YATE TOWN boss Rob Cousins handed debuts to two new signings in their defeat to bogey side Cinderford Town at Lodge Road on Tuesday night.

Geraint Bater lined up in midfield against the club he left for the Bluebells, while defender Tom Seery also featured after signing from Southern League Premier Division side Chippenham.

Bater was sent off against Yate while playing for local rivals Mangotsfield last season and had a spell as caretaker manager at Cossham Street following the resignation of his dad Phil before leaving the club in the summer.

Like Bater, 19-year-old Seery is a product of the Bristol Rovers Academy and has also played for Weston-super-Mare.

Cousins is also hoping to add a new striker ahead of the home game against fellow Division One South & West strugglers Bishop’s Cleeve on Saturday (3pm) with Mitchell Page still to serve four games of his suspension and Tom Knighton’s recent departure to Chippenham leaving a big void up front.

Ibo Sarr put himself in contention for a start after scoring his first goal for Yate, but it was not enough to stop them crashing out of the League Cup.

His 66th minute goal cancelled out Sam O’Sullivan’s opener for Cinderford, but James Morecombe struck the winner with five minutes left.

Yate remain bottom of the table after their game at Sholing last Saturday was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch. Captain Edd Vahid is hoping to return for their trip to Bridgwater Town next Tuesday night.