his goal in the tie which took the game to penalties, Rhys Lindsell came into the side replacing Cole Fisher, who dropped to the bench. Iestyn Harris also returned to the side, replacing Olly Northam, who was also among the substitutes. The final change for the Lambs was in between the sticks, with former Plymouth Argyle goalkeeper Dan Holman coming into the side for his competitive debut, replacing Will Howard.

The game started slow, with both teams looking to play counter-attack football and float balls out wide and into the channels, with winger Jack Crago being the focal point for the Lambs. The first chance of the encounter fell to the home side with eight minutes gone, with Ryan Beckinsale smashing a speculative effort over Holman’s net.

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The first chance for the Lambs saw a lovely through ball from Ben Cross find Crago in the box. The former Helston and Plymouth Parkway man took a touch before taking the ball past Max Williams. However, the forward’s chance came to an end abruptly, with the Lambs forward flagged offside, which looked questionable at the time.

A minute later, the home side took the lead after a training ground routine worked wonders. A corner from the right by Beckinsale saw Alex Camm go short and take Tavi’s Harris out of play. Beckinsale then hit the ball low to Flippance, who beat Crago to the ball before rolling the ball home into the bottom left corner. The strike was the former Westbury forward’s second of the season.

In the 16th minute, the home side came close to doubling their lead after Milo Murgatroyd cut inside from the left and smashed a powerful effort which just sailed wide of Holman’s far post. The young winger was looking very dangerous down the flank for the Larks. Murgatroyd was once again involved in a Larks attack eight minutes later, with the former Paulton Rovers man sending in a delivery which met the head of Flippance. However, the former Thatcham man couldn’t keep his header down.

In the 28th minute, the Lambs came close to equalising after a cross from Harris eventually fell to Jacob Bowker, just outside the box. The former Falmouth man took a touch before curling an effort just over the top of Liam Armstrong’s bar, with the goalkeeper looking worried. Three minutes later, the home side were nearly gifted a second after a Holman dropped ball was headed just wide by Flippance after a good recovery from the Tavi-born keeper.

Ten minutes later, a chance for the home side saw former Tiverton man Beckinsale find Jack Camm, who smashed a powerful effort straight down the throat of Holman. In the 43rd minute, the Lambs players and fans were left perplexed after not being awarded a penalty. A nice attack saw Crago slip in Bowker, who passed the ball into Ryan White. The forward took an excellent few touches before being brought to the ground by Jack Goodall after a nice roulette. However, despite visible contact, the referee was unmoved.

Into added time, the home side missed a gilt-edged opportunity to increase their lead. A corner was whipped in by Beckinsale and was knocked down a whole host of times before falling to captain Sam Boulton. From just five yards out, the defender smashed the ball over the bar, which was a huge let-off for the Lambs. Not long later, the referee blew for the half-time whistle, with the home side going in ahead at the break, which was deserved.

The first shot of the second period was a speculative effort for the Lambs, with Ben Fowles smashing an effort from distance over Armstrong but also away from goal. Two minutes later, a Tavi attack saw Bowker and Fowles link up, with the latter finding Harris, who smashed an effort which just deflected wide of Armstrong’s far post.

On the hour mark, the home side doubled their lead. A free kick down the left was whipped in by Beckinsale, with the sharp Flippance again heading to the near post, where he guided the ball into the net with a sublime header leaving Holman helpless. The strike was the forward’s second of the day, with former US College footballer Beckinsale grabbing his second assist of the day after another pinpoint delivery.

The Lambs made their first sub in the 64th minute, with Lindsell being replaced by the experienced Tallan Burns. Four minutes later, the Larks made their first sub, with former Hungerford Town man Dawid Regula replaced by Dylan Tate. The Lambs went to the bench in the 72nd minute also, with Northam and Fisher replacing Ethan Wright and Fowles. Alex Camm also made way for the Larks, with the game coming to a close with Matt Bowman taking his place.

In the 78th minute, Williams did well to get past Northam and send in a cross to Tate. The New Zealander smashed a powerful effort which was saved expertly by Holman. Two minutes later, the Lambs had an effort on goal, however Bowker’s strike was nowhere near troubling Armstrong.

The Lambs looked to be in two minutes before the ninety, with Charlie Madden’s ball looking to reach Crago. However, an excellent recovering challenge from Williams prevented the ball from finding the forward. Crago was involved in the final chance of the game, with the forward heading a Bowker cross into the six-yard box, inviting for it to be tapped home. However, the ball was cleared by a Larkhall man, which frustrated the isolated figure of Crago.

Not long later, the referee blew for the full-time whistle, with the Lambs now turning their attention to the FA Trophy as they take on AFC Porchester away from home. Larkhall now have a week off and return to action in two weeks as they take on Mousehole in Cornwall.