Yate Town made it two wins from two in 2019 as they extended their lead at the top of the table to three points writes John Davis.

There are times when all successful teams need to 'win ugly' and perhaps this close encounter fits best into that category.

For stretches of the game, especially in the first half, Street looked the better of the two sides on display and it took a much improved showing from the home side in the second half to get the victory needed to open up a three point lead at the top of the table.

The visitors were keen to attack with pace from the outset and it was Ross Grimshaw who was by far the busiest of the two goalkeepers before the break.

Street's Leigh Bailey hooked a shot over the crossbar following a corner, Jamie Short's lob was held at Grimshaw, Steve Murray cut inside to blast wide of the post and Craig Herrod caused anxious moments in the Yate defence on several occasions.

With Ollie Mehew often a lone raider for Yate there was little action at the other end although Liam Kington did have to race off his line on one occasion as Mehew make swift progress down the left-hand side.

Grimshaw cleanly fielded shots from Murray and Lewis Waldy at the start of the second half before Kington and several defenders crowded out Mehew to the left of the goal as the home side counter-attacked.

A double substitution that introduced Harry Warwick and then Nick Peare to the game gave Yate greater impetus as the half progressed.

Warwick sent a fierce drive just past the post and Peare created the mayhem in the penalty area that led to the game's only goal.

Several Yate efforts were blocked just inside the box before Peare went down in a melee of players on 71 minutes and Mehew-for the second game in succession-coolly converted from the spot.

Only a well-timed tackle from Ross McErlain prevented Mehew from getting in another shooting chance with five minutes left before the game played out to its conclusion.