Yate Town 0

Walton Casuals 2

THE statistics speak for themselves. A goal has been conceded early in all four home games so far this season and the fall-out has always been significant, writes John Davis.

Walton Casuals went one better this time. They netted twice inside the first six minutes and from then on always looked comfortably in charge especially during the second half once the home side had been reduced to ten men.

Stephen Ward looked to be in an offside position when he was played through in the third minute but the flag stayed down, defenders stopped and he went on to finish clinically.

There was nothing suspect about the second goal soon afterwards though. Dave Fitzpatrick carved his way through several attempted tackles during a run in from the right and when he pulled the ball back Ward calmly side-footed home.

Later in the half as Casuals kept up the tempo, Adam Forster did well to block a Rowdell Gordon effort near the post and Rene Howe should have hit the target from close range after Jay Gasson had knocked down a corner into his path.

Yate's best spell came towards the end of the first period with Albie Hopkins testing Alex Tokarczyk in the Walton goal with a shot from the left and Mike Bryant glancing a header just wide following a cross into the box from Sam Boulton.

Further self-destruction followed at the beginning of the second half as an out-paced Elliott Keightley blatantly pulled Manolis Gogonas back as he burst through on the edge of the box and the inevitable red card followed.

Yate failed to put Tokarczyk under any pressure during the whole of the second half and the only attempts on goal of note were a ground shot from Nick Peare that went well wide and a rising drive from Sam Kamara that cleared the crossbar.

Forster at the other end had a much busier time however and it was he who kept the scoreline respectable with a number of brave saves.

In the last fifteen minutes he went full-length to push away a shot from substitute Cheyce Grant, saved bravely at the feet of the quick running Gordon and also kept out an effort from Gogonas.

Star man: Adam Forster (Some quality saves especially late in the game as Casuals began to make the extra player count.)

Attendance: 180. Entertainment value: 2/5

Yate Town: Forster, Evans, Keightley, Peare, Ford, Boulton, Lee, Hopkins (Kamara 65 minutes), Mehew, Bryant (Horton 51 minutes), Twyman (Guest 57 minutes).

The visit to top-of-the-table Chesham United follows on Saturday before the League Cup match at Slimbridge (October 2nd) and a series of three vital home league games.