YATE TOWN boss Rob Cousins has pulled off a significant coup by luring Matt Groves back to Lodge Road.

Groves enjoyed a short spell at the club towards the end of the 2009-10 season before joining Mangotsfield United, where he was a key member of the side that finished third in Southern League Division One South and West last season.

Cousins admits he made a seven-day approach to local rivals Mangotsfield for the midfielder “more in hope than expectation” but was delighted to capture his man.

“He’s one of the most highly regarded players in the area and in our league so it’s a massive boost to the rest of the squad that he’s agreed to come,” said Cousins.

“On his day he can create something out of nothing so it’s good to have him on board.”

Groves follows former Rugby, Banbury and Cirencester striker David Stone, who scored the opening goal in the impressive 2-1 win over Hungerford Town in the FA Trophy Preliminary Round tie after signing from Paulton Rovers.

Cousins acted after Yate’s 4-1 defeat at South West Peninsula League side Bodmin Town in the FA Cup last week and has released Joe White and Sam Duggan, with Tom McNeish’s loan spell from Bath City coming to an end.

Yate are still searching for their first win in the league after nine attempts and lie one place off the bottom of the table.

Cousins said: “It’s time for new faces to come in, not just to freshen up the place but actually lift the whole club and push us in the right direction.

“Me and (assistant manager) Michael Meaker looked at the players that did well last year.

“They were the previous manager’s players but they responded well to us at the end of last season so we gave them the chance this year, but it hasn’t worked out for some and we can’t afford to wait any longer.

“We had to make the changes now because I was so disappointed with the performance on Wednesday (at Bodmin).

“The squad is a lot stronger now with David Stone and Matt Groves and we’re still on the lookout.”

Cousins hopes Stone’s arrival will bring an end to the side’s goalscoring problem.

He said: “For him to adjust and put away the chance he did (against Hungerford) was a great bit of finishing and he showed good touches later in the game.”

Cousins praised his side’s effort and commitment after that Trophy win and has urged them to repeat that when they face the same opponents at Lodge Road this Saturday (3pm).

Groves will go straight in the squad to face the league leaders, who he scored his only two Yate goals against in a 2-1 victory during his previous spell at the club.

Robin Nicholls and Callum Stewart return from injury, while Joe McClennan has served his three-game suspension, but Adie Adams (groin) is a major doubt and Tom Kington is unavailable for the next two weeks as he moves home.

* Yate are away to Southern League Central side Fleet Town, who beat Burnham 1-0 in a replay on Monday, in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Trophy on Saturday, October 22.