Football: Mogg set to keep the faith in young squad (From Gazette Series)

Yate manager Dave Mogg on the lookout for experience despite loyalty to youngsters

9:21am Thursday 1st October 2009 in Sport

YATE TOWN manager Dave Mogg says he will remain loyal to his young squad but is still on the lookout for experienced players.

He rebuilt the side almost from scratch in the summer following relegation from the Southern League Premier and they have made a solid, if unspectacular, start to life in Division One South and West.

They are only outside the play-offs on goal difference following last Saturday’s 2-1 home win over bottom club Bracknell Town but Mogg feels his side is still lacking experience.

“I still think we need more experience because they’re naïve,” he said.

“If the right kind of player comes available I will pursue it.”

But Mogg added: “I’m caught between the devil and the deep blue sea over my loyalty to them because they’ve knuckled down, worked their nuts off and some have been very, very patient.

“I am loyal to those lads and want to help them develop, I don’t want them to go elsewhere and do well, so you’ve got to trust your own instincts.”

Defender Callum Stewart grabbed a fantastic 70th minute winner against Bracknell when he beat two defenders before firing in, but Mogg revealed he was close to taking him off up to that point.

He said: “He hadn’t played very well, I think he knows that, and I was on the verge of substituting him, but he took the goal very well and we’re very grateful to it.

Earlier, Mark Reynolds gave Yate the lead from Sam Duggan’s cross before Dave Stevens equalised for the visitors on 29 minutes.

Mogg said: “We won the game but did not play particularly as well as I would have liked - but it’s three points all the same.

“Sometimes you want to win games with panache and we struggled to win in a game where we had lots of possession but the rewards are the same so perhaps I’m asking for too much.”

Yate take a break from the league on Saturday when they visit FA Cup giant-killers Bishops Cleeve in the FA Trophy. They beat Blue Square South side Weymouth 3-0 last Saturday to reach the third qualifying round of the FA Cup.

The Bluebells are still hurting after their FA Cup exit at the hands of local rivals Almondsbury Town just over two weeks ago, but Mogg is now hoping for a run in the non-league’s version of the illustrious competition.

“You can earn a lot of money but not as much as the FA Cup and I’m envious of teams still in there,” said Mogg.

“Bishops Cleeve will be a tough game, you wouldn’t expect it to be easy.

“Weymouth are two divisions higher so after that I would expect them to be buoyant, maybe over-confident.”

Yate will be without Sam Duggan (suspended), Zayne Simpson (unavailable), while Mark Reynolds (knee) is a doubt for the clash at Kayte Lane (3pm).