Premier Division
Didcot Town 0 Yate Town 0
Saturday, 05 October 2002
Didcot ended Yate?s 100% winning start to the League campaign with a stubborn performance at the Loop Meadow Stadium on Saturday. In front of Town?s biggest crowd of the season, 175, it was a game of few clear-cut scoring chances as both sides tended to cancel each other out with organized defensive play.
The home side started brightly and set the early pace. In the 5th minute Dave Beaven was unlucky to see his low effort deflected off a Yate defender for a corner. From another corner kick minutes later Didcot?s Paul Noble shot over the bar as the Yate defence failed to clear the ball. In the 10th minute Chris Nelson had a firm drive bravely blocked by the impressive Lee Barlass as Didcot swept forward. The visitor?s first shot of the game came on the quarter hour. Tony Bennett burst clear and struck a fine shot with the outside of his foot which ended only inches wide of the far post. The home side had an excellent spell midway through the half as Yate struggled to get possession of the ball. Darren Hobbs was lucky to nod the ball over his own crossbar after Andy Cooper?s long throw-in caused panic in the box. Midfielder Darren McNamara then saw his shot from the edge of the area blocked after a well-worked corner and from their next attack Didcot should have opened the scoring. A good run on the left by Glyn Jones ended with a perfect cross into the middle but Ian Concannon headed over the bar from only 3 yards out. Yate ended the half on top but despite forcing a series of corners keeper Jeff Simmonds was rarely threatened in the Didcot goal.
Half Time: 0 ? 0
Didcot again started well after the break and Beaven shot wide after being put clear by Concannon in the 48th minute. The visitors posed more of a threat in the second half and should have taken the lead on the hour. Simmonds made a brave save at the feet of Bennett only for the ball to fall to strike partner Paul Metheringham. With the goal at his mercy Metheringham lofted the ball harmlessly over. Damien Oglesby thought he had scored for Didcot in the 74th minute when his cross-cum-shot drifted inches wide of the post with Yate keeper Tony Court beaten. Two minutes later at the other end Yate were only denied by a stunning save from Simmonds. Assistant manager Stuart Minall worked himself space on the left and Metheringham met his low cross with a firm shot only 5 yards out. Somehow Simmonds flung himself to his right to turn the ball wide as Metheringham turned to celebrate.
With no further chances in the game both sides left the pitch satisfied with a share of the points.
Didcot: Simmonds; Beaven (Morrisey 84); Jones; Cooper; Nelson; Noble; Hoey (Edney 87); McNamara; Concannon; Oglesby: Heapy
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