Thompson calls on FA Cup fans to keep supporting Yate
YATE Town director of football Richard Thompson is urging the club’s FA Cup attendees to continue turning out in their numbers now they have exited the competition.
The Bluebells, whose stirring run in the famous national tournament climaxed at the first-round stage via a 5-0 defeat to visiting Yeovil Town last Saturday, return to a Southern League Premier South campaign shaping up nicely, too.
Yate will overhaul travelling opposition Taunton Town, perched on the cusp of the elite top five only two points ahead of Paul Michael’s own high-fliers, should three home points be pocketed tomorrow.
Thompson said: “We have to be so careful now, after all the excitement of the FA Cup and league programme so far, that we don’t allow everything to fall flat.
“I’m genuinely concerned tomorrow that we’ll go back to our usual 250 supporters, with a sizeable portion of that Taunton fans.
“We need all those local people who loved every minute of this FA Cup journey with us, culminating in last weekend’s huge occasion, to keep coming back and getting behind what we’re striving for.
“I’ve seen it so many times when clubs like ours have had their moments in the sun; as soon as it goes down, everything goes quiet again. We can’t allow that to happen to us when we’ve got so much to play for.
“The more regulars we get through the gate, the more revenue is generated, creating more opportunities for us to go up against better sides. If even 100 of the 1,500 who turned out to support us in the FA Cup on Saturday could be retained on a more consistent basis, I’d be happy.”
The club’s experienced former player and manager noted: “Yeovil approached the tie so professionally. I know they had representatives watching us beat Salisbury 5-2 here five days before the game, and they’d clearly done their homework on us; there wasn’t a hint of complacency on their part.
“Our players and manager were so disappointed afterwards as they felt they’d let people down; but they certainly hadn’t done. I’m massively proud of what they’ve done this season and we need to build on this, with the help of the town.”
Thompson and his colleagues would have felt pride too at the way the Bluebells despatched of Cheltenham Town’s aspiring young guns 6-0 in Tuesday night’s GFA Senior Challenge Cup first-round romp at Lodge Road. James Harding fired four of the goals after the break, a Ricardo Rees opener and own goal completing the scoring.
Bristol Manor Farm may have played more games than all their rivals jostling for automatic promotion and play-off spots in the second tier. Nonetheless, Lee Lashenko’s team are up there in contention and looking for three points from tomorrow’s away-day with fellow high-fliers Winchester City in Hampshire on the back of last weekend’s 3-0 home defeat to unbeaten pacesetters Frome Town.
Aboard now is former Bristol Rovers and Torquay United attacking midfielder Jake Gosling, a 28-yearold Gibraltar international who has made the switch to The Creek from Northern Premier League outfit Sporting Khalsa.
“I’m delighted he’s signed and I can’t wait to work with him as he’s a class act,” said Lashenko.
Paulton Rovers manager John Rendell expressed encouragement at the way his own high-riding team are adapting to the challenges of unpredictable playing conditions and burly opposition.
Rovers approach tomorrow’s away confrontation with fourthplaced Cirencester Town in Division One South heartened by their 4-2 weekend win at Mangotsfield United courtesy of Leighton Thomas’ four-timer, followed by Wednesday night’s six-goal League Cup thrashing of Wimborne Town.
Saturday’s success came hard on the heels of Paulton’s 5-1 home mauling by Larkhall Athletic at the third qualifying juncture of the FA Trophy, prompting Rendell to accept: “It was massively disappointing, the manner in which we lost. We were three down inside the first 15 minutes against a very experienced and direct Larks side. There was the chance to progress in the competition and we didn’t take it.
“This younger, more inexperienced, squad we have now means there will be inconsistencies; but overall we’re pleased. It was important we bounced back against Mangotsfield and the lads did just that.”
As for Mangotsfield, they now face two huge home games in the space of four days against fellow lower-ranked opposition in the bid to relieve the pressure locked in the Division One South basement, with Bideford the visitors to Cossham Street tomorrow and Evesham United following suit on Tuesday night (7.45pm).
Ray Johnston’s men can head into the weekend feeling a whole lot better about life too after defeating Manor Farm 4-0 on their Tuesday night travels to book a place in the semi-finals of the GFA Senior Challenge Cup.