Thornbury Town U16 1 Yate Town U18 BCL 3
Roberts 28, Matthews 88, Cotter 90
Bristol Combination League Division 3
Sunday 8th December 2024
A team made up of a mixture of Yate Town’s U18 squads competing in the Bristol Combination League travelled to Marlwood School on Sunday for a friendly against Thornbury Town’s U16 squad.
The Bluebells ran out victorious thanks to two late goals, but were pushed all the way by their younger opponents, who competed well in a good game.
After a strong start from the visitors, Thornbury took an early lead when, in the 17th minute, a scuffed clearance fell to the home striker, who calmly rounded goalkeeper Joe Tibbert to score.
But Yate began to take hold of the midfield battle, with Sam Moore, Harley White and Declan Carroll starting to impose themselves, and Yate were level with 28 minutes played. Striker Jack Perry released Pete Roberts on the left and the in-form winger danced past a couple of chances before sitting the goalkeeper down and rolling the ball into the unguarded net.
Yate enjoyed the majority of the possession for the remainder of the first-half but couldn’t break down a well-organised and determined Thornbury side. The home team were also dangerous on the break, but Yate’s back four of James Penfold, Finlay Jouxson, Josh Miles and Harvey Cotter largely kept them at bay, although th Bluebells were indebted to Tibbert, who made an excellent save to turn the ball around the post when a Thornbury player broke through.
The second-half brought much of the same, with Yate again largely in control and Thornbury having the odd chance on the break. In a half of few clear-cut chances, Stephen Adeniyi came on up-front and led the line well, Leyton Bath and Josh Hitchings slotted in seamlessly at the back, while Luis Matthews and Jedd Miller were looking menacing on the wings.
Again, Yate had their goalkeeper to thank in the 55th minute, when a decent Thornbury strike was brilliant turned over the bar by substitute goalkeeper Kalel Caswell.
But too many Yate Town final balls were going astray, and it looked as though Thornbury might hold on for a well-earned point until two late moments of quality sealed the game for the visitors. In the 88th minute, Man of the Match Sam Moore’s ball found Luis Matthews on the right, and the winger cut in, evaded a couple of challenges and slotted through the goalkeeper’s legs to give the Bluebells the lead, while Harvey Cotter’s 25-yarder into the bottom corner in the dying seconds rounded off the win in style.
Yate Town U18 Blue face Almondsbury in Division 3 next Sunday, while Yate Town U18 White travel to Stoke Lane Athletic in Division 4.