Southern Tovey looking for Yate improvement after early struggles

YATE Town No 2 Paul Tovey admits the Bluebells need to “improve fast” as they turn to home comforts tomorrow in search of much-needed joy.

- Simon PARKINSON

Yate assistant manager Paul Tovey, during his time with Paulton Rovers

With neither side in FA Cup action now, Yate host Plymouth Parkway with both teams parading a solitary win and only six points each.

Yate, still undefeated at home, had travelled to fellow early strug-glers Dorchester Town on Saturday with hopes high of achieving a precious first away victory.

Instead, their Dorset hosts, in celebrating an overdue maiden victory of their own, ended up condemning Yate to a fourth defeat from four on their travels, not helped by a below-par second half showing and a highly contentious Dorchester penalty award in first-half stoppage-time leading to their opener.

Darren Mullings’ men followed that up with Tuesday night's 4-2 away defeat at Basingstoke Town, another team firmly rooted to the lower reaches of the table.

Assistant manager Tovey remarked: “After a disappointing day in Dorchester a quick turnaround gave us the chance to redeem ourselves. Unfortunately, that plan didn’t quite come together, although the 4-2 defeat didn’t quite tell the full story.

“After an even first 25 minutes we fell behind when their talisman Brad Wilson, a threat we had highlighted before the game, cut in from the left and curled an effort into the far post from 25 yards out.

“Shortly after that our goalkeeper (Aaron Sainsbury) was caught in possession trying to play out from the back, allowing the same man to put the ball into an empty net.

“Just before halftime, we had a nice passage of play which resulted in an own goal from Lucas Tomlin-son’s cross on the right, and at 2-1 we were back in the game.

“Despite that, the second half, for us, was another ‘car crash’