YATE TOWN 4 TAUNTON TOWN 1

BRISTOL CITY starlet Sam Bell bagged a brace as Yate Town claimed three crucial points and a league double over rivals Taunton Town, writes John Davis.

Getting an early lead bucked the trend of recent matches as Aysa Corrick threaded a perfect pass through the Taunton back-line in the eleventh minute and Nick Peare proved unerring with his trusted left foot.

Within minutes the lead had been doubled as Peare turned provider and Bristol City loanee Bell scored at the second attempt, the ball getting into the net through a crowd of players and the slight help of a post.

Taunton looked at their most dangerous at set pieces and they got back into the game midway through the first half when Ryan Brett's in-swinging corner from the right crossed the line before Jamie Price's final touch.

Elliott Keightley then got back to make a vital saving clearance before Luke Spokes hit the crossbar with a wicked swerving free kick and Corrick struck the base of the post with Bell's follow up effort blocked.

The home side's match-deciding third goal came seven minutes after the re-start. Defender and another Bristol City fledgling Joe Low picked up the ball well inside his own half and his hopeful long ball upfield dipped at the last moment over a startled Lloyd Irish before nestling in the net.

Peare almost got on the end of a Spokes' free-kick afterwards, Bell's shot was scrambled off the line and Tommy Conway was denied by Irish soon after he had come on.

Adam Forster kept out efforts from Andrew Neal as Taunton hit back before there was more white paint work for the ground-staff with ten minutes left when Peare's curving free-kick muddied another crossbar and was cleared away to safety.

As stoppage time approached came the icing on the cake. Bell was set free on goal and he outpaced several defenders before slipping the ball under Irish as the keeper came off his line.

Star man: Sam Bell - Two well-taken goals and a hard-working display throughout the whole game.

Attendance: 263. Entertainment rating 5/5.

Yate Town: Forster, Keightley, Humphreys, Peare, Lee, Low, Kamara, Guest, Bell, Spokes (Malshanskyj 85 minutes), Corrick (Conway 77 minutes).

Subs not used: Taylor, Boulton, Bamford.

Yate travel to fellow strugglers Walton Casuals on Saturday.

Pics: 'B.East Photography'.