Match Report
Yate Town 1 Walton & Hersham 2
Jackson (pen) 90+1 | Wood 49, Obeng 68
Southern League Premier Division South
Saturday 18th October 2025
Yate Town’s Community Day saw the best attendance so far this season at the South West Interiors Stadium, and both teams played their part in an entertaining game where the Bluebells can regard themselves unfortunate not to get at least a point from the league leaders.
Yate Town manager, Darren Mullings, made one change from the mid-week defeat at Wimborne, bringing in new signing Joe Bennett at full back, in place of Charlie White.
Walton & Hersham had much of the possession in the opening exchanges without testing Yate goalkeeper, Aaron Sainsbury but after 17 minutes Yate’s Corey Evans’ angled shot brought a good save from the excellent Jos Barker in the Walton & Hersham goal, who was extended a minute later by James Taylor’s shot. Rex Mannings and Omar Taylor-Clarke also had chances, which both missed the target. A driving run, in added time, by Oli Jenkins, from the half way line into the visitor’s penalty area, saw his shot blocked as he was closed down by three defenders, as Yate dominated.
Corey Evans on the ball during the first half.
Yate started the second half on the front foot and Evans set up Chris Zebroski whose powerful shot from 8 yards brought a stunning reflex save from Barker, but 90 seconds later Mason Obeng’s pass was collected by Jack Wood who coolly slotted the ball past Sainsbury to put the visitors in front.
With Yate Town looking to get back into the game, Obeng broke clear and finished clinically to put the Swans in a commanding position.
But Yate Town responded in gallant fashion and set up a grandstand finish as they worked hard to get back into the match. Alex Monks headed just wide and when Walton & Hersham captain, Joey Jones, was adjudged to have handled the ball in his area, as full time approached, he was sent off for a second bookable offence, and Marlon Jackson scored from the spot.
Marlon Jackson scores from the penalty spot.
Due to an injury to Rex Mannings just after the hour mark and Jackson had a considerable wait before taking his penalty, ten minutes stoppage time was added.
Following a long throw from Josh Bennett, James Taylor fired over from the edge of the area and Marlon Jackson’s precise shot from 15 yards went inches wide of the post.
With a minute of added time left, Yate Town goalkeeper, Aaron Sainsbury, came up for a corner and his header produced an excellent reaction save from Jos Barker to secure all three points for the visitors.
This was a much-improved performance from the Bluebells and if they can replicate this form they should be able to climb the table as they proved, against very good opposition, that with perhaps a couple of additions to the squad, results should improve.
They now face two vital away games, at Tiverton, who are below them, and Weymouth, who are placed just above them in the league table, before play-off placed Poole Town visit the South West Interiors Stadium.
Yate Town: Sainsbury, Taylor, Larvin, Ball (Britton 90+5), Bennett, Taylor-Clarke (James 71), Monks, Jenkins, Zebroski (Jackson 65), Evans (Evans-Harriott 85), Mannings (Tomlinson 65)
Unused subs: None
Bookings: None
Walton & Hersham: Barker, Bolger, Jones, Light, Defise (Street 56), Obeng, Powell, Wood, Nuur, Bennett (Alfalahi (71), Kuaho (Parkes 71)
Unused subs: Hubynets, Suarez
Bookings: Jones (22)
Sending off: Jones (88) second bookable offence
Referee: Simon Mitchem
Attendance: 552
Yate Town Player of the Match: Corey Evans with a match sponsor from Apex Pumps
