Yate 3rds tackled the 4ths this week in a closely fought game. After a less than convincing performance last week against Robinsons the 3rds needed to win in order to keep moving towards winning the league.

Down in numbers on their usual team the 3rds happily pinched Matt Bethell off the 4ths, who had a contingent of 15 with an influx of youngsters.

There was a good crowd watching the game, (mainly cheering the 4ths), probably the best crowd for any game this season.

The match started and it was the 4ths invigorated by their supporters and some very promising youngsters who took the initiative, putting pressure on the 3rds (playing in White).  The 3rds seemed to be missing some of their usual spark, and seemed slow to react or commit to 50/50 balls. The youngsters (and not so youngsters) capitalised on this well, and about 10 minutes into the match a short was awarded to the 4ths.

Pushed by Jon Scales, stopped by Chris Gillette and struck by Kim Fitzgerald the ball snuck into the bottom left hand corner of the goal, despite Martin Emery’s best efforts to stop it on the line. 1-0 to the 4ths.

This should have prompted to 3rds to action, but they still remained slightly in their stupor, not being able to shake themselves into the gear they needed to be in to take control, and so were looking very ordinary for a team who had only conceded 10 goals all season and scored more than 70!

Things began to change when Mark ‘Pob’ Pennicott came off the bench into centre midfield and linked up well with captain Adrian ‘Aj’ Kitchen from a sideline, moving into space to receive the ball, making a pass into the D, where the ball rebounded off the post to 4^th team keeper Bill Flemming’s shock, straight into the path of Ian ‘Crabbie’ Crabbe, who slotted the rebound home. 1-1.  Fortunate you might say, but this provided the catalyst to push the 3rds forward.

The 2^nd goal for the 3^rds  came a few minutes later where Pob made a pass through to Aj, who immediately played the ball into the path of Pob’s run. He slipped the ball past the approaching keeper to Crabbie, who from a tight angle on the baseline, but with the keeper out of the way flicked the ball home. This was much more like the play that had elevated the 3rds to the top of the league.

The half ended at 2-1, with the 4^ths having given a far better account of what they were capable of.  The 3^rds needed to improve on their basics and commitment.

In the second half the 3^rds stepped up their game a little, creating more flowing play, with good working in the midfield from Tom Johnston, Rene Wickes, and great commitment form Pete Lamb.  Despite this the 4^ths still looked threatening, and played well throughout, with particular comment on the youngsters who had fantastic skills, interplay and fitness.  It was however another classic 3^rds move that put the ball through to 3^rds debutant Matt Bethell, who took the ball to his favoured backhand side, sending a screaming reverse shot inches past Bill’s facemask into the back of the net. 3-1 Yate 3^rds.  A 4^th was added by Crabbie to complete his hat-trick and complete the scoring at 4-1.

The 4^ths did have a goal disallowed for dangerous play when Jon Scales hit a volley on the rebound into the net from a yard out.  Although on another day this would have been allowed, justice was done, as the short which this resulted from was never a foul in the first place.

The 3rds defence of James Lewis in goal, Nick Hare, Ian Redfearn, Martin Emery and Rob Hazelwood again did great work clearing the lines and keeping the opposition scoring to a minimum.

The 3rds have plenty to work on and will need to improve as they face 2^nd placed team UWE next week, the only team that can rob the 3^rds of winning the league.

The 4ths should be very proud and accounted well for themselves to the man, with many promising youngsters who will strengthen the team for years to come.