It was the third league defeat of the season for the Dolphins at Tatnam last Saturday. In atrocious conditions neither side were able to play their usual game but Gosport scored the all-important winner to take the points. We remain in third place (P14 W8 D3 L3 27 points) and can take away many positives from the game, including the performance of Scott Rowles the young midfielder who was brought on as a second half substitute.
This Saturday we will make our second visit of the season to Lodge Road to play Yate Town. We played them in the FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round in October. After going a goal down in the 73rd minute Harvey Slade (76) and Antonio Diaz (86) popped up with the two late goals that gave us our passage into the next round.
Yate Town were promoted from Southern League South as champions last season. They won 26 of their 42 matches picking up a total of 88 points. They are currently in 18th place in the table (P15 W3 D5 L7 14 points) and have lost just the one league match at home which was to the current league leaders Walton & Hersham. They play in front of an average attendance of 383.
The Bluebells come into the match on the back of a very credible 2-2 away draw at Weymouth last Saturday. In that match they trailed 2-0 until the 85th minute when substitute Chris Zebroski pulled a goal back for the visitors and then with the last kick of the match which lasted 98 minutes, Lucas Tomlinson earned his team a point. It’s the lack of goals that is mainly responsible for Yate’s lowly position as only Tiverton (12) and Hanwell (15) have scored fewer. With this in mind Darren Mullings has brought in the experienced striker James Ollis from Hungerford Town who made his debut in that match.
The cub is managed by Darren Mullings who signed as a player from Salisbury in the autumn of 2022, he is a former schoolboy under 18 international and England College under 19 international. Following the departure of manager John Rendell in September 2023 Darren took temporary charge of the team being appointed permanently 6 weeks later and winning promotion in his first full season as manager of the club.
Top scorer for the club is Marlon Jackson on 5. He signed for Yate in June 2024 having been at Weston-Super-Mare last season. The 6ft 2 in striker started his career at Bristol City in 2009 and made five appearances for the Robins over the next 3 years whilst being sent on loan to five clubs – Hereford, Aldershot, Northampton, Cheltenham and Telford before being released Bristol City.
A regular between the sticks is Aaron Sainsbury, the 24-year-old stopper who joined the Bluebells in the summer of 2023. Sainsbury is an ex-Bristol City Pro having signed a contract in 2019 after being in the Bristol City Academy since a young age. He is currently still employed by the Championship outfit as a goalkeeping coach which involves him in coaching the Juniors all the way up to helping with the First Team. Aaron currently holds a UEFA B Coaching License. Aaron was the only ever present in the League last season.
Joe Lea and Pat Suraci will be determined to get back to winning ways after the two recent defeats. We have won four matches away from home and can have every confidence that we will get back on track very quickly.
Enjoy the game
Neil Wellington.
