Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West

Cinderford Town 1 Yate Town 0

YATE Town were robbed of a brilliant point on Tuesday night after they went down to Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West leaders Cinderfort Town.

It was an outstanding display by Craig Laird’s Bluebells against a team who have not lost at home out of their 19 matches and only drawn twice in the ten they have played on their own turf.

But Yate were so agonisingly close to making it a third draw for Cinderford as their stubborn defence prevented the Foresters from gaining any momentum and adding another win to the massive goal onslaught – ten of them – they inflicted on poor bottom team Bashley last Saturday.

Yate goalkeeper Martin Horsell was called into action a number of times during the first-half but kept a clean sheet with some excellent saves.

It was the Bluebells first match in a ten days after they drew away with high-flying North Leigh last Saturday week, and the break looked to have done the side a whole lot of good as they dealt with the pressure that was put on them by the league leaders pretty well.

Youngster Lewis Powell had a chance to grab a goal for Yate when he forced Cinderford keeper Alex Harris into a diving save from a free-kick midway through the first-half as the Bluebells showed intent.

Yate could have taken the lead before half-time when they were inside the home box and saw an attempted clearance from the Cinderford defence deflect off a Bluebells man and fly towards the net before Harris fell on the ball to save the day.

That was about it as far as the Yate offensive was concerned but their defensive line was solid and gave Cinderford nothing to work off.

Full-back Jake Cox, at his lively best again, smashed a dangerous free kick in the final quarter of the match, into the Cinderford wall and, with the game looked to be heading towards an inevitable goal-less draw and a very well-earned point for Laird’s side when the Foresters broke Yate hearts with the last kick of the game.

It was deep into stoppage time when home substitute Ryan Shaw snatched the goal with the last kick of the game.

The killer blow came in the 97th minute when a goalmouth scramble saw the ball fall nicely to Shaw who swung his leg and hammered the ball past a helpless Horsell and gave Cinderford their eighth home win of the season.

It was a heartbreaker for Yate but it was an encouraging performance that should serve them well as they look to secure a first victory in seven matches, stretching back to the incredible 5-2 win over Swindon Supermarine, on Saturday when tenth-placed Taunton Town arrive for a visit to Lodge Road.