Wantage Town battled hard, but eventually proved no match for Evo-Stik Southern Leeague Division 1 South & West play-off contenders Larkhalland lost 3-0 at Alfredian Park on Saturday.

In a scrappy game, Wantage’s mistakes proved costly and the defeat means that they are still not out of danger towards the bottom of the table.

The Larks started strongly, but found it difficult to break down the hosts, who managed to keep the scoreboard blank until the 40th minute.

From a corner, the ball fell kindly to Dean Griffiths, who scored his debut goal for Larkhall by shooting just inside a post.

The visitors doubled their lead in the 48th minute when Joe Tumelty cut through the defence to score.

Three minutes later it was 3-0.

Tyler Sibbick collected a long ball, and ran through the defence without a challenge being made, before skipping round keeper Gareth Tucker and tapping the ball into the back of the net. Wantage’s only attempt on goal came a minute later when James Glover, playing as a defensive midfielder, struck the ball powerfully straight at the goalkeeper.

If Wantage can get a win and a draw out of their last four games – starting at high-riding Evesham today – they will be guaranteed to stay up.

Wantage Tn: Tucker, Harper, Hulbert-Thomas, Cattell, Lovegrove, Glover (Barder 85), Smith (Bird HT), Johns (Whiting 38), Whitehead, Thorne, Janes. Subs not used: Whiting, Jones.

Attendance: 80.