Football: Stone bags brace in Yate's derby win (From Gazette Series)

Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South & West: Mangotsfield United 0 Yate Town 2

8:17pm Monday 2nd January 2012 in Sport By Rob Iles

DAVE STONE scored twice to help Yate start the New Year with victory over Mangotsfield in a heated derby that saw both sides reduced to ten men.

Stone struck early in both halves before Mark Badman was sent off for a bad tackle and Geraint Bater was also given his marching orders for violent conduct in the fracas that followed with nine minutes to go, while torrential downpours and a muddy pitch all added to the drama.

Yate showed how far they have come since their 2-0 defeat at home to Mangotsfield in August as they turned the tables on their arch-rivals for their sixth win in eight games.

Rob Cousins’ side came flying out of the traps and took the lead on four minutes when Badman threaded the ball through to Stone, who lashed home from 15 yards.

Yate created further chances to add to their lead in the first quarter of an hour. Russ Church’s cross-shot just evaded Stone in the six-yard box as it flashed across goal, Matt Groves cut in from the left and shot just wide from 20 yards against the club he left in October, while Hector Mackie’s delicate lob from the edge of the box went just over.

However, Mangotsfield were almost gifted a way back into the game when Tyrone Mings made a suicidal back-pass after halting Joe McClennan’s run, but goalkeeper Josh Dempsey came to the rescue when he saved Tom Knighton’s shot with his legs.

The home side came more into the game as the first half wore on and McClennan had a great chance against his former club when Mitchell Page headed back Sean Seavill’s cross, but he volleyed over the bar.

With defender Scott Thomas ruled out with an ankle injury, Yate were dealt another blow at half-time when Edd Vahid was unable to carry on after pulling his hamstring, so boss Cousins brought himself on to partner Jordan Greenwood, who was making his second consecutive start after being promoted from the reserves.

However, they remained solid at the back and managed to extend their lead within three minutes of the restart when Bater lost the ball in the middle of the park and Stone skipped past Lee Marshall before beating Gary Colbourne for pace and slotting a low shot past goalkeeper Chris Astley.

Mangotsfield enjoyed a brief spell of pressure and Colbourne’s powerful header from Tom Parinello’s deep free kick came back off the underside of the crossbar before Karim Rendall crossed low to fellow substitute Daine O’Connor, who shot wide on the turn in the six-yard box.

Yate always looked capable of adding to their tally, though. A deflected Groves shot went just wide after a swift counter-attack and they went even closer one minute later when the ball fell to Mackie in the box, but his shot was blocked on the line by Colbourne.

Badman, already on a yellow card, was given a straight red when he lost control of the ball in his own half, and as he stretched to get it back he caught Marshall with his studs, which resulted in a melee involving several players from both sides with Bater being sent off for his part.

Harley Purnell’s fierce free kick from 30 yards was beaten away by Dempsey but Mangotsfield rarely looked like coming back into the game as Yate held on.

Mangotsfield Utd: Astley, Arndale, Parrinello, Colbourne, Marshall (Hoyle, 82), McClennan, Bater, Page, Seavill (O’Connor, 56), Knighton (Rendall, 56) Subs not used: Duharty.

Yate Town: Dempsey, Warren, Mings, Nicholls, Greenwood, Badman, Groves, Vahid (Cousins, 46), Stone (Ferguson, 88), Church (Meaker, 88), Mackie. Subs not used: Plummer, Cox.

Ref: Mr M Rushton.

Att: 365.

Gazette star man: Dave Stone – Played the lone striker role brilliantly and was clinical in front of goal.