Match Preview
Westbury United v Yate Town
Southern League Division One South
Monday 24th February 2025 - Kick-off 7.45pm
TO BE PLAYED AT FROME TOWN FC
Yate Town travel to play Westbury United on Monday evening, this game having had to be rescheduled from Saturday 22nd February, due to that fact that Westbury United are not playing their home games at their Meadow Lane ground and now have an agreement with Frome Town to ground share with them until the end of this season. With Frome Town having a home game against Marlow on Saturday, the Bluebells and Westbury agreed that the game would be played on Monday.
After excellent wins at home to Falmouth Town and at Thatcham Town Yate Town manager, Darren Mullings, will be looking to continue this form with just 12 games to go, 6 at home and 6 away, before the final league game of the season at home to Didcot Town on 26th April.
Form Guide
Having flirted with relegation last season and finally finishing in 17th position in the table, in only their second season at this level, Westbury United have had a much better season on the field of play and currently sit in 12th position, prior to the weekend games, having won 11 of their 29 league games, drawing 6 and losing 12, gaining 39 points in the process and with a goal difference of plus 7 having scored 46 goals and conceded 39 times.
Their last game, at Thatcham Town on Tuesday evening, saw a resounding 5-1 win with goals from Jack Witcombe (2), Ryan Bole, Edward Butcher and Bevan Cross. Last Saturday, in their first home game that had to be played at Frome Town’s ground, they drew 2-2 with Didcot Town with Cross and Witcombe scoring for Westbury, who were denied all three points when Didcot equalised in the final minute of the game - and the team seems to be coping with the off-field situations that the club are facing at the moment.
The year had started well with a 3-0 win at home to Larkhall Athletic on New Year’s Day with Bradley Sellwood scoring all three gaols and this was followed by a 2-2 draw at home to Mousehole with Rayn Bole and Joe Beardwell scoring for Westbury.
There then followed three consecutive defeats at Bishops Cleeve (0-2), at home to Bristol Manor Farm (1-5) with Bevan Cross scoring Westbury’s goal and a 0-2 defeat at Bashley.
Previous meetings
Back in November Yate Town beat Westbury United 1-0 at The South West Interiors Stadium with a late goal from James Byrne (pictured below in this match)
Last season the home game against Westbury United was Yate Town manager, Darren Mullings’ first game in charge, on 16th September, and the Bluebells came from behind to win 2-1 with goals from Aaron Parsons and Joe O’Loughlin after Callum Demkiv had given Westbury the lead when he scored from the rebound after Aaron Sainsbury had saved his penalty. With the scores level at 1-1, and Westbury were awarded a second penalty kick but Demikiv’s put his spot kick over the bar.
In the return game on Good Friday, Yate Town won 2-0 at Meadow Lane, Westbury, with first half goals from James Taylor (pictured below) and Dylan Lewis.
Getting there:
The game against Westbury United will be played at Frome Town FC whose home ground is at Badgers Hill Stadium, 48 Berkley Road, Frome BA11 2EH and the 30-mile journey from Yate should take about 55 minutes via the A46, A36 and A361.
Yate Town previously played their last March when the Bluebells lost 0-2, with Frome Town gaining promotion at the end of last season.
Next up
Next weekend the Bluebells are home to Shaftesbury Town on Saturday 1st March (3pm), at the South West Interiors Stadium, with Willand Rovers the visitors on Tuesday 4th March (7.45pm) before travelling to Evesham United on 8th March when a supporters coach will be running for Yate Town fans.