Biddestone 2, Elmore 2

GRAHAM Learmonth barely had time to take his place in the technical area before his Biddestone side went a goal down on Saturday.

Richard Blake struck after just 10 seconds to give the visitors from Tiverton a shock lead at Yatton Road.

From the kick-off the ball was played out to the right wing and Blake arrived on cue to stroke home one of fastest goals in the history of the Western League.

A shocked Learmonth said: "I've been involved in football at this level for 33 years and I've never seen anything like it.

"It's certainly the fastest goal I've ever seen scored.

"I was talking to the Elmore goalkeeper's dad at the time. I couldn't believe what happened. In the end I just had to make a joke out of it."

Biddestone recovered to take a 2-1 lead before Blake struck again in the second half to earn Elmore a share of the spoils.

Learmonth was left to count the cost of missed chances as Biddestone's promotion push suffered an early setback.

"It was two points dropped for us really," he said.

"Elmore created two chances in the match and they took them both.

"They will probably think they deserved a point but we should have killed the game off before half-time.

"Credit to Elmore though because they look like a team this year. They all turned up in tracksuits and gave a good account of themselves."

Blake's first minute strike seemed to stir the Biddestone beast into action and the home side were soon on level terms.

Dan Lardner collected the ball wide on the left before ghosting past two Elmore defenders and curling an unstoppable shot into the top corner.

Dave Kilmurray missed a golden chance to put Biddestone in front when he headed over the crossbar with the goal gaping.

Lardner failed to repeat the magic of his opening goal when another curled effort drifted narrowly wide of the right post.

Biddestone wasted another scoring opportunity when midfielder Kris Beasley slid the ball wide with the goalkeeper beaten.

The hosts were awarded a fortuitous penalty in the second half and Lardner stepped up confidently to net his 11th goal of the season.

But a mistake from full back Jamie Lyons gifted Blake a second sight of goal and the Elmore striker lashed home the equaliser.

Learmonth struggled to hide his disappointment after the final whistle but the manager was full of praise for Lardner's contribution.

He said: "I know Dan wants to play up front but he's a very intelligent player who can link up well from midfield.

"I keep telling him to be like Robert Pires and to pick the ball up wide and drift inside. I think Pires himself would have been proud of the goal Dan scored on Saturday."

Lardner said he would prefer a striking role at Yatton Road, but the 22-year-old is willing to wait on the wing for his big chance.

He has already doubled his goal tally from last season and is looking to fire Biddestone to their highest ever league position.

Lardner said: "We've got four good strikers at the club, so I'm just happy to be involved in any way I can.

"Leo has been trying to persuade me to play wide left by comparing me to Robert Pires. He'll say anything to keep his players happy."

Lardner has set himself a target of 15 goals for the season, but on current form he will reach that mark before Christmas.

The former Calne striker, son of Lilywhites boss Robbie, is relishing the challenge set by the coaching staff at Yatton Road.

He said: "If I was playing up front I would be aiming for 20 goals in the season, but from midfield I would be happy with 15.

"As long as the team keeps winning it doesn't really matter what position I play.

"We started the season brilliantly, but the last couple of league games have been a disappointment.

"We've got Truro City in a couple of weeks so that should be an easy win for us."

Joking aside, Biddestone will hope to get back to winning ways before the Cornwall side visit Yatton Road on November 4.