Yate Town F.C. U18’s 6 v Bristol Telephones F.C. U18’S 2
Yate welcomed Bristol Telephones to the South West Interiors Stadium for this WCFL league fixture.
Setting up in a 3-4-1-2 formation, the team looked to build upon the excellent performance last week at Nailsea.
The visitors are a known competitive and direct Team that will test you throughout, to that end the hosts aimed to move the ball quickly and deny the opposition space in behind. The game started at pace on a surface more conducive with football following recent rainfall. Yate quickly got their passing game active with the back three of Ben Cook, Joe Stewart and Will Down finding balls into the midfield pivots of Yigithan Kepil and the returning Kevin Contreras(holiday). This allowed Jacob Batt to become a constant threat as he was found consistently in the wide left channel. At this stage the visitors counters were being dealt with, whilst opportunities arose for Yate. The lively Antony Batt was the first to be thwarted as his shot was blocked on the line by Telephones strong rearguard. The visiting keeper was then on hand to save from James Fortune, Max Davies and Yigithan Kepil as the hosts looked to capitalise on their dominance of possession. However, as the game reached the thirty minute mark the visitors caught Yate on the counter from their own box, culminating in a back post finish for a one nil lead. This visibly shook the young Yate side, and whilst regaining their composure, they failed to clear from a further attack and conceded a penalty, which the opposition despatched for an unlikely two nil lead. Instructions from the dug out were to regroup and stay in the game that had a long time to run. The Boys did that in abundance, as the closing minutes of the half saw them draw level in this pulsating match. First Tyler Wood was on hand to prod home after the keeper had stopped Jacob Batt’s initial effort. The second followed instantaneously as fine approach play saw James Fortune’s pull back despatched into the far corner of the net by Max Davies’s excellent shot from fifteen yards.
The interval arrived to give players and supporters an opportunity to catch their breath. The coaching staff looked to reassure Yate of their ability to secure victory by being more balanced to defend the counter whilst maintaining a forward thinking game to stretch what was sure to become a tiring opposition.
The second period commenced with the hosts unchanged, on the front foot, drawing early saves from Telephones impressive shot stopper. But the opposition always maintained their threat and the very solid Zach Gillies in goal, did well to keep out a free kick and close range effort. This aside Yate really began to get into their stride, with their invention, passing game, and speed particularly through brothers Jacob and Antony Batt, questioning the opposition. Therefore, it was no surprise when Jacob Batt put Yate into the lead for the first time on the night. Will Down, Mr. Consistent in the team, hit an excellent long ball, with the former leaving defenders in his wake as he cut in from the by-line to hit an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net. Tyler Wood made it four shortly after as Yate attacked through Ben Cook, Yigithan Kepil and James Fortune via the right channel, burying the ball into the net from eight yards. Antony Batt was then on hand after Kevin Contreras’s powerful run left defenders trailing, before he found the former who stroked the ball into the net with ease, for a five two lead. Replacements in the form of Dalton Ross, and Nico Baird, pleasingly returning to the fray after a lengthy injury absence, then took to the field. But whilst Yate retained ascendency in the game, Telephones to their credit made occasional inroads into Yate’s defensive third. Zac Gillies looked assured in the home goal under pressure, as several corners rained in, whilst Captain Joe Steward marshalled the back line well. Nico Baird immediately looked controlled in a holding pivot position, whilst Dalton Ross’s unquestionable energy saw the visitors back line pulled in all directions. Moving into the last quarter the final replacement striker Rowan Smith took to the field, with Yate securing a penalty in quick time, as an attacker was upended, leaving Tyler Wood to duly complete his hat trick with a measured strike from the spot. Whilst no further goals were added as the game reached its conclusion, Yate ended in control against a respected opposition that were tired and by now well beaten.
Post match the coaching staff applauded the Boys efforts; a measure of any team being how they respond when 2-0 down in a winnable game. There is still learning and growth to come within the group, but having attained a forty plus point mark in this inaugural season, the Team can now go into the tough final league fixture against Longwell Green with a confident and positive mindset.
Tyler Wood was named M.O.T.M. for his industrious and intelligent forward play, that was capped by a hat trick to boot.
Starting XI: Zach Gillies, Ben Cook, Joe Steward(Capt), Will Down, James Fortune, Kevin Contreras, Yigithan Kepil, Jacob Batt, Antony Batt ,Tyler Wood, Max Davies
Replacements: Rowan Smith, Dalton Ross, Nico Baird