Report by John Davis

Yate Town 2 Dorchester Town 1

The return to home league action after a seven week break didn't quite go according to plan but a second half revival eventually gave the home side the three points to keep within reach of the section's pacesetters.

It was the visitors who made the most purposeful start and there were twenty five minutes on the clock before the Bluebells, although enjoying greater possession, registered anything resembling a shot on target.

Dorchester edged in front midway through the first half when Andy Hannah failed to collect Charlie Gunson's free kick from the edge of the box and, as the loose ball squirmed around in a congested box, Sam Bayston reacted quickest to get it over the line.

The visitors then had good chances to increase their advantage. A speculative long range effort from Oakley Hanger was turned over by Hannah and Billy Lowes whacked the upright with a rasping left-foot drive.

Town grew into the contest as the second half got under way with Luke Hopper curling a shot wide before several corners and then some promising attacks came to nothing following offside decisions.

Persistence finally paid off with an equaliser on seventy-one minutes. A rising drive from Joe Tumelty brushed the crossbar and, in the scramble that ensued, Will Tunnicliff was up-ended in the box and Hopper rifled the spot kick powerfully into the top corner.

The eventual winner soon followed, Ollie Mehew driving into the area after being set free by Sam Turl before unselfishly squaring the ball to James Harding who was left with the easiest of tap-ins for his thirteenth goal of the season.

Some anxious moments and a long period of stoppage time did little for the nerves with Dorchester having appeals for a penalty of their own waved away when Billy Stedman went down under a challenge inside the box.

Star man: Matt Bower (Solid in defence and always tried to distribute the ball constructively.) Attendance: 451. Entertainment rating: Three stars.

Yate Town: Hannah, Turl, Tunnicliff, Adams, Angel, Bower, Tumelty, Williams (Hall 90 + 4 minutes), Hopper, Harding (Kamara 82 minutes), Mehew. Subs not used: Brabham, Thuo, Rhodes.

A free midweek is followed by the trip to Wimborne Town on Saturday. Harrow Borough feature in the next home game on January 15.