Larkhall Athletic 4, Biddestone 2

GARY Banks must be having second thoughts about his planned moved to Biddestone after watching his new team-mates limp to defeat at Plain Ham.

Banks is expected to sign for Biddestone before tomorrow's Wilts Senior Cup clash with high-flying Westbury United.

The Calne Town midfielder will leave his brother Kevin and mentor Robbie Lardner behind to find regular first team football.

On the evidence of Wednesday's performance, Banks will have his work cut out to inspire Biddestone to a place in the Premier Division.

But Graham Learmonth's latest recruit says he has no regrets about swapping Bremhill View for Yatton Road.

He said: "It was quality at Calne and I have great respect for both Robbie Lardner and Simon Hillier. It will be difficult to leave there after four good years.

"I see this as a positive step. I know most of the lads at Biddestone and I want to help them achieve their highest ever finish."

After the euphoria of the opening few weeks, Biddestone have taken just one point from their last two First Division matches.

Their defensive frailties were ruthlessly exposed by Larkhall on Wednesday but Learmonth put the performance down to a "bad night."

He said: "Anyone coming to watch for the first time would be wondering how we're so high in the table.

"But that's honestly the worst we have played all season. The defence gave Larkhall far too much space and they punished us.

"You can't afford to give sides a two goal lead. We did the one thing I warned the lads not to, and that was to concede early goals."

Larkhall raced into a two goal lead after just 10 minutes thanks to the lively front pairing of Sean Wiles-Richards and Jack Moon.

Biddestone switched off again two minutes after the restart as Wiles-Richards was given the freedom of the box to head past Chris Snoddy.

Skipper Kris Beasley gave the visitors hope five minutes later with a deflected shot which wrong-footed Chris Birleson in the Larkhall goal.

Dave Cooper restored the hosts' three-goal advantage when he combined with Moon before firing low into the bottom corner.

Dan Lardner's fizzing volley after 79 minutes gave Biddestone hope, but a goalline clearance from James Moon in the dying seconds killed any hopes of a comeback.

Former Trowbridge Town boss Neil Kirkpatrick, now in charge of Larkhall, said it was a comfortable evening for his side. He said: "Our only worry was ourselves in the end. We switched off for a while in the second half and let Biddestone come back into it.

"We are still a bit naive in defence at times but the lads are still young. They're learning all the time."

Biddestone 1, Longwell Green 1

BIDDESTONE needed a late own goal to preserve their unbeaten record at Yatton Road.

Sam Macalinden headed past his own goalkeeper to give the hosts a share of the spoils.