YATE TOWN 0-2 HAYES & YEADING

PROMOTION-CHASING Hayes and Yeading provided a masterclass in game management as they left Yate Town with all three points, writes John Davis.

A high tempo first half that produced two goals gave way to a second period of controlled defending and the London-based club are on course to be involved in some way when the end of season shake up takes places.

Yate's nervous start almost got punished and the visitors could have been two goals to the good inside the opening five minutes.

First Adam Forster had to make a block on his near post as Omar Rowe burst through and then Sam Boulton was forced back onto his own line to clear an effort from Karl Cunningham.

James Clark was only just wide with a long range shot after Forster had been caught off his line before the visitors went in front on twenty-four minutes with a quick break from midfield.

Manny Duku did well to pick up the ball and he laid on the pass to Francis Amartey who held off the challenge from Joe Low before shooting across Forster into the far corner.

Sam Bell and Tommy Conway then had efforts saved at the other end before Amartey again got free up the right and this time he rounded Forster before squeezing the ball into the net from a tight angle to make it 2-0.

Yate, who included new signing Jordan Williams in defence, were almost back in the game soon afterwards but Aysa Corrick was denied on the near post by Jack Smith after a mazy run into the box had taken him past several defenders.

For all their possession in the second half the home side lacked the guile to fashion real goal-scoring chances and a number of hard won set pieces were not put to good use.

Indeed, the visitors might well have won even more comfortably. Forster bravely flung himself at Amartey's feet as he burst through and late on Rowe somehow managed to miss the target from Duku's cross with an open goal gaping.

Star man: Aysa Corrick. (Always prepared to run at defenders in an effort to gain a breakthrough.)

Attendance: 236.

Entertainment rating: 3/5.

Yate Town: Forster, Williams (Malshanskyj 70 minutes), Keightley (Taylor 65 minutes), Boulton, Lee, Low, Kamara (Peare 77 minutes), Guest, Bell, Conway, Corrick. Sub not used: Smith.

Two further sides with promotion ambitions provide the opposition next, Tiverton Town visit on Saturday followed by Swindon Supermarine on February 18.