Evo-Stik Southern, West

Yate Town 3 Larkhall Athletic 1

YATE Town secured a first class Evo-Stik Southern, West victory over Larkhall Athletic on Tuesday night that sets them on course to end a busy week with a clash against North Leigh on Saturday.

Larkhall looked the livelier in the opening stages even though they had not played since a 3-3 home draw with Cirencester Town on February 24.

And they caught Yate with a sucker punch after just seven minutes when wing Aysa Corrick neatly slipped the ball past full back Mayson Evans on the Bluebells' byline.

Corrick sent the ball into the home six yard box and past keeper Harvey Rivers for Joe Tumelty to fire in from point blank range six yards out.

Larkhall threatened again during the opening half-hour and Yate skipper Charlie Hitchings had to be at this defensive best to block a shot from Kailan Gould which threatened a second goal.

And Rivers, who had a superb first-half, pulled off a brilliant double save when first Greg Peel tried to fire Larkhall's second before Tumelty had a go only for Rivers to again block it.

Yate's Nick Peare could also count himself unlucky to get a yellow card when a tough challenge on Corrick saw the Larkhall man rolling in agony when Peare had gone for the ball.

But all that defensive effort paid off when Yate not only equalised but took the lead with two goals inside a couple of minutes.

Ross Langworthy had the ball on the right wing and sent over a great cross that Steve Davies finished off past Larkhall keeper Shaun Semmens.

And four minutes later, Langworthy got a goal for himself when a similar move to the first Yate strike saw the winger volley wonderfully into the side of the Athletic net with Semmens rooted to the spot.

Yate were firing with great gusto, and Davies had a chance for a third when a shot from just outside the penalty area and centre to the Larkhall net flew over the bar.

But if the front men did well, Rivers was putting in a top class display at the other end. Twice he pushed on target Larkhall shots away for corners as Yate turned around 2-1 up.

Rivers was at it again seconds into the second half when he saved a dangerous Tumelty shot with his legs in the centre of his six yard area.

Davies had a golden chance to make it three just before the hour when a fantastic ball split the Larkhall defence to shreds but, as the frontman looked to round the keeper, the ball ran away from him.

Yate were well on top as the second half deepened and earned a number of corners that they could not capitalise on.

Athletic had a few scirmishes into the home danger zone but these were dealt with well by the defence.

The Bluebells looked authoritative as the final throes of a good game began. Only a lapse in concentration was going to deny them all three points.

And, in the last seconds, a pass from Ben Brooks to the edge of the visitor's penalty area sealed it as Nick Peare guided it into an empty net with Semmens racing off his line.