Match Report: Yate Town U18s 15–0 Frome Town U18s
Roger Stone League Cup – First Round
Tuesday 14th October | South West Interiors Stadium
Yate Town U18s welcomed Western Counties League Northern Division side Frome Town to the South West Interiors Stadium on Tuesday evening for their first-round Roger Stone League Cup tie — a historic occasion as it marked the first ever game under the club’s new LED floodlights.
The Young Bluebells started brightly, immediately putting Frome on the back foot. The visiting goalkeeper was called into action early with a string of fine saves, but it wasn’t long before Yate’s dominance told. Antony Batt opened the scoring with a thunderous strike from a tight angle into the top corner, leaving the keeper helpless.
Yate continued to press, and some neat, intricate passing between the industrious Yigithan Kepil and the powerful Kevin Contreras saw Max Davies played through on goal to calmly double the lead. Frome briefly composed themselves and began to enjoy more possession, with their number 9 breaking free — only to be halted by a sharp defensive recovery before he could threaten keeper Zack Gillies.
Contreras continued to torment the Frome defence with his pace and skill, and one of his mazy runs into the box drew a firm challenge, earning Yate a penalty. Davies stepped up, but the Frome keeper guessed correctly, saving well and holding onto the rebound. The save seemed to lift Frome, however despite a short resilient spell, soon after, Davies made amends by slotting home his second and Yate’s third. A corner soon brought a fourth, with Joe Steward rising highest to nod home, before Batt grabbed his second of the evening just before the break. Yate went in at half-time five goals to the good.
Frome showed renewed spirit after the restart and carved out a couple of early chances, but Gillies was equal to the task, producing smart saves to maintain his clean sheet. With Yate regaining control, debutant left-back Nathan Angbatta burst down the flank and delivered a perfect cross for Contreras to power home a header for 6–0.
Buoyed by his goal, Contreras became unplayable — using his pace, strength, and determination to score three more goals in quick succession, taking his personal tally to four and Yate’s lead to nine. A superb free-kick from Leighton Higgins then made it 10–0. Yate made their first change with Leo Honeybourne replacing Batt, before Higgins struck again to make it 11–0. Further substitutions followed as youngsters Kyron Brown and Jake Groundrill entered the fray for Davies and Kepil.
Groundrill quickly impressed in midfield, threading a perfect pass to Contreras, who unselfishly squared to James Fortune, and his powerful rolled effort was fired passed the exposed Frome keeper. Yate’s relentless pressure continued, and their determination was rewarded when Brown, also representing Yate Town Blue in the Bristol Combination League, netted his first goal for the WCL side with a composed low finish. Moments later, Yate produced one of the goals of the night — a flowing team move started by Groundrill, who found Angbatta surging down the left. His pinpoint pass found Honeybourne at the edge of the box, who weaved past two defenders before coolly finishing to make it 14–0. The scoring was completed in style when Brown struck again, smashing a fierce effort into the top corner to round off a historic 15–0 victory for the Young Bluebells.
Yate scorers:
Kevin Contreras (4), Max Davies (2), Antony Batt (2), Leighton Higgins (2), Joe Steward, James Fortune, Leo Honeybourne, Kyron Brown (2)
The Under 18s play Old Abbotonians Under 18s in the next round at the South West Interiors Stadium, next Thursday 23rd October, with a 7.30pm kick off.