Southern Tovey feeling positive about Yate’s Premier South prospects

PAUL Tovey believes there is every reason to “stay positive” as Southern League Premier South newbies Yate Town seek a pickup Bank Holiday Weekend points bonanza.

- Simon PARKINSON

Conscious as he is that the Bluebells’ opening week at the higher level has been “far from ideal,’ ever-optimistic assistant manager Tovey is confident moments of encouragement in each of their three winless games can soon be transferred into hard points, starting, he hopes, with tomorrow's home clash with Chertsey Town.

The Surrey-based club avoided relegation from the top flight by a whisker last season; and having joyously beaten Tiverton Town 2-0 on their travels for 2025-26 starters, they've gone on to suffer back-to-back 1-0 home defeats at the hands of Berkhamsted and Farnham Town over the past few days.

The turnaround will be swift, as Darren Mullings’ men are then in Berkshire on Monday (3pm) to play a Hungerford Town team with two defeats already behind them before overcoming Tiverton 2-1 last weekend in their third appearance for a first win.

There are reasons too, Tovey insists, for Yate’s inability thus far to turn promise into more points than the one pocketed from the opening home draw with Sholing, as he emphasised: “The early signs are that even with a makeshift team we can compete well, and that when we start to get our injured players back we will be okay.

“At the moment we are missing James Taylor, Dan Ball, Lewis Hall, Rex Mannings, Dayle Grubb, Marlon Jackson, Dave Sims-Burgess and Will Larvin. I don’t care what anyone says, as any team missing a bunch of that many core players like would struggle.

“On the flip side the young boys we have loaned to us by Bristol Rovers - Charlie White (left-back), Charlie Moody (central-midfielder) and Will Turner (attacker) - have all been great and shown that they can play at the level. Also, the return from long-term injury of Aaron Sainsbury has been a bonus, and he will only get better with more game-time and show everyone that he is the best ‘keeper around”