Southern Greater strength in depth starting to pay off for Yate, says Tovey

PAUL Tovey believes enhanced strength from the bench can stand Yate Town in good stead as they prepare for another challenging afternoon at home against Poole Town’s high-flyers tomorrow.

- Simon PARKINSON

While positioned uncomfortably on the brink of the endangered bottom-four places, Darren Mullings’ Bluebells have raised spirits and hopes among themselves and their “fantastic supporters” with a fighting four points from a 3-2 victory at Tiverton Town followed by Saturday's equally tenacious 2-2 away draw with Weymouth in front of almost 900 spectators.

Next up are a considerable threat Yate know much about in the shape of a Poole outfit perched third in the Premier South standings and with a victory already under their belt over the Bluebells this season, courtesy of last month’s 2-1 FA Trophy success at the same South West Interiors Stadium venue.

Their South Gloucestershire hosts once more have had to dig deep for those prized four points garnered from their last two outings thanks to Corey Evans’ stoppage-time clincher at Tiverton and substitute Lucas Tomlinson’s match-saving strike, again into the added minutes, in the Weymouth stalemate.

Yate trailed 2-0 in that one, prompting assistant manager Tovey to remark: “Although it was only a point taken, the fact we got it from a late comeback definitely made it feel more like a victory.

“Placing it alongside the come-from-behind win against Tiverton, it gave us four points against teams in and around us which can only prove invaluable come the end of the season”

Tovey reflected: “Despite playing well for long periods at Weymouth, we conceded two preventable goals. But with nothing to lose we rolled the dice and all the substitutes made a massive impact.

“One of those, Lloyd James, got on the ball and got us passing; Rex Mannings looked back to his best causing havoc down the left, and Chris Zebroski and Lucas Tomlinson both scored.

“We must have had well over 100 fans come to support us, and Lucas’ last-minute header sent them home happy.