Match Report
Late goals earn three points
Uxbridge 1 Yate Town 3
Nwachuku 29 | Jackson 82, Hopper 90,, Mannings 90+2
Southern League Premier Division South
Saturday 15th November 2025
Yate Town travelled to west London and three goals late in the game ensured that all three points retuned to South Gloucestershire and at the same time the Bluebells inflicted the first home defeat of the season on Uxbridge and only their second all season, in the league.
Yate Town manager, Darren Mullings, buoyed by recent form on their travels, brought in loan signing, Jack Hooper, for the injured Dan Ball and Lucas Tomlinson started in place of James Taylor, with Oli Jenkins reverting to full-back with Lloyd James also starting in place of Matt Britton, from the side that drew 2-2 at Weymouth.
Yate Town, playing against a side that were third in the table, started brightly but with only 8 minutes on the clock Omar Taylor-Clarke, was forced off injured and replaced by Matt Britton. A long throw from Josh Bennett saw Jack Hooper head towards goal but his effort was saved by home goalkeeper Laurie Shala and when Oli Jenkins robbed a home player on the by-line his excellent cross along the six-yard box saw no player able to take advantage. Corey Evans threatened and his teasing run resulted in a corner whilst another long throw by Bennett saw Matt Britton head wide.
Chris Zebroski’s effort is blocked by the Uxbridge defenders.
Uxbridge, used to playing on their excellent 3G surface, and with captain Harry Rush very much involved, saw headers from Laim Prior-Tack and Jordan Stepney just clear the cross bar as the home side started to get more in to the game and after 28 minutes Nnams Nwachuku picked up a loose ball and his clinical strike from the edge of the area, out of the reach of Aaron Sainsbury, put Uxbridge in front.
Chris Zebroski and James Ollis put pressure on an Uxbridge defender.
A flowing move down the right saw James Ollis and Lucas Tomlinson combine and somehow Tomlinson’s effort was just deflected for a corner as the Bluebells looked for the equaliser.
As the second half started Corey Evans broke into the Uxbridge penalty area but referee Gareth Burton waved away the penalty appeals and ten minutes into the second half Uxbridge captain, Harry Rush, curled a shot that came back off the crossbar with Sainsbury beaten.
James Ollis’persistence paid off as he robbed a defender but his cross could not be converted and an Ollis shot cleared the crossbar. With a quarter of the game still to play, Darren Mullings started to bring players off the bench with Rex Mannings on for Lucas Tomlinson and Marlon Jackson replacing Chris Zebroski and in previous weeks, these finishers, replacing the starters, made their impact felt.
Matt Britton challenges for the ball.
With eight minutes of normal time remaining, a corner from Rex Mannings was headed on by James Ollis for Marlon Jackson to gleefully head home his sixth goal of the season, to level the scores. With the home side stunned, a Lloyd James free kick was met by Jack Hooper, making his debut for the Bluebells, on loan from Bristol City, and his powerful header at the far post, beat Shala.
During stoppage time a long ball from Aaron Sainsbury was flicked on by Marlon Jackson and Rex Mannings collected the ball 25 yards from goal, controlled the ball and despite being surrounded by three defenders managed to get his shot away that nestled in the bottom corner of the net for his first goal of the season and all three points were secured for the Bluebells in what was a performance that showed character, resilience and belief.
After losing their opening 6 league games away from home, the last three trips have seen 7 points picked up and these three games have witnessed 8 goals scored too, as the Bluebells move up to 15th place in the league table. There now follows two home games, against Bracknell next Saturday and then on Tuesday 25th November Basingstoke visit the South West Interiors Stadium.
Uxbridge: Shala, Brown (Hobbs 81), Giamattei, Tanner, Stepney, Nnadozie, Prior-Tack (Hector 58), Rush, Nwachuku, Sordell (Okorogheye 58), Keita.
Unused subs: Deru, Brandao
Bookings: Giamattei (58), Okorogheye (72), Hobbs (88)
Yate Town: Sainsbury, Jenkins, Larvin, Hooper, Bennett, Taylor-Clarke (Britton 8), James (White 90+6), Tomlinson (Mannings 67), Zebroski (Jackson 71), Ollis, Evans (Taylor 86)
Unused subs: None
Bookings: Tomlinson (45+5), Bennett (60)
Attendance: 339
Referee: Gareth Burton