What a week for Yate (From Gazette Series)

What a week for Yate

Yate Town are riding high at the moment after a satisfying league win against Shepshed on Saturday followed by an even more uplifting cup result against Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday night.

Rich Thompson's men are now 16th in the Dr Martens Western Division with 18 points, four clear of the bottom three following their resurgent recent run.

A major factor in this good spell of form, that has seen the Bluebells climb the table after losing their first five games, has been centre forward Matt Rawlins. The recent signing from Chippenham has been in inspired goalscoring form since arriving at Lodge Road. On Saturday, he was the hero again, bagging two goals as Yate continued their surge up the table.

Yate Town 3 Shepshed Dynamo 1

YATE's climb up the table continued on Saturday with a 3-1 win over bottom team Shepshed.

Yate were given a fright when the visitors took a 36th minute lead through Martin Emery, but their nerves were calmed three minutes later when Mike Wyatt equalised, touching in Andy Neal's cross.

Though Shepshed continued to fight back, Yate took charge in the second half with Matt Rawlins powering in the first of his two goals for the afternoon, Tom Collett providing the cross.

On 64 minutes Collett served up another cross for Rawlins to repeat the dose and put Yate into an unassailable 3-1 position from which they duly boosted their points tally.

Yate boss Rich Thompson commented: "After giving away a sloppy goal we came back with two goals.

"But they kept going and it is surprising to see their lowly position in the league, and they have picked up some good results lately.

"I was very pleased with the result, long may it continue. We are still feeling a little uneasy, though, and with another six points you would see us relaxing and playing better football."

He added: "This Saturday we are home to Stourport Swifts. They have been in fine form the last few weeks, including beating Solihull Boro, and we are in for a tough game."

GFA CHALLENGE CUP Forest Green Rovers 1 Yate Town 2 YATE Town delivered a knock-out blow to Forest Green Rovers on Tuesday night with a dismissal in the first round of the GFA Senior Challenge Cup.

Yate took the lead on 10 minutes when Tony Bennett nodded on from a free-kick for centre-half Lee Barlass, in his first game since August 30, to head home. Rovers set up a series of chances, but Scott Rogers, Luke Jones, Kevin Langan and Alex Sykes were all off target.

However, Denny Ingram provided the equaliser on 20 minutes with a side-foot from close range.

Though Sykes hit the post, Paul Metheringham sealed the game with goal number two for Yate when he flick-headed in Dave Elsey's free-kick.

Yate will now meet Cirencester Town in the quarter-finals.

Rich Thompson was more than pleased with his team's win, saying: "It was a good game of football and we were able to relax and play a bit. "Five players came into the side and did well, which gives me a selection headache for Saturday."