Southern Yate's Mullings wary of strugglers' threat

YATE Town manager Darren Mullings is urging his uplifted team to be on guard as they hit the road for back-to-back duels with two early Premier South strugglers.

- Simon PARKINSON

Buoyed by a first victory of their own testing start to the campaign courtesy of a 2-1 home defeat of Tiverton Town on Tuesday night last week, the Bluebells were without a game last weekend offering additional time for their medical staff to get injury-hit ranks in better shape for tomorrow’s return in Dorset.

There, Mullings’ men take on a Dorchester Town team propping up the rest without a win to their name yet with three points on the board courtesy of draws with Plymouth Parkway (3-3 away), Walton & Hersham (3-3 home) and, on the opening afternoon, Uxbridge (0-0 away).

On Saturday, Dorchester cut short Division One South hosts Brixham’s FA Cup journey with a 3-1 second-round qualifying success in the Devon club’s own backyard.

This Tuesday, 7.45pm, Yate are in Hampshire for a date with a Basingstoke Town team with a similar record so far to that of their South Gloucestershire guests of six points pocketed and a solitary victory to their name.

Mullings said: “Neither Dorchester or Basingstoke have had the best of starts, much like ourselves, while Dorchester would have approached the season as early playoff contenders after reaching them last season before losing out to AFC Totton in the semis.