Bishops Cleeve v Yate Town
Southern League Division One South
Saturday 28th December - Kick-off 3.00pm
On Saturday 28th December, for the club’s final game of 2024, the Bluebells make the short trip to Bishops Cleeve, who play on the outskirts of Cheltenham. Bishops Cleeve made national headlines when they beat National League South Torquay United 3-0 in the FA Cup Second Qualifying Round in September and then in the next round drew with another National League South side in Chesham United, before going out in the replay.
Yate Town manager, Darren Mullings, will be looking to get back to winning ways following the 1-1 draw on Boxing Day, at home to Bristol Manor Farm. Despite dominating much of the second half and getting an equaliser, the Bluebells couldn’t find the back of the net again and go on to secure all three points and Darren Mullings will be hoping for a more clinical approach in the opposition’s penalty area.
In the short turn around of time, just one day of rest, for both sides, Mullings will be hoping that any knocks received by players on Thursday, against Bristol Manor Farm, will have recovered in time.
Yate Town will start 2025 sitting on the top of the table but will be looking to ensure that they maintain this lead in the second half of the season as there are still, with 20 games to go, 60 points to play for.
Action from the game at the South West Interiors Stadium back in August with Will Larvin on the ball and a Bishops Cleeve player close by.
Form Guide
Bishops Cleeve are in a good run of form having won 3 of their last 6 games, drawing two and their only loss has been a 0-1 reversal at home to Exmouth when they conceded a 96th minute goal on 14th December. Impressive away wins at Evesham (4-0) on Boxing Day, Shatesbury (3-0) and Bristol Manor Farm (2-0) have pushed the Gloucestershire club up the table to 6th place and they have a similar goal difference to the Bluebells, of plus 15, having scored 3 more and conceded 3 more goals but have played two games less, sitting on 33 points having won 10 of their 20 league games.
Their home form has been less impressive with a 0-0 draw against Willand Rovers and after leading 4-1 after 73 minutes against Thatcham Town they conceded three late goals with the game ending 4-4.
Amongst the goals have been Ethan Dunbar, Aaron Evans-Harriott and James Harding and Jay Malshanskyj has just returned to the club following a spell at Taunton Town.
A number of the Bishops Cleeve squad have played for Yate Town in the past, including Matt Bower, Ben McClean, James Harding, Ross Langworthy and Jay Malshanskyj.
Previous meetings
The Bluebells beat Bishops Cleeve 2-1 in their first home game of the season back in August with Will Christopher opening the scoring before Bishops Cleeve equalised through a Dan Dempsey own goal, but a second half goal from Lucas Tomlinson secured all 3 points for Yate in a close contest.
Last season, in Darren Mullings’ first away game in charge, back in September 2023 the game ended 2-2. Harrison Reeves put Bishops Cleeve in front after 15 minutes but Joe O’Loughlin and Sam Pashen scored second half goals to put the Bluebells in front before Ross Langworthy equalised near the end. It was the visitors who won 1-0 at the South West Interiors Stadium back in March when a Jay Malshanskyj goal after 10 minutes inflicted the first of only two league defeats that Yate Town suffered at home in 2024.
Getting there:
Travelling via the M5 the journey of 36 miles from Yate will take about 50 minutes. The ground, which has a 3G pitch, is situated just north of Cheltenham not far from the racecourse. Travelling via the A46 and M5 the 43 miles journey will take about one hour and 10 minutes The address and post code of their ground is: Kayte Lane, Southam, Bishops Cleeve, Cheltenham GL52 3PD
Next up
Yate Town do not have a game on New Year’s Day but start 2025 with TWO HOME GAMES – firstly against BASHLEY on January 4th and the following Saturday, on 11th January, WILLAND ROVERS are the visitors to the South West Interiors Stadium.