Football: Cole cancels out Reynolds strike to earn an FA Cup replay for Almondsbury (From Gazette Series)

FA Cup First Qualifying Round: Almondsbury Town 1 Yate Town 1

7:43pm Saturday 12th September 2009 in Sport By Rob Iles

ALMONDSBURY TOWN and Yate couldn’t be separated in an entertaining local derby clash at Oaklands Park this afternoon.

It wasn’t quite the fairytale ending for Almondsbury’s Cinderford-bound manager Paul Weeks but their unbeaten run under his stewardship was extended to 23 games, while Yate were denied a fourth straight victory.

Football Development Director Jon Haile will take charge of the Hellenic League Premier side on a caretaker basis in the replay at Lodge Road on Tuesday night.

Yate made a bright start and looked to exert their authority on the game early on but were gifted the lead after 14 minutes.

Almondsbury goalkeeper Ben John came out to near the edge of the penalty area to collect Callum Stewart’s long free kick but made a hash of it and Mark Reynolds was able to finish in an empty net.

Reynolds tried to claim a second goal four minutes later but the ball went in the net via his hand, leading to a booking for the striker.

Joe White came close to doubling Yate’s lead on 28 minutes as he chased down a long ball over the top from Stewart and with John caught in no-man’s land, his lob from an acute angle went just wide.

Almondsbury equalised one minute later when Kane Ingram swung in a free kick from the left and Adam Cole headed in at the near post.

Yate looked to assume control again early in the second half as Sam Duggan dragged wide from 20 yards following a neat move and Joe White was denied by an excellent tackle by former Bluebell defender Marcus Mapstone after the on-loan Bristol Rovers striker was sent clear by Kyle Shallcross.

John then made a good save from a Reynolds volley from 15 yards and the goalkeeper did just enough to deny White when he found space through the middle again before Mapstone cleared.

Almondsbury’s best chance in the second half fell to substitute Sahr Kabba but Lee Matthews came off his line well to save at his feet, while Simon Gilbert was in a great position inside the box in the 90th minute but a poor pass into the middle allowed Yate to survive.

Almondsbury Town: Matthews, Warren, Stewart, Shallcross, Thomas (Hughes, 90), McAlindon, Duggan, Vahid ©, Reynolds, White, Simpson. Subs not used: Robbins, Burt, Simmons, Mogg.

Yate Town: John, Heal, Bridson, Mapstone, Lock, Davis, Gilbert, Chenoweth (Davies, 73), Williams (Kabba, 67), Cole (Maynard, 86), Ingram ©. Subs not used: Jones, Biggs, Noakes, Weeks.

Ref: Rick Hulme Att: 202 Gazette star man: Zayne Simpson (Yate) – Caused problems down the left, particularly in the first half.

Verdict: Both teams were happy to take a replay in the end but if Yate took their chances they would already be in the next round.