Yate Town 2 Holyport 0
Jackson 23, Tomlinson 25
Saturday 3rd August 2024 - FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Yate Town, in their first competitive match of the season, eased through to the next round of the FA Cup with an efficient, if not spectacular performance, against Step 5 side Holyport, with two quick fire goals before the half hour mark.
Coincidentally the two sides met in last season’s FA Cup, with the Bluebells winning 1-0 in Berkshire. Both squads were much changed from last August and Holyport came to the South West Interiors Stadium as a well organised side with Harry Hamblin prominent in their defence.
Yate Town manager, Darren Mullings, was unable to field two of his summer signings, with Ross Stearn still nursing an injury and Lloyd James suspended but Will Christopher and Marlon Jackson made their competitive debuts for the club alongside young Stan Wyatt.
On a warm summer’s afternoon, the game’s first chance fell to James Taylor, who broke down the right but scuffed his left footed shot straight at visiting goalkeeper Sam Hayes. There followed a shot from Stan Wyatt straight at Hayes from an acute angle and Marlon Jackson headed wide before the Bluebells went in front after 23 minutes.
It was a debut goal from Marlon Jackson who scored from close range after a cross from the right led to Will Christopher’s shot being blocked and as the Holyport defence failed to clear, Jackson steered the ball home.
Will Christopher shoots just before Marlon Jackson scores and below the goal celebration.
It was only two minutes later that Yate extended their lead when Lucas Tomlinson scored, doing exceptionally well to control a cross that was lightly behind him, swivelled and turned to score from 8 yards out.
Shortly afterwards James Taylor shot just over from 20 yards as Yate Town dominated play in this opening half hour period but in the final 10 minutes of the first half Holyport then responded with both Lewis Wilson and Jamie Fuller putting half chances over the bar.
Ryan Hillier shoots in the first half.
In the closing moments of the first half Marlon Jackson had the ball in the net following a free kick from Lucas Tomlinson but the goal was disallowed for offside.
Holyport started the second half brightly with Fuller shooting just wide after 47 minutes and Wilson firing a shot at Aaron Sainsbury from outside the box.
Dan Dempsey was booked for a foul on the edge of the area but the resultant free kick came to nothing for the visitors.
Just before the hour, after a mazy run, James Taylor was denied a penalty when he appeared to be fouled in the box but the referee waved play on.
Both sides made substitutions and a drinks break was called for midway through the second half.
James Taylor was fouled 30 yards from goal and the resultant free kick, on 76 minutes, taken by Lucas Tomlinson, crashed against the crossbar and five minutes later James Taylor, after another probing run, had his shot blocked before Marlon Jackson fired over.
James Taylor in action as he threatens the Holyport defence.
With 8 minutes to go Fuller brought a good save out of Aaron Sainsbury but with the heat telling on both sides Yate controlled the game and saw out the final minutes with little difficulty.
The winners of today’s game collect £1125 prize money with the losers pocketing £375.
The Bluebells now head off to West Devon to start their Southern League fixtures next Saturday at Tavistock, followed by a home game against Bishops Cleeve on Tuesday 13th August. They then resume their FA Cup journey with a visit to Oxfordshire on 17th August to play Kidlington, from the Southern League Division One Central, who beat Tuffley Rovers 3-0, away, in their Extra Preliminary Round tie.
Yate Town: Sainsbury, Taylor, Nderemani (McMillan 65), Hall, Dempsey, Guest, Tomlinson, Christopher, Hillier (Bryne 73), Jackson, Wyatt
Unused subs: Pullin, Stearn, Mullings
Holyport: Hayes, Tasfu (Rose 58), Wright, Hamblin, Appleton, Etienne, McCalom, Wilson (Bebb 58), Beck-Nardomi (Mensah 73), Fuller, Ocansey
Unused subs: Charles-Jones, Chapman, Slade
Bookings: Yate Town: Dempsey, Tomlinson, Taylor
Bookings: Holyport: Fuller, Wilson
Referee: Luke Rees
Attendance: 286