THREE goals in 14 minutes sent Yate Town crashing to a shock defeat at Thatcham on Tuesday night.

With other sides around them in the table also dropping points, Yate missed out on an opportunity to climb up to third and instead dropped out of the play-offs to sixth as they were beaten by a Thatcham side who had lost their previous five games.

The Bluebells enjoyed the best of the first half with Jordan Rogers and Jake Cox both going close.

Yate did take the lead in controversial circumstances within seven minutes of the second half. New signing Luke Bryan got the last touch in a goalmouth scramble and celebrated his first goal for the club, despite Thatcham’s protests that the ball had not crossed the line.

However, Luke Abrahart lobbed Martin Horsell to level the scores on 64 minutes and two minutes later Toby Nowell headed Thatcham into the lead.

A wonder strike from distance by Yashwa Romeo wrapped up Thatcham’s win with ten minutes to go.

Lewis Haldane (back) and Ross Staley (hamstring) are both rated 50-50 for Yate’s trip to fellow play-off chasers North Leigh on Saturday.

North Leigh won the previous clash between the sides at Lodge Road 5-0 in November, but they have since slid from top of the table to ninth, with Yate climbing above them.