Page 5 - Yate Town v Bristol Manor Farm FA Cup 220920

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PRE-SEASON
Pre-season this year has been very strange with the majority of the games played
behind closed doors. It seems a long time ago that we hosted our favourite neighbours
Chipping Sodbury Town on a blistering hot Saturday afternoon in early August. Running
out narrow winners the weather was the real victor with temperatures in the high
twentys, but the real loss was the absence of the Lodge Road faithful to enjoy the
occasion. A short mid-week trip to Slimbridge followed and a very good performance
saw the team get an early lead and hold out for the win, however Slimbridge grew into
the game and the latter stages of the game were a much more even contest. Forest
Green Rovers were the visitors to Lodge Road on 18 August arriving with a first team
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heavy 22 man squad. The scores were level at half time due to a credible defensive
performance by the Bluebells, however the significant substitutions at half time
eventually told in favour of the visitors who went home with a well deserved victory.
The following Saturday we travelled north to play Premier Division Central Stratford
Town. The intention was to face another NLS step 3 opposition, however in this case it
was against a squad who already had a season under their belt and it showed. Some
lovely football was played by both sides and a tough afternoon ended with the Bluebells
losing, but a much better group for the experience.
The phased return of spectators was announced shortly after the Stratford game and
with a push to get a game in and test our COVID restrictions at the phase one 15%
capacity we were grateful for Cribbs to agree to matches on consecutive nights. In the
second of these games they visited Yate and at last we enjoyed a game of football with
a very respectable 200 supporters joining us on 26 August. The game ran out with the
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Bluebells securing victory but it was the off-field success and supporters in attendance
once again that mattered. A second game in the space of three days allowed the Gaffer
to send rested players down to Clevedon for a Friday evening match. The result didn’t
go our way but all players had completed significant game time and match fitness
improved. The following Wednesday we hosted a Bristol City XI with a squad list that
included many of the BCFC youth players that integrated so well with the squad last
season. It was an exciting and fast paced match, which Yate won both on the field, as
well as in the terraces with over 500 supporters safely hosted in the stadium. The
following Saturday we headed south to Paulton Rovers for what was there first match
with spectators, with the squad starting to settle we were able to put together a strong
performance and manage a comfortable victory sealed with an impressive Jordan
Williams strike. And so to the last of our pre-season games away at Hungerford Town
on the 12 Sep for a match, but behind closed doors due to the hosts elite sports team
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status. For those few officials around the ground the weather was glorious for the time
of year, for those running out in the middle it was hot work and difficult to play on an
extremely hard surface. A penalty and a soft goal sealed it for the hosts, but for Yate
Town the experience was valuable and match fitness………………
IN TOWN TONIGHT
This evening we welcome Lee Lashenko and his Bristol Manor Farm to Lodge Road.
Amongst his squad you will see a few recognisable faces Lewis-Leigh Gilchrist, Lewis
Bamford and of course Mike Bryant with Steve Carter in the dug-out who many will
remember after his long and sterling ten years as our Physio. Read the full details on
page 25 Polly, Judders and all the players the best of luck for the reminder of the
season”