Southern Mullings hoping 'fantastic' fans can help Yate seal title triumph

YATE Town are urging fans and friends to turn out in force one final time in the bid to drive them over the title and automatic promotion line.

- Simon PARKINSON

They require just one point from the home date with Didcot Town tomorrow to achieve their goal of a swift return to Southern League Premier South football just two years after taking a tumble from the non-League step 3 competition.

It's been quite the journey for Yate, who saw a one-time healthy 12-point lead at the turn of the year eaten up by an unremitting Evesham United outfit eventually wresting top spot away from them - until the Easter weekend swung a compelling scrap for pole position back the way of the Bluebells.

Friday and Monday 4-2 and 3-0 victories for Darren Mullings' team over Cinderford Town and Bristol Manor Farm, respectively, and a dramatic late 1-0 defeat at Bishop's Cleeve for Evesham, who had been on the surge of a 10-match stretch without loss, suddenly turned the tide in the ambitious South Gloucestershire club's favour.

The upshot: Yate hold a three-point lead at the Division One South summit heading into the Didcot duel along with a two-goal advantage over an Evesham side who have to beat 14th-placed guests Bashley tomorrow to stand a chance of swiping the leadership from Mullings' men at the very last.

The Yate boss emphasised: "In recent weeks we've been on the wrong end of things when it's come to us dropping points, sometimes late into games, while Evesham have kept rolling on relentlessly.

"It's made life difficult for us and we've had to keep pushing through, working hard.