Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West

YATE Town manager Craig Laird will be looking for a big effort from his side in the coming fortnight as they face two big Evo-Stik Southern League Division One  clashes, starting on Saturday with second-placed Swindon Supermarine.
The Bluebells’ two-match unbeaten run, after victories against Bashley in the league and Slimbridge in the Red Insure Cup, came crashing down last Saturday as they lost two early goals at Marlow and never recovered from them to go down 2-0.
There was no want in trying from Yate but the ball would just not go into the back of the net as the chance to put the squeeze on fifth-placed Shortwood, whom the Bluebells meet at the end of the month after Supermarine visit Lodge Road, went west.
Marlow could have gone ahead earlier than the seventh minute of their victory on Saturday when Callum Laird came to the rescue of goalkeeper Martin Horsell. The keeper punched a ball clear to the edge of the box only for Marlow’s Jahson Downes to return it first-time over Horsell’s head.
Luckily, Laird was on hand to save the day – but the relief was only temporary.
Three minutes later, a free-kick from Marlow’s Jordace Holder-Spooner found the head of Adam Richards near the far post. He headed back across Horsell and into the net with the visitor’s defensive line unmoved.
Two minutes later things got even worse for Yate as Chris Ovenden played a ball in to the feet of Jordan Brown and after a quick swivel he put the ball inside the near post past Horsell to increase the lead.
They were two sucker-punches that left Yate needing a swift reply in order to start a comeback – and they nearly got it.
Minutes after Marlow’s second goal, Lewis Fogg got behind the home back line on the left and sent a hard, low cross across the face of the Marlow goal.
However, it was just too quick for the two players in support in the middle and the chance went begging.
Right on half-time, Holder-Spooner did exactly the same at the other end but again there was nobody on the end of the ball to make it count.
Yate had to chase the game during the second-half, and seven minutes after the restart, Holder-Spooner fed Downes who then set up Kunle Otudeko for a dangerous strike on goal.
However, Horsell managed to beat the powerful shot away and then saw it cleared for a corner. After this, Yate looked to get on top and it was now the turn of the home defence to step up to the mark.
Just past the hour a Yate corner was flicked across the face of the home goal and a further touch saw it just clear the Marlow bar. 
Yate continued to push forward but home keeper Simon Grant continued to be well protected by those in front of him.
And, in stoppage time with the game lost, Marlow nearly got another goal when Jamal Branker looked to have the ideal opportunity to put the icing on the cake when Stephen Peacock headed on to him inside the Yate box only for Branker to take the ball past the keeper, turn back and then fluff his shot from six yards.
Yate were left to lick their wounds and re-group ahead of the two huge games coming up in which Laird and the squad will be desperate to get league points.