Yate Town 3 Melksham Town 0 Tomlinson 8, Stearn 41, Jenkins 90 FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round Saturday 5th October 2024
Yate Town produced their most complete performance of the season, as they beat an inform Melksham Town team to progress to the next round of the FA Trophy. with this convincing win.
Yate Town manager, Darren Mullings, made a couple of changes form the team that started at Cinderford on Tuesday evening with Ross Stearn making his first full appearance for the club in place of Stan Wyatt who dropped to the bench and Dan Dempsey came in for James Byrne in defence. Will Christopher, who was unavailable due to illness, retuned on the bench.
The game was only a minute old then Melksham Town were presented with a golden opportunity to take the lead but Elliot Haffenden shot wide of Aaron Sainsbury’s near post and that was the only real chance that the visitors created. It wasn’t long before Yate Town got into their rhythm and after 8 minutes Lucas Tomlinson tried a speculative shot from 25 yards that beat Alfie Kelsey in the visitor’s goal. As Yate Town applied pressure Ollie Dewsbury then made a great run down the left and brought a good save from Kelsey.
Nathan Davis shot straight at Aaron Sainsbury from 30 yards and both Will Larvin and Dan Dempsey made excellent tackles to thwart the visitor’s when it looked as if they might breakthrough the home defence as Melksham tried to get back into the game but Yate Town dominated possession and after 39 minutes Lloyd James’ free kick, following a foul on Ollie Dewsbury, was blocked and went out for a corner. Shortly afterwards Ollie Dewsbury set up Ross Stearn to fire home his first goal for the club from about 10 yards as he turned and made space before his powerful shot beat Kelsey.
Ross Stearn shoots for goal to make it 2-0.
The opening period of the second half saw Tomlison draw a fine save from Kelsey as he tipped the ball over the bar and there followed a succession of corners as Yate Town looked for the third goal. On the hour Stan Wyatt replaced Ross Stearn and within a minute of coming on, his excellent run down the left saw him cut inside and curl a low shot that came back off the post.
This Stan Wyatt shot hit the post.
Lloyd James had a free kick well saved by Kelsey, but Melksham started to gain more possession, looking for that illusive goal that would get them back into the game, but the Yate Town defence stood firm and denied Melksham any real chances.
OIi Jenkins, who have come on for Lucas Tomlinson after 78 minutes, made some good runs down the right and he made the game safe for Yate Town with an excellent finish, firing low and precisely past Kelsey from the edge of the area, after combining with James Byrne, to complete an excellent performance for the Bluebells.
Oli Jenkins prior to scoring Yate Town’s third goal.
In front of a crowd of 527, Yate Town made a real statement with this performance of real quality as they now await Monday’s draw for the First Round Proper of the FA Trophy, which will take place on Saturday 26th October, meaning that their scheduled game at home to Cribbs on Friday 25th October will have to be re-arranged.
Yate Town: Sainsbury, Taylor, Byrne, Hall, Dempsey Larvin, James, Lawrence (Byrne 86), Guest, Stearn (Wyatt 60), Tomlinson (Jenkins 78), Dewsbury (Hillier 86)
Unused sub: Will Christopher
Bookings: James (30), Taylor (66)
Melksham Town: Kelsey, Summerfield, Andrews (Graham 46), Cooper, Hendy, Sady, Witt, Hallett, Davis, Haffenden (Brown 60), Lyden
Unused subs: James, Carter, Evans
Bookings: Andrews (39), Hallett (81)
Referee: Jake Hillier
Attendance: 527
Yate Town Man of the Match: Dan Dempsey
