YATE TOWN picked up from where they left off before the unscheduled winter break by securing their sixth consecutive win against lowly Taunton.

Two goals in five second half minutes from Scott Wilson and Mike Bryant sent them on their way to victory and, although Taunton pulled a goal back and Josh Dempsey went off injured with no recognised goalkeeper to replace him, Yate held on to continue their rapid rise up the table.

On a heavy surface that was only passed fit on the morning of the match, allowing Yate to play their first game for two-and-a-half weeks, the lively Wilson spurned a number of good openings during the first half, being denied twice by Taunton’s debutant goalkeeper Grant Fisher.

However, the best chance fell to Bryant just before the interval, the midfielder heading over when left unmarked at a corner.

Bryant was not to be denied for long however. Within six minutes of the second half he finished coolly at the far post after a blocked Wilson volley eventually ricocheted invitingly to his feet.

Wilson himself then got on the score sheet almost immediately afterwards, finishing off a tidy move down the left flank for his third goal in four games since joining Yate from Cinderford.

Substitute Raith Plant soon pulled a good save out of Dempsey, who sustained a hip injury in the process but battled through.

With 23 minutes left, captain Simon Ingram hauled Taunton back into the match with a deflected shot from the left. Dempsey eventually had to be replaced between the sticks by defender Tom Warren but the visitors were unable to test the stand-in shot-stopper.

Yate climbed three places up the table to eighth and are now only seven points off the play-offs with two games in hand on sixth placed Tiverton.

They will be looking to extend their unbeaten run to 11 games when they face North Leigh at Lodge Road on Tuesday night (7.45pm).

Yate: Dempsey (Thomas 77), Warren, Cox, Seery, Bryant, Bater, Groves, Vahid (c), Page, Wilson, Wring (Purnell 87). Subs not used: Meaker, Barnes, Sarr.

Ref: Ian Douglas (Thatcham).

Att: 208.