FOOTBALL: Back to the drawing board as Yate Town go out of the FA Trophy to Banbury United

IT was a miserable afternoon as Yate Town found the difficulties of playing three games in eight days too much and went down to defeat at Lodge Road to Banbury United in the FA Trophy on Saturday.
Yate had the better of the opening to the game. In the 14th minute, a cross from the left hit the top of the Banbury crossbar before going over and then five minutes later Harry Horton shot just over from ten yards out.
Banbury’s first opportunity came in the 24th minute when a Darius Browne cross from the left went through to Ricky Johnson at the 12 yard line but the United striker’s shot as comfortably saved by Martin Horsell in the Yate goal. 
Yate had more possession in the remainder of the half and created the better chances. On 29 minutes, Kane Ingram’s shot from the edge of the Banbury penalty area had to be saved low down to his left by United goalkeeper Jack Harding and five minutes before the break Jake Jackson had a decent chance but his shot from just inside the area failed to trouble the Banbury custodian.
Though Yate had the better of the first half, Banbury had shown plenty of promise going forward albeit without creating many chances.
Yate dominated the early stages of the second half. Five minutes into this period Jackson blasted the ball over the bar from 15 yards out when he should have done better.
But when they did get forward Banbury continued to look dangerous. On 53 minutes Banbury had a chance but Johnson dragged his shot wide from 12 yards. However the complexion of the game totally changed four minutes later when Johnson was put through on goal and in a one-on-one with Horsell, competently slotted the ball home to put United 1-0 up.
With Yate now committing players forward, Banbury looked particularly dangerous on the break. 
However the second Banbury goal came four minutes later when Zac McEachran put Callum White through down the right hand side of the penalty area with his low shot from 12 yards going across the goalkeeper before hitting the far post and nestling into the back of the net.
There were not many scares for Banbuary as the half continued and the win was wrapped up three minutes from time when a neat flick from Bell released Johnson down the right hand side of the penalty area who took the ball down close to the bye-line before crossing low into the centre where Nicholas Kalakoutis coming in at the far post knocked the ball home for his first goal for the club.
Two minutes into stoppage time and Yate scored a consolation goal when Horton slotted home a low cross from the right but it is a case of back to the drawing board for the Bluebells before next week’s Southern League Division One South and West clash with bottom-placed Bashley.
Yate Town: Martin Horsell, Callum Laird, Alec Fiddes, Tom Warren, Matt Villis (Camen Harvey 73), Jamie Laird, Harry Horton, Brett Trowbridge, Darren Edwards, Jake Jackson, Kane Ingram (Lewis Fogg 82). Subs (not used): Nathan Gore, Zayd Muhammed. Ben Reed.
Banbury United: Jack Harding, Callum White, Jon Steedman, Duran Martin, Charlie Wise, Andy Gunn, Mark Bell, Ollie Stanbridge, Ricky Johnson, Louis Joyce (Zac McEachran 46), Darius Browne (Nicholas Kalakoutis 81). Subs (not used): Bradley Cox, Bradley Partner, Jacob Blackstock. 
Attendance: 141