YATE TOWN crashed out of the FA Cup at the first qualifying round stage with a 2-1 home defeat to Fleet Town, of the Southern League Division One Central, on Saturday.

The Bluebells went ahead in the first-half when, on 13 minutes, Josh Morgan-Williams beat two defenders and cracked the ball into the top corner of the Fleet Town net to give manager Paul Britton encouragement for the rest of the game.

However, Fleet Town drew level nine minutes later through Ben White as Yate’s defence, which has been a concern for Britton since the start of the season, missed the visitor’s attack.

That is how it was at half-time and there was all to play for. Fleet, though, had more possession than Yate as the Bluebells struggled to find chances to go ahead again.

And, with twenty minutes to go, Fleet Town striker Simba Mlambo rose high to head home a corner and put the visitors in front for the first time.

Britton pushed his team up in the final ten minutes to get an equaliser but Fleet held out and Yate crashed out of the Cup, making it five successive matches in all competitions so far this season without a win.

Now Britton has to rouse his troops ahead of a tough game at home to Wimborne Town in the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West on Saturday.

Meanwhile, there was one piece of cheer for the Bluebells on Friday as they secured the services of Kidderminster Harriers goalkeeper Jono Brown on a loan until January next year. Brown earned his first Kidderminster Harriers contract in this summer.