Dunbar brace helps Cleeve make it three wins in a row with victory over Larkhall

Super sub Ethan Dunbar netted a brace on Saturday afternoon to seal Bishops Cleeve’s 3-1 victory against Larkhall Athletic in their penultimate home game of the season, writes Alfie Richmond.

Bishops Cleeve started the day off in third place, three points inside the play-off places, following their huge win at Falmouth Town on Tuesday night. Larkhall Athletic, also known as ‘The Larks’, sat four points from safety, with a game in hand over surrounding teams – making it an important clash at both ends of the table.

Matthew Liddiard created the first real chance of the match inside 16 minutes, when his floated cross found the head of Ross Langworthy, who couldn’t direct his header goalwards.

Jay Malshankskyj found some space five minutes later, but his strike struck the gloves of Larks’ Dylan John.

Both sides struggled to maintain any sustained possession in the opening half an hour, and it was a first half with few chances.

On 38 minutes, Malshankskyj had another decent effort on goal after Langworthy’s clever flick allowed him to get his shot away, but again, it was comfortable for John.

Minutes later, Jake Hicks for the visitors drove through the midfield and unleashed a long range effort which Lewis Clayton tipped around the post. The resulting corner saw William Merrett’s header loop just wide.

It took just two minutes of the second half for Cleeve to change the course of proceedings. Skipper Langworthy bundled the ball in after an Aaron Evans-Harriott corner, and it was 1-0 to the Mitres on 47 minutes.

Ben McLean found himself on the end of another pin-point Evans-Harriott corner on 51 minutes, but couldn’t keep his header under the bar.

The hosts looked a lot sharper after coming out from the break, and Evans-Harriott continued to cause problems for Larkhall. On 57 minutes, he flashed an inviting cross across the visitors’ box – but there was no green shirt to meet it.

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Two minutes later, substitute Ethan Dunbar made it 2-0 with arguably his first touch of the ball. Malshankskyj worked his way down the left flank, and whipped it across to Dunbar, who delicately headed home for a two goal lead.

Evans-Harriott then missed a great opportunity to make it three when Dunbar’s cut-back fell nicely to him, but his effort was dragged wide.

On 70 minutes, Larkhall Athletic pulled one back through Max Williams, when Clayton was sold short from a pass-back. Williams was sharpest to react, and capitalised by taking it around the keeper to eventually tap home. With 20 minutes remaining, it was 2-1 to the hosts.

Williams was inches away from equalising for the visitors on 85 minutes, when Alex Lambert found him from a delicious cross. Williams’ resulting header narrowly sailed over the bar, and 5 minutes remained.

Dunbar sealed the three points for Cleeve when he netted his second of the game on 89 minutes – the ball fell nicely at his feet from around five yards out, and he smashed home. It was an important goal that sealed all three points against a strong Larkhall Athletic side.

A big final few weeks await the Mitres, starting with a trip to Thatcham Town next Saturday before returning to Kayte Lane on bank holiday Monday for their final home game of their campaign – a local derby against Evesham United. Larkhall begin the first of their final 4 games at Falmouth Town on Tuesday night, before they host Willand Rovers next Saturday.

Bishops Cleeve: Clayton; Jeremiah, Bower, Davies, Nelmes, Liddiard, Evans-Harriott, McLean, Turner, Langworthy ©, Malshankskyj.

Subs: Selman (73’), Harding (65’), Dunbar (57’), Parker (90’), Turley (81’).

Subs: Peapell (79’), Sanniola, Armstrong, Jepson, Lambert (65’)

C Martin Roofing Man of the Match -Aaron Evans-Harriott (Bishops Cleeve)