Match Report
Yate Town 0 Farnham Town 1
Obi (87)
Southern League Premier Division South
Saturday 21st February 2026
Yate Town came very close to gaining a deserved point at the South Werst Interiors Stadium, against free scoring Farnham Town, who grabbed an 87th minute winner through substitute Ogo Obi, in an entertaining encounter on a wet afternoon.
Yate Town manager, Darren Mullings, made a number of changes from the side that lost at Bracknell last Saturday, starting with Joe Keeping in place of the injured Lewis Hall, and making his debut, Archie Taylor, on loan from Bristol City, in place of the injured Will Larvin. Oli Jenkins and Omar Taylor-Clarke came back into the side with James Taylor and Lloyd James on the bench, and Henry Sady, on loan from Chippenham, making his debut for the club, took the place of James Ollis.
Although Farnham had the majority of the early possession, the Yate Town side defended well, with Dan Ball and Archie Taylor in outstanding form. Brandon Mason took up some good positions down the left for Farnham and his early cross was well cut out to avert the danger.
Archie Taylor then set Oli Jenkins free down the right but his cross was eventually cleared.
It was the Bluebells, however, who had the first real chance of the game when, after a fine run by Henry Sady, Charlie Moody saw his shot cleared off the line by Farnham left back Brandon Mason.
Henry Sady dribbles into the Farnham penalty area and is about to set up Charlie Moody whose shot was cleared off the line.
Farnham showed their attacking intent when Bobby-Jo Taylor saw his shot blocked, Mathew MacKenzie shot over from outside the box and Yate Town goalkeeper Aaron Sainsbury saved a Ryan Kinnane header following a corner taken by Darryl Sanders. Sainsbury was forced into action again, going full stretch to save Owen Dean’s shot but despite winning eight first half corners the Yate defence dealt effectively with all that came their way.
Yate got more into the game in the second half and Rex Mannings had his effort blocked after cutting inside, whilst Omar Taylor-Clarke saw his goal bound effort deflected for a corner following an excellent move down the right involving James Taylor and Rex Mannings. For Farnham, Matthew MacKenzie headed just wide following a cross from Jack Dean and Bobby-Jo Taylor saw his shot from a free kick saved by Aaron Sainsbury.
James Ollis heads towards goal.
Substitute James Ollis saw his header easily saved by Farnham goalkeeper Michael Eacott but just as the game seemed to be heading for a goalless draw, with three minutes remaining of normal time, Farnham substitute, Ogo Obi got on the end of a left wing cross to tuck the ball away from close range at the far post. In stoppage time Lloyd James set up Corey Evans but his shot was deflected wide for a corner and Farnham returned to Surrey with all three points.
Corey Evans’ late effort is deflected for a corner.
This was scant reward for a Yate side that had set up so well to deal with a Farnham side that have been free scoring all season and had matched them for much of the game but it’s goals that win matches and the Bluebells are in a period of drought when it comes to scoring and need to get back to the form that saw them go on a five game unbeaten run recently There are now just 12 games and 9 weeks left this season.
The next two games, which are both away, see the Bluebells travel to top of the table Walton & Hersham next Saturday, before they play Farnham Town again the following Tuesday. The next home game is against Wimborne Town on Saturday 7th March.
Yate Town: Sainsbury, Keeping Ball, Taylor (A) (Taylor J 63), Taylor-Clarke (James 80), Mannings (Tomlinson 73), Jenkins, Moody (Ollis 73), Monks, Sady (Zebroski 80), Evans
Unused subs: None
Booked: None
Farnham Town: Eacott, Dean (J), Mason, Bayliss, Kinnane, Dean (O) (Obi 69 – Uche 90+5), Cooksley (Leggett 58), Evans Liddle (60), Sanders, Taylor, MacKenzie.
Unused sub: Jackson
Bookings: Bayliss (23), Cooksley (37)
Attendance: 497
Referee: Paul Collier
Photographs by Jack Palmer
Yate Town Player of the Match: Archie Taylor seen with match sponsors D&P Plastering Limited.
