Football: Nicholls strike makes a point for Yate in thriller (From Gazette Series)

Evo-Stik Southern League Division One South & West: Yate Town 3 Bideford Town 3

11:02am Monday 2nd January 2012 in Yate and Sodbury Sport

YATE shared the spoils against league leaders Bideford in a six-goal thriller that was a fitting end to their rollercoaster calendar year.

The in-form home side took the lead on eight minutes when defender Jordan Greenwood headed in a corner by Tyrone Mings.

Kevin Squire poked home an equaliser for Bideford after 27 minutes and five minutes before half-time Sean Downing headed in off the crossbar to give them the lead.

Hector Mackie came in from the left and scored from a tight angle to level the scores again just after the hour mark.

Bideford went ahead again four minutes later when Yate goalkeeper Josh Dempsey misjudged Downing’s cross and the ball slipped out of his hands and over the line.

However, Robin Nicholls ensured Yate took a point from the game when he scored with a low drive on 76 minutes.

Yate, who took 16 points from 21 available in December visit Mangotsfield United in a local derby at Cossham Street today (3pm). A match report from that game will be on this website later.