Match Report
Melksham Town 1 Yate Town 1
Sady (48) Stearn (61)
Southern League Division One South
Saturday 30th November 2024
In a game that could have gone either way, honours in the end were shared, and a draw was probably a fair result.
Yate Town manager, Darren Mullings made one change from the team that played Evesham last Saturday with Will Larvin back from a one match suspension, in for Dan Dempsey. The Bluebells started brightly with a flowing move that saw goalkeeper Aaron Sainsbury’s accurate kick find Marlon Jackson who fed James Byrne and then Ollie Dewsbury won a corner from which, after being partially cleared, he eventually fired over from an angle.
Ollie Dewsbury in possession in the first half.
Melksham were keen to stop Yate Town playing out from the back and their high press proved effective at times but apart from a wild 30-yard shot from Sam Hendy their main attacking threat came from Joshua Bennett’s long throws as both sides cancelled each other out for much of the time. Ross Stearn shot straight at Alfie Kelsey in the home goal after 28 minutes and despite Yate Town being awarded a number of free kicks in the Melksham half, both goalkeepers remained untroubled.
The second half started with Melksham immediately on the front foot and three minutes after the break they took the lead as Aaron Sainsbury failed to connect with the ball as he tried to punch away a long throw and Henry Sady struck the lose ball home from six yards out.
Melksham then had a good spell with Elliot Haffenden making inroads into the Yate penalty area, but the danger was eventually cleared and then Aaron Sainsbury had to make a save following another attack.
But Yate Town responded well to the situation and an excellent run down the left by Ollie Dewsbury saw his cross evade most players in the penalty area but James Taylor’s volleyed the ball back into the area for Ross Stearn to level the scores with a spectacular overhead kick after 61 minutes.
Ross Stearn’s spectacular overhead kick draws Yate Town level.
Robbie James headed a corner over for Melksham as the game started to open up more, Ross Stearn shot just over from an acute angle then his near post flick was well saved by the well positioned Alfie Kelsey in the home goal.
A few minutes later there was an almighty scramble in the Yate Town penalty area following a corner with a number of excellent defensive blocks being made before the ball was eventually cleared and Yate Town won a free kick as the danger was averted.
Substitute Stan Wyatt then had a shot blocked and Will Christopher shot over from long range but with five minutes of normal time remaining Lucas Tomlinson appeared to be fouled in the Melksham penalty area but referee Jack Bromham was having none of this and booked Tomlinson for diving.
With stoppage time pending Yate Town made a quick break and Ross Stearn set up Lucas Tomlinson on the edge of the area but his strong shot was straight at Kelsey then a Will Larvin header was deflected on to the crossbar by Kelsey and Marlon Jackson saw his header come off a defender for a corner as Yate Town pilled on the pressure looking for a winner. Lloyd James 25 yard shot just cleared the crossbar in added on time and with the allocated 6 minutes additional time completed Melksham won a corner on the left and from this a chance was headed wide.
Will Larvin heads for goal.
This was a hard-earned point for the Bluebells and they now look forward to two home games with Cribbs coming to the South West Interiors Stadium on Tuesday evening and Bideford next Saturday.
Yate Town: Sainsbury, Taylor (White 80), Christopher, Larvin, Hall, James, Byrne (Tomlinson 65), Guest, Jackson, Stearn, Dewsbury (Wyatt 65)
Unused subs: Dempsey, Hillier
Bookings: Tomlinson (85)
Melksham Town: Kelsey, Carter, Bennett, Andrews, James, Cooper, Graham, Hendy, Brown, Sady, Haffenden (Lynden 61)
Unused subs: Ballinger, Summerfield, Thompson, Hallett
Bookings: Andrews (34), Hendy (43) James (58), Kelsey (83), Sady (90+4)
Attendance: 530
Referee: Jack Bromham
Photographs by Aaron Norman.