Match Preview
Mousehole v Yate Town
Southern League Division One South
Saturday 12th April 2025 - Kick-off 3.00pm
Yate Town travel to Cornwall for the second consecutive Saturday, having last week won 2-0 at Helston Athletic, with a brace from Ross Stearn. The Bluebells travel back to face the most westerly senior side in the country and will be hoping for a complete sweep of wins in Cornwall this season, having won 3-2 at Falmouth Town back in November. Mousehole are in their second season at this level, and having finished in 5th place last season, will be hoping to secure a play-off place for the second time, come the end of the season.
For Yate Town, 10 points from the last four games of the season will secure the Championship and automatic promotion, with second placed Evesham United 3 points behind the leaders. With four games to go for both sides Yate Town have a one goal advantage regarding goal difference with plus 29 whist Evesham’s goal difference is plus 28, so come the end of the season this factor could potentially prove decisive.
Form Guide
Prior to their surprise 0-3 defeat at Willand on 29th March, Mousehole had gone 10 games unbeaten, their previous defeat being way back on 25th January when they lost 0-1 at home to Exmouth. This unbeaten run has seen 7 wins and three draws, a 1-1 draw at Bemerton on 1st February, at 0-0 result at Tavistock on 15th February and a 2-2 draw at Didcot when a stoppage time goal from Ross Derham rescued a point four weeks later. In these 10 games they have scored 25 goals and conceded just 8 times, scoring five on two occasion, both against Shaftesbury, winning 5-2 away and 5-0 at home. Last Saturday, at home to Bashley, they drew 1-1 and after Hayden Turner had put them in front after 84 minutes Bashley equalised 90 seconds later to share the points.
Mousehole have prolific goal scorers in Tim Nixon and Hayden Turner with Oscar Massey also contributing regularly. Their league record to date is, played 38 games, winning 19, drawing 10 and losing 9 having scored 76 goals, the second highest in the division behind Malvern, and conceding 46 times, amassing 67 points to sit in fourth position in the table, with Bishops Cleeve leaping above them following their midweek win at Falmouth Town.
Previous meetings
Earlier this season on a Tuesday evening in November the two teams played out an entertaining 1-1 draw at the South West Interiors Stadium. Both goals came in the first half and after Joe Guest put through his own goal after 25 minutes it only took five minutes for the Bluebells to equalise through Marlon Jackson (pictured below) in front of a crowd of 365.
Last season was the first time that the 2 clubs have met with Mousehole playing in Step 4 for the first time in their history following their promotion from the Western League.
The first game took place on 30th September, just 2 weeks since Yate Town’s new manager, Darren Mullings, had taken over from John Rendell. Yate Town took a first half lead through Will Sage, who fired home from the edge of the area. However, two quick fire goal just after half time from Mousehole through Hayden Turner and Jack-Bray Evans meant that after 58 minutes the Cornish side were in front and any Yate Town pressure was repelled by a well organised Mousehole defence and they returned to Cornwall with all three points in a game witnessed by 266 spectators.
The return fixture was played on 20th January on a wet and windy afternoon and after just 6 minutes Nick McCootie slotted home a penalty after Calum English-Brown had been fouled in the penalty area. Yate Town gained the three points, despite some pressure form Mousehole, as the conditions deteriorated, particularly in the second half and the visitors returned home from a game watched by 202 people.
Getting there
For those Yate Town fans travelling the Mousehole FC address is Trungle Parc, Paul, Penzance TR19 6AZ. Note that the ground is NOT in the village of Mousehole. Take B3315 from Newlyn up a long hill (Chywoone Hill), turn left after it has flattened out where signposted to Mousehole AFC. Then turn right where again signposted in the middle of Paul village and go to the far end and follow the signs. The 203 miles journey from Yate should take about 4 hours with a stop enroute.
Parking is available at the ground on a first-come first-served basis. Please follow the directions of the stewards. We suggest you arrive early to avoid congestion. Alternatively, park in Mousehole (2 car parks) and walk up the hill to us in the village. Be warned however that this involves a steep climb. Food and drink - There is a pub in Paul – The King’s Arms which serves excellent food. At the ground there is a fully-stocked bar, featuring the club’s sponsors Verdant plus a wide selection of other beers, wine, spirits and soft drinks. A tea hut serves a selection of hot drinks, pasties and sausage rolls, snacks and cakes. The clubhouse and tea hut will open approximately 2 hours before kick-off.
Next up
Cinderford Town who are to visitors to the South West Interiors Stadium on Good Friday 18th April with a 3pm kick-off, followed by a trip to Bristol Manor Farm on Easter Monday (3pm) and the league season concludes with a home game against Didcot Town on 26th April.