Yate 3-0 Paulton

Yate Town moved back to the top of the table after beating Paulton Rovers 3-0 at Lodge Road writes Tom Mason. 

The Bluebells were the far superior side throughout and were handed their victory thanks to goals from Michael Bryant, David Sims-Burgess and Olly Mehew.

The result takes Paul Britton's side two points clear at the top after Blackfield and Langley and Moneyfields were both beaten.

Britton made two changes from his sides 2-1 win over Cirencester Town last weekend, Ross Grimshaw and Sam Kamara coming in for Alexis Andre Jnr (injured) and Joe Guest (Suspended).

The hosts were on the front foot in the early stages and could have even taken the lead inside five minutes when Mehew was played through one on one, but Adam Forster made a smart low save to deny the number nine.

The home side continued to impress in the opening twenty minutes, but were being frustrated by a resolute Rovers side, as Sims-Burgess went close only to see his effort cleared off the line by Charlie Hitchings.

Midway through the first half there was a break in play as linesman Ian Hawkins picked up an injury meaning he couldn’t carry on, as a result a member of the crowd stepped in and the game recommenced within ten minutes.

Just before the break Yate took a deserved lead through the impressive Bryant, after being picked out at the far post by Bluebells captain Nick Peare with a low driven cross, before converting from close range.

Mehew should have made it two just minutes into the second half, somehow firing over from close range after great work from Sims Burgess had found the striker unmarked in the box.

Paulton offered very little threat to Grimshaw in the hosts net and it wasn’t long before the hosts doubled their lead, Sims Burgess the goal scorer, a well worked move with Bryant before finding room for a shot low into the bottom corner.

As Paulton looked for a way back into the game there was always going to be gaps for the hosts to exploit, and so it proved as Mehew secured the win following a superb counter attack started by Peare, which finished with Mehew rounding the keeper and finishing into an empty net.

With just minutes remaining the hosts saw the game out brilliantly and earned a vital three points to give themselves a two point cushion at the top of the table with six games to go.

Next up for the Bluebells is a trip Mill Road to face 18th placed Barnstaple Town next weekend.

Yate Town: Grimshaw (GK), Humphreys, Keightley, Peare ©, Ford, Boulton, Price, Kamara, Bryant (Twyman 80), Sims-Burgess (Brooks 70), Mehew (Langworthy 84) Paulton Rovers: Forster (GK), Dix, Laird, Hitchings © (Carey 71), Hillard (Hillard), Malpas, Monelle, Evans, Jordan, Ball (Gay 77), Withey Attendance: 368 Referee: Andrew Hobbs