Learmonth accepts gifts as luck turns his way (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Learmonth accepts gifts as luck turns his way

4:25pm Thursday 22nd December 2005 in Football

BIDDESTONE finally had luck on their side as they secured a 4-2 victory at home to fifth-place Weston St. John's in their crucial Toolstation First Division clash on Saturday.

Biddestone were in desperate need of three points to close the gap on the teams above them and put them in a good mood ahead of their six-pointer' against Elmore on Friday.

And they got them thanks to a couple of fortuitous goals.

Within 30 seconds of the start, the home side were awarded a dubious penalty, converted by Luke Gullick, and then Kris Beasley scored with the help from a deflection within a minute of the start of the second-half.

In between Weston had equalised following a goalkeeping mistake by Chris Snoddy, which saw him drop the ball at the feet of an attacker.

Biddestone doubled their advantage through Beasley, who reacted first and tapped home from a yard after Jack Nicholas had played through Gullick, his deft chip hitting the post.

Weston pulled a goal back through a screaming 25-yard rocket, but Gullick sealed the win, controlling the ball on his right foot and volleying in from 15 yards with his left in one movement, when Eddie Drury put him through.

It was a shot that his manager remarked "would not have been saved by two goalkeepers."

After the goal, debutant Dan Lardner, signed in the week from Calne Town, where his dad is manager, fired in a shot which was well saved, as did Joe O'Chuko.

Manager Graham Learmonth was delighted with the victory, which leaves them equal on points with Clyst Rovers, and just a further point behind Cadbury Heath and Shepton Mallet as they look to climb out of the bottom three.

He said: "We played ever so well. When they equalised at 1-1, we didn't feel sorry for ourselves, we kept going and kept chipping away.

"We were better than Chard and we were better than Wellington but we have proved it against Weston.

"We had a bit of luck with a couple of the goals. We had a deflection and the penalty was touch and go.

"But we will take it as you don't always get the luck when you are at the bottom of the table.

"We now have Elmore on Friday and that is a massive game. If we win we go nine points clear of them and it will be a big blow for them.

"If they win it's down to three points and they have a few games in hand. A win would also get us out of the bottom three.

"With Bradford Town and Bridport coming up we have some big games, but if we play to our ability I think it could be a good Christmas.

"We have everyone available so we will be aiming to get all nine points."

Learmonth praised midfielders James Tindall and Steve Healey for their performances on Saturday and added he was pleased to have Lardner on board.

"James and Steve are doing really well together. They have finally got it right that when one goes up the other stays back," said Learmonth.

"They were crucial on Saturday, they broke down the midfield and dominated their two players in the centre. Their work rate is spot on and James has energy to burn.

"I was also pleased for Dan. He knows the lads through playing with most of them on Sunday and he is a good spirited lad who will be an asset to this club.

"He is a finisher and his enthusiasm is tremendous."