Match Report
Yate Town 1 Bideford AFC 1
Tomlinson 38 Byrne og (69)
Southern League Division One South
Tuesday 4th February 2025
Yate Town struggled to find their normal rhythm on a tricky surface and after taking a first half lead, they failed to capitalise on the chances they created and Bideford’s style of play was better suited to the conditions and the side from Devon went home with a well-deserved point against the league leaders.
The first real chance of the game came in the 8th minute when Lucas Tomlinson robbed Bideford defender Alex Moyse but his shot was initially half blocked by goalkeeper Michael Searle but as the ball rolled goalwards it was eventually scrambled to safety. Joe Guest then went on a mazy run before being crowded out. James Taylor had to go off injured after 27 minutes and was replaced by Martin Lenihan with James Byrne slotting into the right back position. Shortly afterwards Bideford’s Scott Robinson ran on to a through ball but Yate Town goalkeeper, Joe Thomas, was quick off his line and manged to just reach the ball first and clear the danger and Thomas was then called into action again to cut out an excellent cross from Finn Roberts.
King Baidoo was a constant danger on the left and following a fine run in the 38th minute he broke clear and crossed for Lucas Tomlinson to score his 10th goal of the season with a low left footed shot into the bottom corner of the Bideford goal with Searle well beaten.
Lucas Tomlinson puts Yate Town 1-0 up.
Before half time Joe Thomas was forced into making another save but in added time King Baidoo had a good chance to score but headed Lucas Tomlinson’s cross wide of the post when well positioned.
King Baidoo heads just wide.
The second half stared with Nick McCootie shooting just over the crossbar and moments later Joe Thomas was forced to make a good save from Scott Robinson, pushing the ball round the post for a corner.
Nick McCcotie shoots just over the bar.
Bideford nearly equalised when Ryan Turner broke clear and after lobbing the ball over Joe Thomas saw his effort bounce off the crossbar and the goalkeeper collected the rebound.
Martin Lenihan then shot just wide from 20 yards, after good play by Baidoo King and Joe Guest. With Bideford coming more and more into the game they drew level following a goalmouth scramble in the 69th minute, with the ball finally ending up in the net, from a couple of yards out, with James Byrne getting the final touch.
Yate responded and King Baidoo’s near post effort brought a good save from Searle from a Nick McCootie cross, and soon afterwards, an excellent cross from James Byrne skidded across the 6-yard box evading a number of Yate Town players.
With both sides looking for a winner, Josh Webber’s shot was well saved by Thomas and Bideford substitute Jamie Hearsey shot just over for the visitors. Yate Town substitute Stan Wyatt went on a fine run down the right and when well placed his pass into the area found a Bideford defender with a number of home players well placed in the penalty area.
A Lloyd James free kick led to Nick McCootie shooting just over the bar and a James Byrne’s cross was well cut out by Bideford goalkeeper Michael Searle as Yate Town exerted some late pressure.
This was a frustrating game for the home side but with 60 points now on the board and a 6-point lead at the top of the table much has been achieved but there is still one third of the season to go with 14 League games remaining and many points still to be played for. The quality is in the side and manager, Darren Mullings always looks to take one game at a time and will be hoping that his side can gain three points against in-form Falmouth Town who are the visitors to the South West Interiors Stadium this coming Saturday.
Yate Town: Thomas, Taylor (Lenihan 27), Christopher (Nderemani) 78, Hall, Dempsey, Byrne, Guest, James, McCootie (Larvin 90) Tomlinson (Wyatt 81), Baidoo
Unused subs: Jackson
Bookings: Tomlinson (39), Christopher (54), Dempsey (88)
Bideford AFC: Searle, Byrne, Roberts, Moyse, Gardner, Slough, Robinson (Short), Reay (Wright), Ewing (Hearsey), Turner, Webber (Tucker)
Unused subs: None
Bookings: Moyse (39), Turner (58), Webber (80)
Referee: Scott Hamilton
Attendance: 284
Photographs by Aaron Norman