Match Report
Berkhamsted 1 Yate Town 1
Harding 68 | Ball 59
Southern League Premier Division South
Saturday 31st January 2026
Yate Town gained another valuable point on the road at Berkhamsted in a game of few chances.
Yate Town manager, Darren Mullings was forced into changing the side that beat Uxbridge the previous Saturday, bringing in Lewis Hall to the defence, playing his first League game since his injury at Taunton back in August, in place of the unavailable Bristol City loanee, Jack Hooper.
The first half was played mainly in midfield with the Yate Town defence coping well with any home attacks and with Berkhamsted, having one of the best defences in the division which was well marshalled by James Gurteen, Yate failed to test home goalkeeper Charles Horlock in the first half. The home side did threaten when Cameron Hyde’s angled shot went just wide and following a corner by Jonathan Lacey, Bradley Wadkins header was ruled out for a foul on Yate Town goalkeeper Aaron Sainsbury.
The second half was more open and James Ollis rose high but his header was easily saved by Charles Horlock. After 58 minutes, Chris Zebroski came on for Marlon Jackson, who had been booked in the first half, and moments later, from a corner taken by Lloyd James on the left, Dan Ball rose to head home his first goal for the Bluebells.
Dan Ball heads Yate Town in front.
It took nine minutes for Berkhamsted to draw level when after a concerted bit of pressure, a cross from Cameron Hyde reached Luke Andrews and despite his shot being blocked substitute Michael Harding followed up to score.
Lucas Tomlinson came on for James Ollis, with a quarter of an hour remaining, and following Chris Zebroski winning a header in the penalty area Lucas Tomlinson pounced on the loose ball but his shot was eventually saved by Charles Horlock at the second attempt.
Chris Zebroski wins this header and below, Lucas Tomlinson’s shot in eventually dealt with by home goalkeeper Charles Horlock with James Taylor (2) ready to pounce.
With 5 minutes stoppage time indicated the last chance of the game fell to Berkhamsted when a shot by Jonathan Lacey went just wide of the post.
This was a hard fought and well-earned point for the Bluebells who were extremely well, organised against a team who are just outside the play-offs.
They now have three home games, with Hungerford Town (Tuesday 3rd February) and Dorchester Town (Saturday 7th February) both visiting the South west Interiors Stadium and just below the Bluebells in the table, before high flying Poole Town are the visitors on Tuesday 10th February.
Berkhamsted: Horlock, Andrews, Hyde, Brooks Busari (84), Mitchell (Matejko 84), Gurteen, Lacey, Watkins, Watkins, San, Blake
Subs: Harding and Duodu also came after 62 minutes
Bookings: Sani (44), Brooks (83)
Yate Town: Sainsbury, Taylor, Larvin, Ball, Hall, Monks, James (Taylor-Clarke 86), Moody (Hicks 62), Jackson (Zebroski 58), Ollis (Tomlinson 76), Mannings.
Unused sub: Sambu
Bookings: Jackson (32), Hall (72), Monks (90+3)
Attendance: 399
Referee: Adam Steele
Photographs by Bob Chester