DARREN Mullings' header eight minutes from time handed Yate Town a vital three points in their fight to avoid relegation.

Having played more games than many of their opponents below them, 16th placed Yate could ill-afford to lose and they found themselves 1-0 down after Joseph White's 28th minute penalty.

Ross Staley equalised six minutes later for the hosts, who then found themselves a man up in the second-half when Kieron Forbes was shown a straight red shortly aftet the restart.

It became 10 against 10 in the 75th minute when Liban Ibrahim received a second yellow card but Mulling's powerful header in the 82nd minute provided the much needed win for Yate.

"It was a hell of a night in the end, wasn't it?" said Yate boss John Rendell at full-time.

"It was a must win game for us. Without wanting to lump too much pressure on the lads in the build-up, that was the discussion point.

"We identified this game as a key result and now we are three games unbeaten which is great. We can now go into Saturday against Truro full of confidence knowing we are having a good run.

"We felt we deserved it and that's through the work we have done in recent weeks. We are all pulling in the right direction, everyone is working hard and I hope people coming to watch can see that."

Yate now sit five points above the relegation zone in the Southern League Premier League South, but have played two more than fourth-bottom Winchester City.

But the run of form they are on, things are looking up for Yate.