Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South and West

Yate Town 2 Larkhall Athletic 2

YATE Town finished Easter with four points from six in the Evo-Stik Southern League Division South and West but they had to hang on for dear life on Monday in their final home match of the season against Larkhall Athletic.

Yate looked like they had a hangover from their excllent 3-0 win at Wimborne on Saturday but they found a cure at half-time and played some good football in the second half.

After an opening few minutes in which they had the Larks on the back foot, forcing corners and threatening to score, Yate had their backs to the wall.

Theur game became a bit directonless as the first half wore on and Larkhall had the chances to get a goal on the board.

A shot from Larkhall 's Joe Raynes found its way high over the home crossbar after ten minutes before Greg Peel had a chance to put the ball beyond Yate keeper Harvey Rivers but scuffed his chance and gave Rivers a save in the left hand corner.

The Bluebells keeper was again called into action a few more times, saving a shot on 16 minutes and punching a dangerous cross from Larkhall 's Joe Tumelty away from the six yard box.

A cross into the home penalty area again went behind the home defence where Rayner again missed a point blank chance.

Yate tried to link up some moves and Tray Anderson nearly got on the end of a Connor Jones cross to beat Larkhall keeper Shaun Seemens but there was little attacking threat from the Bluebells.

And they were lucky not to concede an own goal when a ball pumped into their box found a stray boot but fortunately a stranded Rivers watched it drizzle the right side of the post for a corner.

It needed some words of inspiration from manager Paul Britton at the break to get Yate warmed up on a cool afternoon.

Britton 's words of wisdom paid off directly on the re-start as a ball into Anderson was flicked on by the big striker into the path of Jack Ball and, with the front man on a rich vein of scoring form recently, he calmly side footed it past Semmens.

And just minutes later, a great run from Sam Boulton saw Semmens commit himself. He was caught out though and when Bolton shot for goal, the ball struck the underside of the Lark's crossbar and bounced down.

Waiting was Anderson who calmly headed the loose ball into the corner of the net.

Yate were now firing on all cylinders with Larkhall looking shell shocked after dominating the first half so much.

Larkhall brought a good stop by Rivers when Alex Lambert fired from distance.

Eugene Keary was a live wire in midfield for the Bluebells as they took the possession ascendency.

But Yate were nearly caught out in front of goal when Lambert got a flick inside the six yard box bringing another big save from Rivers.

Larkhall got on the board on 72 minutes when Yate allowed Tumelty too much space on the right and his cross from the side of the penalty box was flicked home via the head of sub Ben Brooks.

Larkhall sensed a chance for an equaliser and, with Yate opening up and offering space in the defensive third, the visitors passed the ball around well and caused the Bluebells problems.

And, with eight mi utes to go, Larkhall were level as a cross to the far post and along the ground saw Ed Dryden poke it home Yate were hanging on and nearly conceded again when a goalmouth scramble saw Dryden take the final shot and pushing it wide to Yate's relief.

Raynes could not get his foot to a cross near Rivers that only needed a touch to go in, while a rifle shot from full back Jamie Lyons from thirty yards had Rivers stretching as it whistled past the post.

As injury time arrived, a long free kick into the Yate area almost saw Anderson head the ball past hos own keeper. The whistle could not come soon enough for the Bluebells.