Match Report
Westbury United 1 Yate Town 2
Cross 42, King 5 Jackson 90+16
Southern League Division One South
Tuesday 18th March 2025
Yate Town earned three points at Westbury to get back to winning ways and extended their lead at the top of the table to five points with seven games remaining this season, with Marlon Jackson scoring the winner, way into added time, due to a temporary floodlight failure in the second half.
Yate Town manager, Darren Mullings, shuffled the pack after 3 games without a win and with Dan Dempsey injured brought back James Bryne into the starting lineup along with Ross Stearn and Stan Wyatt with Nick McCootie and Will Christopher on the bench.
Yate Town started on the front foot and with just under 5 minutes on the clock a good move down the right saw James Taylor get to the byline and put in a perfect cross for King Baidoo to score his 6th goal of the season from close range. With Westbury back on their home turf, after playing a couple of home games at Frome, they were determined to get back into the game but Yate Town’s compact defence and the good handling of goalkeeper Isaac Finch meant that they created very little and a well-timed tackle from James Taylor once averted potential danger.
In fact, it was King Baidoo who went close on a couple of occasions to increasing the visitor’s lead with a fierce shot from 20 yards that just cleared the crossbar after 25 minutes and a near post effort that went just off target.
However, with half-time approaching a defensive error following a mistimed header back to Isaac Finch meant that Westbury forward, Bevan Cross, was able to intercept the ball and skilfully lob it over the advancing Isaac Finch into the net for an unexpected equaliser.
Ross Stearn jumps high to win this header.
At the start of the second half, bolstered by the equaliser, Westbury gained confidence and went looking for a winner but they only created one chance of note when Jack Witcombe saw his bicycle kick go just wide of the far post. Despite a number of changes during the second period Yate Town had more of the play but chances were at a premium. They thought that they had the opportunity to take the lead after 62 minutes when Ross Stearn appeared to be clearly fouled in the area when through on goal but referee Scott Hamilton thought otherwise.
Ten minutes after this the floodlights went out and there was a delay of about 15 minutes, before they were back on, and play could be resumed. Soon after this Westbury United’s Jack Witcombe was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Substitute, Marlon Jackson, who made a massive impact when he came on and scored the late winner for the Bluebells.
With the clock ticking down and Westbury goalkeeper Robert Brown having been in command of his penalty area and six yard box when required, and just over 15 minutes into stoppage time due to the earlier floodlight failure, a fine move down the right involving Lloyd James, a probing run into the penalty area by Jamie Adams, who crossed the ball and Marlon Jackson was able to thump the ball home from close range and the celebrations that followed showed the joy and relief from all Yate Town players and fans, that the 3 points had been claimed. Another 3 minutes of play took place before the final whistle and now Yate now travel to Bideford on Saturday before entertaining Bemerton on 29th March, with everything to play for, and in pole position.
The joy of a goal – Yate players celebrate Marlon Jackson’s winner.
Westbury United: Brown, Hulbert (Greenland), Raut (Mack 90), Cockerill, Restorick, Witcombe, Wooding (Eglin 90+13) Bole (Starr 90+13), Cross, Taylor (Ashfield 56), Jordan
Unused subs: None
Bookings: Witcombe (57 and 90+5 then sent off for second yellow), Wooding (88)
Yate Town: Finch, Taylor (Jackson 61), Byrne, Larvin (Christopher 85), Hall, James, Adams, Guest, Baidoo, Stearn (Nderemani 90+8), Wyatt (McCootie 90).
Unused sub: Lenihan
Bookings: Stearn (14) Hall (63), James (90+12)
Referee: Scott Hamilton
Attendance: 328
Photographs by Aaron Norman