Calor League South & West

Yate Town 3 Bridgwater Town 1

BRIDGWATER Town slumped to defeat at Yate on Saturday and are set to be without Tom Knighton for three games after the striker was red carded following a late incident, writes Eddie Robinson.

Skipper Robertson was not risked from the start following injury and central defender Rudge began in midfield.

Bridgwater were on top in the opening stages with Allward and Tooze prominent down their left, but Bushin and Knighton were crowded out in the middle by Yate’s defence.

After this early flourish from Bridgwater the game became a midfield stalemate.

In one ten-minute period Bridgwater picked up three cautions, and it seemed that every Bridgwater tackle earned a yellow card.

During this time Yate took the lead, Thomas failing to control the ball and gifting possession to Rodgers, who scored from close range.

This, after 27 minutes, was the game’s first effort on target, but on 36 minutes Rodgers forced John into a full-length save as Yate came more into the game.

After a long period when Bridgwater had failed to exert pressure, Tooze and Knighton were crowded out following an attack down the middle, and the half ended without Bridgwater having called Yate keeper Horsell into action.

Bridgwater had a shout for a penalty when Knighton was brought down when running in to Bushin’s through ball.

At last Bridgwater were retaining possession, making passes to colleagues and giving the front men a sight of goal.

On 75 minutes Yate were awarded a penalty when Allen was deemed to have impeded Rodgers sub Lewis confidently put away the spot kick.

With ten minutes to go Bridgwater pulled a goal back – Tooze found Knighton whose shot hit the post before the rebound was turned into his own net by a Yate defender.

Hopes that Bridgwater could bring about an unlikely turnaround were dashed when Yate winger Harmer curled a clever shot beyond John.

The game ended on a sour note when an ugly confrontation between Knighton and Yate’s Warren resulted in both players being sent-off.

Bridgwater Town: John, Grimshaw, (Burn 65), Allen, Thomas, Allward, Rudge (Robertson 65), O’Hare (Welling 76), Chamberlain, Tooze, Knighton, Bushin.