Yate Town 1 Westbury United 0
Byrne 89
Southern League Division One South
Saturday 9th November 2024
Yate Town maintained their 100 per cent home record this season against a Westbury United side who belied their lowly league position and made it very hard for the league leaders.
Yate Town manager, Darren Mullings, was forced to make a change to the starting line up that won at Falmouth, with Joe Guest suspended, James Byrne moved to midfield and Bristol Rovers loanee, Charlie White, made his debut for the club at left back. Theo Jeremy, another new signing was on the bench with Lewis Hall, returning from injury also on the bench – these two taking the place of Ewan McMillan and Darren Mullings.
Before the game the “Last Post” was played to commemorate Armistice Day.
Westbury started brightly and Josh Jenkins and Aaron Witchell both shot wide when well placed but Yate Town soon responded when Ross Stearn headed over from a James Bryne cross and Lucas Tomlinson shot straight at Redman Evans in the Westbury goal as Yate started to make some inroads into a well organised Westbury defence, who were giving little away. Will Taylor tried his luck from 30 yards but shot straight at Aaron Sainsbury in the home goal – this being the only effort that Westbury had on target but Joe Beardwell was always a threat for the visitors.
Marlon Jackson wins this header challenged by two Westbury defenders.
The second half saw Yate looking for that vital first goal and Marlon Jackson missed a great chance when he headed a cross from Lloyd James wide early in the second half and despite Westbury losing Aaron Witchell, who was sent off after 55 minutes, for a challenge on Lloyd James, Westbury were still very much in the game.
With defences on top and both sides making substitutions the game looked to be heading for a goalless draw. However, with one minute of normal time remaining Yate substitute Theo Jeremy found space on the left and crossed for James Byrne to put Yate Town in front from close range, with the Westbury defence starting to tire.
Substitute Theo Jeremy provides the assist for James Byrne’s goal.
In the nine minutes of added time substitute Ryan Hillier had a glorious chance to add another for Yate but the ball ran wide. Yate Town maintain their place at the top of the table having won 11 out of 14 games played so far and now the best defensive record in Step 4 as they prepare to meet Mousehole on Tuesday evening at the South West Interiors Stadium.
Yate Town: Sainsbury, Taylor, White (Hall 70), Christopher (Staley 80), Larvin, James, Wyatt (Jeremy 60), Byrne, Jackson, Tomlinson, Stearn (Hillier 75)
Unused sub: Felix
Booked: Wyatt (20), Byrne (69), Larvin (80)
Westbury United: Evans, Cockerill, Restorick, Selwood, Witchell, Beardwell, Bole, Cross, Taylor, Lewis, Jenkins
Subs: Hulbert, Shanley, Greenland, Butcher, Smedley
Bookings: Beardwell (73), Selwood (83), Taylor (85)
Sent off: Witchell (56)
Referee: Adam Gregory
Attendance: 576
Yate Town Man of the Match: James Byrne with sponsor Shane Andrews.
