Match Report
Bluebells slip up again
Yate Town 1 Taunton Town 2
Tomlinson 36 | Robinson (45+1, 57)
Southern League Premier Division South
Saturday20th December 2025
Yate Town suffered their third consecutive defeat as Taunton Town got back to winning ways after a six-game winless run.
With full back Josh Bennett injured, Yate Town manager, Darren Mullings, was forced into changes from the side that lost to Havant & Waterlooville the previous Saturday, bringing in James Taylor and starting with Lucas Tomlinson and Marlon Jackson, in place of Adulai Sambu and Rex Mannings, both of whom were on the bench.
The game was only three minutes old when Scott Robinson went close for Taunton, following a cross from Matt Carson but despite Taunton dominating early possession in the opening half hour, little was created by both sides.
Eventually Yate Town started to get a foothold in the game and James Ollis’ header was superbly pushed away by Taunton goalkeeper Frankie Phillips and both James Taylor and Corey Evans tested Phillips. After 36 minutes a flowing move down the right saw Marlon Jackson passing to Lucas Tomlinson, whose low angled shot beat Phillips to put Yate in front.
Lucas Tomlinson scores and below celebrates with James Ollis.
In stoppage time in the first half Taunton drew level, and after a disputed throw in, Niall Thompson’s excellent cross was headed home from close range at the far post by new signing, Scott Robinson, to level the scores.
Corey Evans delivers a cross.
The Bluebells tried to regain the lead and both Corey Evans and Lloyd James’ crosses were missed by everyone and the opportunities went begging as the ball flashed passed.
Taunton went in front after 57 minutes when Ben Seymour’s excellent cross was headed home by the diving Scott Robinson.
Yate looked to get back on terms but despite winning a succession of corners, failed to test Phillips to any extent, with any efforts just off target or blocked and when Will Larvin played a defence splitting pass through the Taunton defence, Frankie Phillips was quickly off his line to get to the ball just before Marlon Jackson. With twelve minutes of normal time remaining, and after a period of pressure, Lloyd James’ measured shot from 20 yards cleared the crossbar by just inches but Taunton were determined to cling onto the points, with right back Niall Thompson outstanding in the visitor’s defence.
Marlon Jackson gets on the end of a cross and heads towards goal.
The game ended with Taunton having competed the double over Yate Town, having won by the same score back in August.
It was not the result that Bluebell fans wanted to round off their 2025 home games but it was only the fourth league defeat at the South West Interiors Stadium in the calendar year.
The Bluebells now travel to Evesham United on Saturday 27th December, for their final game of 2025 before Hungerford Town are the visitors to the South West Interiors Stadium for the first game of 2026 on Saturday 3rd January.
Yate Town: Sainsbury, Taylor (Mannings 82), Jenkins, Larvin, Hopper, Monks (Britton 84), James (Taylor-Clarke 81) Tomlinson (Sambu 73), Jackson, Ollis, Evans.
Unused sub: Ball
Bookings: Larvin (10), Jackson (39), James (45+2), Monks (56)
Taunton Town: Phillips, Thompson, Hill, Richards (J), Rice Sanogo (90+2), Purrington, Seymour, Owers (English 61), Carson, Robinson, Moulden
Unused subs: Brain, Kalala, Richards W.
Bookings: Richards J. (29), Purrington (39), Seymour (88)
Attendance: 509
Referee: Jack Bronham
Photographs by Aaron Norman and Jack Palmer.