Yate welcomed the players and officials of Tytherington Rocks to the South West Interiors Stadium for this local derby and WCFL league fixture.
Setting up in a 3-4-1-2 formation, the starting XI rewarded those for the excellent showing last time out. Following on from last week’s performance, the hosts looked to play through the thirds at tempo and stretch the visitors compact set up.
To their credit, The Rocks kept the game even for the first 15 minutes, nullifying early incisions by Yate’s attack. However, this all changed when Jacob Batt received the ball between the lines in the ‘10’ role to unleash a terrific strike from twenty five yards, sending Yate deservedly one up on the night.
The visitors were visibly shaken by the effort and dropped deeper out of possession. This signalled what can only be described as thirty minutes of exhilarating attacking play to half time.
A sizeable crowd were treated to a further four goals, with two from captain Tyler Wood, and one each from Yigithan Kepil, and Kevin Contreras respectively. All goals being hit from distance as the visitors backed off.
Reflecting on the performance at the interval, the Management Team were pleased that good standards had be adhered to throughout the half, which is important as these are the very early stages of a longer journey.
The same XI took to the field as the game recommenced, with Zach Gillies in goal dealing well all evening with the opposition’s sporadic attacks. The back three of Ben Cook, Joe Steward and Jack Taylor, continued to break lines into midfield by pass and run, which allowed the midfield courtet of Luke Money, Kevin Contreras, Yigithan Kepil and Will Down to feed forwards Jacbob Batt, Tyler Wood and Max Davies consistently.
Further goals followed as the game became more stretched with the impressive Tyler wood increasing the scoreline twice with good strikes. This saw replacements in the shape of Dalton Ross, Antony Batt, Callum Rogers, James Fortune and Todd Simms progressively join the field of play.
Yigithan Kepil then made it eight on the night before, Tyler Wood scored the goal of the evening, when good approach play, set up Will Down to provide an exquisite cross from the left that the former powered into the net with his head. At this stage Tytherington were fighting fires all over the pitch and had their stalwart goalkeeper to thank for denying a number of further goals. But still more were to come, with Antony Batt driving home after a characteristic mazy run and Max Davies, quietly impressive across recent games, completing the scoring, to make it eleven.
Callum Rogers, Antony Batt and James Fortune added further pace and movement when coming onto the pitch, whilst Dalton Ross and Todd Simms fitted in seamlessly to midfield and the back three respectively.
Tyler Wood deservedly took the evenings Man of the Match award, and was still debating with Yigithan Kepil in classic changing room banter, as to the latter’s second goal and whether Tyler in fact had got a last touch?
Manager John Black and his coaching staff appreciate that there will be sterner challenges ahead, but are pleased with the squad’s efforts to buy into a philosophy of play and effort, that will improve them individually and collectively long term.
Starting XI: Zach Gillies, Ben Cook, Joe Steward, Jack Taylor, Luke Money, Yigithan Kepil, Kevin Contreras, Will Down, Jacob Batt, Tyler Wood(Capt), Max Davies
Replacements: Antony Batt , Todd Simms, Callum Rogers, Dalton Ross, James Fortun