YATE Town boss Rob Cousins has set his sights on catching Mangotsfield United in the table following his side’s derby win last Saturday.

The Bluebells upset the form book by triumphing 2-1 away against a Mangotsfield side that had won eight and drawn one of their previous nine games in Division One South and West of the Southern League.

The victory maintained Yate’s perfect league record at Cossham Street under Cousins with four successive wins there, but they are eight points behind Mangotsfield, who lie fifth in the table having played a game more.

Cousins said: “(Mangotsfield boss) Richard Thompson’s got a good side together after rebuilding last year and we’re now trying to do the same and we’re trying to catch up with them now.

“The league’s not won and lost now, it’s where you are at the end of the season and where we, as a team and as a club, have progressed from the start when we didn’t have a side.

“It’s been a fortunate place to come. It’s more pleasing because they’re the form team in the league.”

Mangotsfield had to play over 30 minutes with ten men after former Yate youth player Ryan Bath was sent off when they were already trailing 1-0 to Lewis Haldane’s first half strike.

Yate struggled to put the game to bed with the extra man advantage before Matt Sysum’s own goal nine minutes from time, with Luke Ballinger’s effort in injury time just a consolation for the hosts, but Cousins was pleased with the battling qualities his side showed.

He said: “We knew they’re a strong side and physically they would want to bully us but we stood up strong and our quality came through “They had one sending off and were lucky there weren’t any more because there were a couple of challenges and things off the ball going on that the referee didn’t see.

“It didn’t looked like they had ten men because we didn’t keep the ball well enough at times but it was about battling out a performance and getting the win.”

Having ended Mangotsfield’s unbeaten run, Cousins says his side now have the belief to do the same when they make the daunting trip on Saturday to league leaders Cirencester, who have lost just once in the last 15 games.

He said: “It doesn’t get any easier when you go to a team at the top of the league but as long as we show the same attitude and commitment there shouldn’t be any fear.

“You respect the team at the top because they’re there for a reason but they’re due a loss so why can’t it be us, like it was on Saturday.”

Cousins hopes to have Sam Kamara, who can play in midfield or at full back, available more often now after the summer signing from Bristol Rovers made his first appearance of the season as a substitute at Mangotsfield.

Connor Clifford picked up an injury playing for Hartpury College and looks set to miss the game at Cirencester, while Danny Lane has joined Almondsbury UWE on a dual registration to get match fit.

  • l Yate Town’s race night has been rearranged for Saturday, December 21, when their Christmas draw will also take place.