Match Report
Yate Town 1 Bristol Manor Farm 0
Mannings 77
GFA Senior Challenge Cup Quarter Final
Tuesday 13th January 2026
Yate Town knocked out the holders of the Gloucester Senior Challenge Cup, Bristol Manor Farm, to go through to the semi-final, where they will play Forest Green Rovers away. The Bristol Manor Farm included former Bluebells Sean Keet, Jack Karadogan and Jack Whittard.
Yate Town manager, Darren Mullings, included Jacob Batt from the Under 18s side, plus Lewis Hall made his first appearance for the club since being injured in the second game of the season at Taunton Town back in August.
In a game where the Bluebells dominated possession for much of the game, it was Bristol Manor Farm who started the brightest in the opening 20 minutes, with Bailey Croome firing just wide from the corner of the penalty area, forcing Aaron Sainsbury to turn the ball away for a corner at full stretch with another effort and Jemar South-Thomas testing Aaron Sainsbury with a fierce shot that he tipped over the bar on his 100th appearance for the Bluebells, but after this Sainsbury had a quiet evening as Yate started to create openings but failing to take advantage of them, until the goal in the 77th minute.
After Adulai Sambu headed a James Taylor cross wide and also shot just over the bar after good work on the right by Lucas Tomlinson and James Taylor.
Jacob Batt in action during the first half.
The second half saw Yate Town create a number of chances. Lucas Tomlinson was inches wide with his effort from 15 yards after the Manor Farm defence failed to clear the ball.
Lucas Tomlinson fires just wide early in the second half.
No one was able to take advantage of an excellent Jacob Batt cross to the far post and following a through ball from Alex Monks, Batt was closed down in the penalty area before he could get his shot away.
Jacob Batt is closed down by Bristol Manor Farm goalkeeper, Jack Whittard and a Bristol Manor Farm defender.
Rex Mannings, when well placed, shot straight at former Bristol City loanee, Jack Whittard, in the Manor Farm goal, but eventually the goal that the Bluebells deserved arrived when Jacob Batt set up Rex Mannings to score from 15 yards.
Rex Mannings scores the only goal of the game.
Both Rex Mannings and James Ollis had opportunities to increase the lead but each time failed to hit the target and Adulai Sambu had a goal disallowed for offside after a through ball from Lloyd James.
A date for the semi-final game at Forest Green will be announced in due course.
Yate Town now get back to their league fixtures with an away game at second placed Poole Town on Saturday before Uxbridge are the visitors to the South West Interiors Stadium on Saturday 24th January.
Yate Town: Sainsbury, Taylor (Mannings 57), Larvin, Ball, Batt (J), Hall (Bennett 46), Taylor-Clarke (James 78), Monks, Tomlinson (Moody 63), Ollis, Sambu.
Unused sub: Felix
Bookings: Tomlinson
Attendance: 270
Referee: Adam Wilson
Photos by Aaron Norman and Jack Palmer
Yate Town Player of the Match: Jacob Batt
