Evo-Stik Southern West

Yate Town 2 Bishops Cleeve 0

YATE Town finished off their Evo-Stik Southern West season with a much-needed confidence booster as goals from Nick Peare and an own goal by Jo Noakes gave them victory over basement side Bishops Cleeve.

And, with that win, the first for the Bluebells in four matches, they condemned Bishops Cleeve to relegation from the division on the last day.

Manager Paul Britton had been very critical of the Bluebells last week after an awful display in losing 2-0 to Paulton Rovers.

But they picked up slightly on Thursday night with a 1-0 loss away at Larkhall Athletic.

Yate were always going to be favourites to turn over Bishops Cleeve, who had won just eight matches out of 42 during the season.

However, the north Gloucestershire side could have saved themselves if they had beaten Yate as they were two points behind Barnstaple Town and, unknown to them on Saturday afternoon, Barnstaple lost 3-0 at Swindon Supermarine.

The Bluebells had goalkeeper Harvey Rivers to thank for some splendid saves as Cleeve attacked during the first-half while, at the other end, only some top defending by the visitors kept the Bluebells out.

And, from one of those attacks, Yate grabbed their first goal since Adam Price equalised for a draw against Slimbridge on April 14 when, during injury time, Peare popped up in the Cleeve box to head the ball into the corner of the net from a super corner.

So it was 1-0 at half-time but that soon became 2-0 and Yate’s bench jumped up. After some great work involving Ben Brooks and Ross Langworthy up front, a cross was whipped into the Bishops Cleeve area only for Noakes to touch the ball past his own keeper, Sam Gilder.

After the confidence-sapping defeats of the past weeks, Yate were distinctly lifted by the goals and played with a lot more confidence as they looked to make the victory even more comprehensive.

They had their chances to add to the scoreline but Gilder, to his credit, kept his side in the match with some good saves.

Indeed, it was the Bluebells day but they may not finish in 13th place, where they are at the moment, as Cinderford Town, in the place below them, have two games in hand and are two points adrift.

However, 14th is the lowest Yate will finish as manager Paul Britton and his assistant John Lester begin the process of who to retain and who will be leaving the club ahead of a summer of building again after a mixed campaign this year.