BLUEBELLS REACH THE SUMMIT

YATE TOWN are flying high at the top of Divison One South after a 4-1 victory over Fleet Town that perhaps wasn’t as comfortable as the scoreline suggested.

The leaders were made to work hard against a plucky Fleet side still looking for their first win of the season.

It was the visitors who looked dangerous in the opening stages with Meshach Williams, Riccardo Andrady and Abdul Rajab all having good chances to score without breaking the deadlock.

But Yate went in front when Elliott Keightley headed in at the far post from an Adam Price free kick. They added a second before the break when Jack Twyman curled a delightful shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Fleet got back into the game at the start of the second half with Williams firing in as the home defence had frozen, with the game back in the balance at 2-1.

Their hope was short lived though as Yate reestablished their two-goal advantage after 57 minutes when a lucky ricochet allowed Price a free run on goal which culminated in Yate’s third of the afternoon.

Twyman was shown a red card shortly after having pulled back Williams but the home side did not let that affect them as moments later Dave Sims-Burgess scored his sixth of the season, stroking home from the penalty spot after he was brought down in the box.

Elsewhere, Bideford and Melksham Town drew 1-1 to maintain the latter’s unbeaten start to the league season.

Although the visitors boasted possession early on, the first attempts of the afternoon went Bideford’s way when Billy Tucker and Neil Heeney both missed chances to break the deadlock.

Melksham continued to take the game to Bideford, as Rob Hobbs, Andy Sandell and John Davies all forced Steve Oliver into saves.

Bideford had a big chance on the stroke of half time when the everindustrious Billy Tucker unleashed an excellent shot, which was magnificently saved by Melksham keeper Darren Behcet as the game remained goalless heading into the break.

The second half saw Bideford dominate possession but it was Melksham took the lead on 50 minutes, when John Davies struck from the edge of the area with a fine strike.

Bideford’s equaliser came with around ten minutes of time remaining when Tucker regained possession outside the Melksham area and sent a magnificent curling shot into the far top corner of the net.

In the division’s other game this weekend, poor defending handed AFC

Totton the points as they won 4-1 away at Paulton

Rovers, despite going behind early on in the contest.

Rovers started brightly and opened the scoring on 14 minutes when Dale Evans crossed for Joe Hillard to head home.

Totton managed to level on 21 minutes as Tom Beamwish crossed for Eddie Perrett to head home.

The visitors went ahead for the first time on 36 minutes as Stuart Green broke on the right and Beamwish was on hand to slot home.

The Stags started the second half brightly, forcing saves by Brown, who then saved a penalty when diving to push out Justin Bennett's poor spot kick in what could have been a defining moment.

Ryan Gay worked hard leading the Rovers line whilst Sam Hedges also had chances, but the visitors made it 3-1 on 77 minutes as substitute Craig Feeney lobbed Green with a wonderful finish from 25 yards out.

Paulton’s indiscipline at the back continued to haunt them as the game headed into the closing stages, and this gave Feeney the chance to capitalise as he ran on to a through ball from Tobi Adekunle to make it 4-1 which is how it stayed come the final whistle.