Match Preview
Yate Town v Melksham Town
Southern League Division One South
Saturday 15th March 2025 – kick-off 3.00pm
Be there to support YOUR local club.
Top of the table Yate Town play Melksham Town for the third time this season having previously played the side from Wiltshire in the FA Trophy in October and the away league game in November. Having gained just one point from their last two games, in which they experienced only their fifth defeat of the season, the Bluebells will be looking to get back to winning ways on Saturday and with it being the business end of the season we are looking to get a big crowd to cheer them on, especially with both Bristol City and Bristol Rovers not playing locally.
Form Guide:
Melksham Town are just outside the play-off places and will be looking to get into the top 5 in their final remaining 8 games. Having lost 0-3 at home last Saturday, to a fast improving Tavistock, they found themselves playing the previously postponed game in West Devon against the same side just 4 days later and this time, on Wednesday evening, they came unstuck again, when finding themselves 0-2 down after 15 minutes, Melksham clawed their way back into the game to equalise with second half goals from Nathan Davis and Alex Hallett, only for Tavistock to get a winner in the 76th minute and inflict Melksham’s second defeat on the bounce.
Before these two games against Tavistock, Melksham had gone on a 5-match unbeaten run with a 1-1 draw at Thatcham the previous Saturday and prior to that a 3-1 win at Helston with goals from Elliot Haffenden, Dawid Regula and Harry Baker. Home wins against Bemerton, 4-1 with Mark Cooper, David Regula, Harry Baker and Henry Sady scoring, and Larkhall 2-1, with Copper and Sady on the scoresheet, meant it was a good February, apart from their 0-2 reversal at Evesham five weeks ago.
At present Melksham sit in 8th place in the table having won 14 games, drawn 9 and lost 11 times. In the process they have scored 59 goals and conceded 47 times, gaining 51 points.
Recent meetings:
The clubs have already met twice this season; firstly in the FA Trophy on 5th October when Yate won 3-0. Lucas Tomlinson scored early on, Ross Stearn, coming back from injury scored the second and substitute Oli Jenkins scored the third. Eight weeks later the teams met again, this time at Melksham, and after Henry Sady had given the home side the lead just after half time Ross Stearn scored a spectacular goal to level the scores, with the game ending 1-1.
Last season saw Yate Town do the double over their Wiltshire opponents winning 3-0 at Melksham in October with goals from Dylan Lewis after 16 minutes, Bristol City loanee Callum Hutton (his first goal in senior football) just after half-time and four minutes from time, what turned out to be the Southern League Goal of the Month – a screamer from Dan Dempsey. It was Yate Town’s first clean sheet of the season.
In the game played at the South Interiors Stadium in February Nick McCootie gave Yate an early lead (pictured below) and Calum English-Brown added another after 26 minutes before Ralph Graham pulled a goal back for Melksham after 35 minutes. Finley Bell, on loan from Forest Green Rovers, added a third after 62 minutes with Oli Jenkins completing the scoring with 15 minutes to go to make the score 4-1.
Match day information
Admission prices:
Adult: £12
Concessions: Over 65, Students, NHS, armed forces and fire services – just show correct ID information: £8
Children: (11-17) £5
Under 11: Free
Bristol City, Bristol Rovers and Forest Green fans - show your season ticket at the turnstiles to gain entry for £8
The left-hand turnstile is for CARD payments and programmes can also be purchased at this turnstile
The right-hand turnstile is for CASH payments.
Please arrive early to ease congestion.
All U-11’s entering the ground must be accompanied by an adult. If the adult has a “School Ticket” they can enter at half price along with their child.
The bar is open from 12.15pm
Turnstiles open: 12.15pm
The match day programme front cover
Programmes: £2.50 –with lots of information that is only available via the matchday programme including a special feature on Ross Stearn who made his 600th senior appearance in football last Saturday – so BUY YOUR COPY AT THE GAME – with forward Nick McCootie on the front cover.
Programmes can be purchased outside the ground, at the left-hand turnstile and at the club shop.
Club Shop: The club shop will be open before the game, at half time and after the game.
Other information
· We also welcome Chris Lloyd and friends in memory of Ian Lloyd as our match sponsors, PJ Bryer as our ball sponsors plus our mascots group Yate United Under 8s.
· Come along and see the new player’s tunnel.
PARKING
There is plenty of space is available but if you are parking on the roadside, or once the car park is full, PLEASE CAN YOU PARK WITH CONSIDERATION TO THE CLUB’S NEIGHBOURS.
· Please do NOT park in Addlings (a new road near the end of Lodge Road) as the estate roads are tight and there is limited parking for residents
· The Fox pub car park is for patrons only
· If you park over on the trading estate, please make sure that you are aware of any parking restrictions that may be in place.
Food and drinks are available inside the ground.
Please note that the South West Interiors Stadium is a NO dogs ground (apart from guide dogs).
Yate Town FC website: www.yatetownfc.co.uk
Visit the club shop
The club shop is open on match days, where you can buy a whole host of new club merchandise, including shirts, tops, Yate Town fixture mugs, key rings, mouse mats, badges, coasters, umbrellas and much, much more.
There will be reductions on replica shirts - sale prices – adult £30 and children £25 – linked to any remaining shirts and only available at the club shop.
Tracey, who will also be selling match day programmes and 50/50 tickets.
And, don’t forget to visit the clubhouse for that pre-match and post-match drink and chat.
Next up:
The Bluebells travel to play Westbury United on Tuesday evening and then to Bideford next Saturday (22nd March) before returning to the South West Interiors Stadium on Saturday 29th March when Bemerton Heath Harlequins are the visitors.