Frampton Rangers 3 Yate Town Blue 2
Batt 57, Baghori 76
Bristol Combination League Division 3
Sunday 3rd November 2024
Yate Town Blue came from behind twice but ultimately came away empty-handed from their visit to neighbours Frampton Rangers in Division 3 of the Bristol Combination League on Sunday.
In an even match, Yate shaded possession but Frampton had the clearer chances and the young Bluebells were indebted to a man of the match performance from goalkeeper Kalel Caswell for keeping them in the contest with a string of world-class saves.
The home side were quickest out of the blocks as Yate made a shaky start to the game, and Frampton took a deserved lead in the 9th minute. A corner was half-cleared and fell to a home player, who drilled into the bottom corner, leaving Caswell with no chance.
Yate began to work their way into the game, and Pete Roberts’ long range effort flew just wide with ten minutes on the clock, while Caswell had to get down well to save three minutes later. Ed Davis saw a shot saved, Roberts’ pull-back after a mazy run on the left didn’t find a team mate, and Callum Rogers and Jacob Batt missed the target with good chances as Yate pushed for the equaliser.
The Bluebells again came close in the 33rd minute, as Jayden Brown’s pacy run took him to the edge of the box, but his audacious effort with the outside of his foot was well-saved by the home goalkeeper.
But Frampton were also creating chances of their own, and Caswell had to be at his very best as he was tested three times in five minutes. First, the young goalkeeper made an outstanding save, diving low to his left, making another excellent save in the middle and completing the set with a brilliant save with his feet as the home striker was through one-on-one to ensure a single goal half-time deficit.
Yate made some half-time switches and their improved shape began to take hold of the contest. Sam North couldn’t quite keep a far-post header down early in the half, while at the other end a Frampton effort from distance went wide, but Yate did find the equaliser in the 57th minute, Jacob Batt evading a couple of tackles before firing into the bottom corner.
The leveller was no less than the Bluebells deserved, but they only stayed on equal terms for ten minutes, a long-range effort finding the top corner of Caswell’s net.
Caswell again came to his side’s rescue in the 72nd minute, diving full length to his left to tip a goal-bound effort away. Sub Nasro Baghori, who was making an impact after his introduction, and his curling left-footed effort came back off the foot of the post in the 70th minute, but the attacking midfielder was not to be denied his goal and found the equaliser with 14 minutes to play, his second effort from similar range finding the bottom corner.
Both sides were hunting the winner, and Yate had a chance with nine minutes left, but no-one could turn home Batt’s cut-back from the left, and the Bluebells paid the price in the 83rd minute, as the Frampton player thumped home a header from a corner to leave Yate with nothing to show from an even game, although they will know they are capable of better performances that this one.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, a second Yate Town U18 squad played Yate Town U16 in a friendly, and emerged 4-1 winners, with Jack Perry (2), Preston Fear and Dom Hodges on target.
Yate Town Blue host Ashton next Sunday as they look to return to winning ways, while Yate Town White, who weren’t in action on Sunday, visit Portishead Town in Division 4.
Starting XI: Kalel Caswell; Ollie Barton, Finlay Jouxson, Dan Leary, Logan Briggs; Kris Olah, Callum Rogers; Ed Davis, Jacob Batt, Pete Roberts; Jayden Brown.
Substitutes: Freddie Everson, Tristan Base, Sam North, Luis Matthews, Nasro Baghori.
Man of the Match: Kalel Caswell.