TWO late goals added gloss to a vital victory for Yate Town over a struggling Wantage side under new management.

Joe Chandler’s first goal of the season in the final minute of an uninspiring first half gave Yate the lead but they wasted several other chances and the three points were not secure until the final two minutes after Wantage had been reduced to ten men.

The key moment came when the visitors were denied a penalty in the 69th minute with George Reid booked for diving instead, and he picked up his second yellow card with seven minutes remaining before goals from Bradley Abraham and Jordan Rogers, who had missed several gilt-edged chances, wrapped up the win.

After a run of four defeats in five league games, Yate manager Rob Cousins decided to ditch the diamond midfield and switch to a more conventional 4-4-2 formation.

The hosts were restricted from long range shots early on as Rogers fired wide from 25 yards and Jake Cox and Ross Staley both had efforts go well over the bar, while Lewis Haldane did at least manage a shot on target following a neat turn but it was comfortably saved by goalkeeper Gareth Tucker.

Wantage offered a warning when Sam Barder managed to get round the back of Cox and send in a cross that was flicked on by the stretching Adam Lovergrove, but Jared Jones could only volley over the bar.

Rogers should have scored in the 24th minute when he found space to meet Cox’s delightful dink from the left, but his header came off Tucker’s right hand post.

Tom Melleden was inches away from giving Wantage the lead with a fierce strike from 30 yards that flew just over the bar but Yate were given a huge lift before they headed to the dressing room.

Dale Evans swung in a corner from the right and Chandler rose high to firmly head into the corner of the net.

A series of fouls from both sides disrupted the flow at the start of the second half but Yate began to open up the Wantage defence just after the hour mark.

Rogers had two more great chances but never got enough on his header from James Harmer’s cross, which went harmlessly wide following a swift counter-attack, and nodded Evans’ inswinging free kick narrowly over four minutes later.

Bradley Abraham then played a great ball over the top of the Wantage defence to release Haldane, who had Rogers unmarked to his right but decided to go alone and dragged his shot wide.

Yate then had their hearts in their mouths when the referee blew his whistle after Reid went down in the box as he nipped in to get to Tom Warren’s short pass back to Chandler, whose leg was outstretched, but the Wantage man was booked for diving.

Another chance for Rogers went begging when he headed another fine Harmer cross over from five yards.

However, it did not matter as Reid was sent off following a poorly-timed tackle on Abraham and Yate made the most of their numerical advantage.

Abraham charged into the box to meet a beautiful cross by Michael Meaker from the right with a thumping header to double their lead with two minutes remaining.

In the final minute of normal time, Harmer passed to Rogers in space on the edge of the box and the striker finally found the net when he advanced to slot the ball past Tucker.

Cox could even have added a fourth in stoppage time but his curling effort went just wide.

Yate Town: Horsell (c), Warren (Tippins,78), Cox, Chandler, Lewis, Abraham, Harmer, Evans, Rogers, Haldane (Meaker, 73), Staley (Ricketts, 73). Subs not used: Jackson, Fletcher.

Ref: Mr C Smith (Leominster).

Att: 184 Gazette star man: Bradley Abraham – Typically tenacious performance.