Barnstaple Town 2
Yate Town’s unbeaten league run came to an end as they were beaten by Barnstaple Town writes Tom Mason.
Goals from Harry Stevens and Tallan Mitchel consigned the Bluebells to their first league defeat of the season.
The result leaves Yate one point clear at the top after Monyfields were beaten 2-0 away at Thatcham Town.
Yate manager Paul Britton made one changed from the midweek victory at Bristol Manor Farm as Josh Cann came in for Mayson Evans.
The hosts dominated the opening exchanges and in truth should have led inside 8 minutes, when the Barnstaple keeper Robert Holmes miskicked a clearance which went straight into the path of Olly Mehew, but the striker struck his effort over the bar.
Despite their early dominance, Yate found themselves behind on 22 minutes as striker Harry Stephens calmly finished, despite home protests calling for offside.
The home side were continuing to show their quality, but found it tough to break through a resilient Barnstaple backline as their frustrations grew.
Devon based side; Barnstaple continued to remain defensively solid in the first half and took a narrow 1-0 lead into the break.
Yate’s quality showed further at the start of the second half and they came close to levelling the game in the 49th minute as Adam Price hit his free kick narrowly over the bar from 25 yards.
A deserved equaliser finally came shortly after, Captain Josh Ford firing in a brilliant header in the 54th minute, following a superb delivery by Price from a corner.
The hosts pressed for a winner, but it was the visitors who regained the lead with 23 minutes left against the run of play as Mitchell calmly slotted in from close range.
It was all Yate in the final 15 minutes as they went in search of an equaliser, Mehew, Price and Jack Twyman all coming close on three separate occasions.
It proved not to be and the Bluebells unbeaten run was over after defeat to an inform Barnstaple, who have now won their last three.
Next up for Yate is a trip to Hampshire to face 14th place Winchester City.
Yate Town: Thomas; Cann (Dawes 68), Keightley, Kamara (Langworthy 62), Ford ©, Boulton, Price, Guest, Mehew, Brooks,
Subs not used: Rennie, Knight, Nembhard.
Barnstaple: Holmes, Jones, Reid, Gardner, Humphries, Reay, Savigar, Jenkins ©, Stevens, Nancekivell, Mitchell
Subs not used: Darch
Attendance: 230
Referee: S Mansfield
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