Evo Stik Southern West

Paulton Rovers 2 Yate Town 0

YATE Town will be looking to bounce back from an inept Evo-Stik Southern West display in defeat to Paulton Rovers on Saturday when they tackle Larkhall Athletic in Bath on Thursday.

Town's old boys contributed to their former club's downfall as Paulton secured a two-goal victory and Yate looked a clear second best.

The Bluebells were hoping to end the season with some points on their journey to Somerset after taking just four from a quartet of fixtures during April.

Their three games in a week will see them finish a far more constructive season than in previous years with a home clash with Bishops Cleeve on Saturday.

But they will have to improve hugely on Saturday's disjointed display.

After the early exchanges, Paulton, who had thumped them 4-0 at Lodge Road in November, became as tough a nut as ever to crack.

Rovers pressurised Yate inside the visitor's half and should have taken the lead when right back James Byrne had a golden chance from six yards out but struck his shot over the bar.

But Yate had an even better chance of scoring on 12 minutes when a thumping drive from 25 yards by Nick Pearce had home keeper George Burton flapping.

The Paulton stopper fell to the ground as he parried the ball away yet, with the net wide open, Yate's Matt Tanner also put it over the bar from two yards.

And Yate keeper Harvey Rivers denied the home side a goal with a great reaction save when a Josh Morgan-Williams free kick was headed on target in a scramble near the six yard box.

But Yate failed to find any rhythm up front before half time yet defied the home side in defence as the half ended goal-less.

It got scrappy before the hour, with former Bluebell Morgan-Williams causing his old side problems.

But Rovers got a grip of the game and put Town to the sword.

It was a corner from big frontman Morgan-Williams which gave Paulton the lead. He sent the ball into the six yard area for another Lodge Road old boy, Jack Ball, to squeeze his touch past Rivers on 61 minutes.

Yate showed urgency in their response but, when they had possession, their passing left a bit to be desired.

It became a mountain to climb to get anything out of the match when, with 78 minutes gone, Paulton got their second goal.

Again it was from a corner as Josh Cann fired the ball to the far post where Joe Guest rose high to head the ball into the Yate net.

It was almost three as another ex-Yate ace, Mitch Tippins, smashed a thumping 25 yard drive against the post.

Yate were, though, not able to get at least a consolation under the Paulton sun before the final whistle was sounded by ref Richard Lawrence.