Yate suffer heartbreak late on as Malvern score in added time to claim all three points.
The Bluebells began the game bright as the visitors opened the scoring on five minutes. Oli Jenkins, who made his first start of the season, after picking up an injury during pre-season delivered a low cross into the Malvern penalty area for Rex Mannings who arrived on cue to fire home first time to give Yate the lead.
Just six minutes later we came forward again, coming out the starting blocks fast. Mannings was slipped in behind and found himself one-on-one with Leo McCormick who stood strong to keep Mannings’ effort out.
Midway through the first half the hosts would level the score. The hosts would take a quick free-kick and get in behind with Jay Malshanskyj firing into the far corner.
A minute later the hosts would take the lead for the first time. The hosts would pounce on the backline and race through on goal with Joe Tumlety finish of the counter-attack.
With 15 minutes left in the first half the hosts would look to hit on the break again. Sam Clarke broke down the right before cutting it back for Tumelty who fired first time seeing his effort go wide of the left post.
Just under 10 minutes remained in the first half and it would be Yate to level things up. A great move on the edge of the area saw Ajay Weston receive the ball on the byline and delivered a low cross into the six-yard for James Ollis to fire home on his Yate Town return.
Half-time | Malvern Town 2-2 Yate Town
It was a bright start to the half once more for the Bluebells as they created multiple chances. Three minutes into the second period Pierre cut it back for Mannings inside the area who fired low but saw his effort blocked by a Malvern defender.
Moments later Yate would come forward again. This time Mannings broke down the right before playing it inside to Day who fired it first time from outside the area with his effort going narrowly over the Malvern goal.
10 minutes into the second half the Bluebells would come forward again, this time down the left. Weston delivered a brilliant ball towards the back post for Ollis who rose highest but saw his effort clawed off the line by McCormick.
With Just 20 minutes to go Yate upped the anti again. Mannings delivered a corner from the right towards the back post with Ollis winning it in the air but the striker was unable to keep his header down as it went over the bar.
Yate would continue to come forward as they pushed Malvern onto the backfoot. With just under 15 minutes remaining in the tie the ball would fall to new signing Jamie Bremner who struck it on the half volley with his effort looping over McCormick and crashed off the inside of the post with Malvern able to clear.
However, despite Yate’s best efforts it wasn’t enough. In added time The Hillsiders would score the winning goal. Following a corner the ball pinballed around inside the area with Ralph Graham poking home eventually to give Malvern all three points.