Match Report Exmouth Town 2 Yate Town 0 Saturday 14th September 2024 Southern League Division One South
Yate Town lost their first League match of the season against a strong Exmouth Town team who on the day were worthy winners. The two teams had met just 19 days before when it was the Bluebells who won 1-0 at the South West Interiors Stadium but a goal in each half by the home team secured them three points and moved them into fourth place in the table with Yate Town giving up top spot and now in second place.
Yate Town manager, Darren Mullings, was forced into making one change with captain Joe Guet unavailable and Stan Wyatt starting the game.
The Bluebells started the game brightly with Wayne Nderemani breaking down the left and Will Christopher firing over from just outside the box inside the opening two minutes.
Will Christopher shoots over in the second minute.
Lucas Tomlinson was then fouled just outside the penalty area and Lloyd James’ free kick brought a flying save from Exmouth goalkeeper Frankie Phillips who turned the shot round the post (pictured below).
Exmouth goalkeeper Frankie Phillips at full stretch to keep out Lloyd James’ free kick.
Two minutes later Yate Town had a lucky escape as Dan Dempsey delayed on the ball and was robbed but Tom Bath’s shot went just wide of the post with Aaron Sainsbury stranded. In the 17th minute the home side went ahead when Exmouth captain, Michael Landricombe headed home a Joe Belsten corner from the left.
Exmouth Town started to gain a strong foothold in the game and had plenty of possession but rarely tested Aarron Sainsbury in the visitor’s goal. Yate threatened on occasions but came up against a well
organised and disciplined defence with Lucas Tomlinson and Wayne Nederemani firing well off target when openings occurred. The best chance fell to Stan Wyatt who cut in from the right but delayed his shot too long and was closed down by the Exmouth defenders (pictured below).
Stan Wyatt is quickly closed down by the Exmouth defence.
Both Will Christopher and Lewis Hall were booked before half-time as the Exmouth players gave the Yate Town players little time on the ball, closing them down at every opportunity.
The second half started in a similar way and after 50 minutes Lewis Hall made a great block to deny Aaron Denny a shooting chance. Just before the hour mark Yate manager Darren Mullings made a couple of substitutions bringing on Oli Jenkins and Ross Staley for Will Christopher and Wayne Nderemani. Christopher had just earlier made another strong tackle and was lectured by the referee having already been booked in the first half.
The substitutions started to make a difference and Yate Town started to make more positive progress, starting to find their passing rhythm. A great run by James Taylor after 61 minutes, when he surged forward, beating a number of players, ended with him being eventually cleanly tackled well inside the penalty area as he was about to pull the trigger (pictures below).
Ross Staley fired wildly over a couple of minutes later and on 69 minutes Stan Wyatt, who had moved over to the left wing, gave way to Ryan Hillier.
Having wasted a free kick opportunity Exmouth then grabbled their second goal after 70 minutes when a through ball from Nelson Iseguan found Ben Griffith in space and he cooly slotted the ball past Aaron Sainsbury.
Despite some late pressure from Yate Town, they failed to create a clear-cut chance despite a couple of goal mouth scrambles but the Exmouth Town defence were determined to keep a clean sheet and managed to do so.
Action near the end of the game as Exmouth defend their goal.
This was a reality check for the Bluebells who have shown excellent early season form but will come up against teams who will pack their defences and look to counter on the break and Exmouth did this superbly and as they did in the first game last month, showed what a good side they are in this division.
Exmouth Town: Phillips, Llewellyn, Knowles, Landricombe, Morison, Denny, Shipton, Bath (High 86), Iseguan, Belsten, Griffin
Unused subs: Cann, Riddell, Thorne
Bookings: None
Yate Town: Sainsbury, Taylor, Hall, Dempsey (Felix 84), Larvin, James, Wyatt (Hillier 65), Christopher (Jenkins 56), Jackson, Tomlinson, Nderemani (Staley 56)
Unused sub: Stearn
Bookings: Christopher (32), Hall (40), Larvin (51), James (90)
Referee: Mark Hickson
Attendance: 324
Yate Town Man of the Match: James Taylor