Yate Town’S league campaign continued in freefall as they were beaten by struggling Cinderford Town.

Sam O’Sullivan struck the winner with seven minutes remaining to leave Yate without a win in the league since September 26, when they beat the only side below Cinderford in the table, Bracknell Town.

Manager Dave Mogg will be hoping the next week proves fruitful as he looks to complete three new signings and on this evidence new faces are desperately needed to revive Yate’s ailing season.

A lack of cutting edge in front of goal cost Yate in the first half and that was followed by an abject second half performance with Cinderford deservedly snatching all three points late on.

Ex-Almondsbury Town manager Paul Weeks arrived at Lodge Road with his Cinderford side looking to pick up the pieces from an 8-0 defeat at the hands of Bridgwater Town in their last league match.

The pitch was passed fit despite heavy rain and both sides took a while to adapt to the difficult conditions until the game burst to life on 20 minutes.

Jacob Cox cut in from the right and his deflected shot from 25 yards was tipped wide by Ben John – one of three former Almondsbury Town players in the visiting side along with John Lock and Simon Heal.

The following corner from Cox reached Scott Thomas beyond the far post, who crossed into the six yard area where John produced a great reaction save from White’s header and then smothered to deny Edd Vahid.

Josh Dempsey was called into action at the other end on 34 minutes when he held on low to his left from Lee O’Connor’s dipping 10-yard volley then Jordan Branch blazed over when Pete Macklin found him in acres of space.

On the stroke of half time Zayne Simpson found space to receive Aron Robbins’ throw and his shot across goal was well saved by John’s legs.

Yate were slow out of the traps in the second half and it needed a sharp save from Dempsey to keep out a header by the unmarked Dan Harrison from Branch’s inswinging corner.

Thomas was caught out for the first time by a ball over the top on 62 minutes when his weak header back presented Kyle Basset with a great chance, but the striker’s attempted lob went over.

Yate were restricted to half chances with Cox drifting a left-footed shot wide from long range and Vahid volleying over from the edge of the box.

Dempsey did well to dive across to his right and keep out O’Sullivan’s curling free kick from 20 yards on 80 minutes and Lock could only hit the side netting from the rebound.

O’Sullivan wasn’t to be denied though as three minutes later he cut in from the left flank and skipped past four challenges with ease before blasting the ball into the back of the net from 15 yards.

Yate Town: Dempsey, Warren, Robbins, Hughes, Thomas, McAlinden, Cox, Vahid ©, Adams (A White, 85), J White, Simpson (Duggan, 73). Subs not used: Stewart, Burt, Shallcross.

Ref: Mr J Flynn Att: 124 Gazette star man: Edd Vahid