Playing with the wind and dominating the game from the start, Yatton took an early lead in the second minute when a Colm Reid cross curled into the top corner and set the scene for a brilliant display of teamwork throughout the whole squad.
The chances came thick and fast down both sides of the pitch and through the middle. Reid’s first was quickly followed by a high, dipping shot from captain Mike Luker which just skimmed the cross-bar.

With their tails up, Yatton surged forward and centre back Rob Hunter sent a hard low shot into the Portishead box. The ball ricocheted pin-ball fashion off a clutch of players before falling to Will Taplin who tucked it away for goal number 2.

Gaining in confidence all the time, the third came when a Dan Parsons throw on the left side landed nicely for Mike Luker who skilfully placed it in the top corner with his left foot.
Not long after, Luker tried again. This time his shot was blocked, but only as far as the nimble-footed Colm Reid to claim his second. Four goals up, Jake Takle tried his luck from distance but the ball just skimmed the wrong side of the post.
Portishead were rattled by now and committed a foul mid-way into their own half on the left hand side. Ceri Baker stepped up to deliver into the crowded box, and once more it was the captain, Luker who took the goal.
Further pressure followed when a shot from Taplin cleared the bar, and then a solo run from Reid ended with a finger-stinger which was just too powerful for the Portishead keeper to stop.
The last goal of the half was possibly the finest. Finding himself in an awkward shooting position, Dan Parsons picked up a cross and cleverly used the outside of his right boot to place the ball in the top right corner of the Portishead net.  He quickly got the ball in the net once more, only for the goal to be ruled offside – the first time the Portishead offside trap had been sprung all morning.
Seven goals up at half-time, the frantic pace of the first half was beginning to tell on some of the Yatton players. Still very much in control however, Yatton began to feel a bit more pressure in defence and the skills of Baker, Hunter, Connor Patch and Joseph Murphy were all tested as they bravely battled to keep the ball away from keeper Connor Hance, who so far had a relatively quiet time, making only a few catches.

Fired up by the prospect of facing the current cup-holders and last season’s Division 1 title holders, Nailsea United, Yatton were up for this match right from the first blast of the referee’s whistle.
Frantic was the only description as both sides tore into each other for the first 5 minutes. Unfortunately, Nailsea won the first round when a one-on-one situation with last man Ceri Baker resulted in a goal for the visitors, despite brave battling by Baker.
Buoyed by this initial victory, Nailsea gained confidence and forced John Burnett in the Yatton goal to earn his place and pull off some quality saves, including stopping a sure winner when a Nailsea head connected with a well-taken corner on the left side.
Vocal in goal, John rallied his defenders into action but somehow, the next score was again Nailsea’s.
2-0 down, this was the final insult and Yatton now really began to pick up speed and played with a passion throughout the ranks epitomised by Luke Hollander’s man to man hounding of the Nailsea No 12, who surely thought he had acquired a second shadow. The Yatton pressure grew and was rightly rewarded when some good work down the left flank involving Connor Patch and Mike Luker resulted in the ball landing in a mess of players in the Nailsea box, only for Colm Reid to dig it out and bury it home.
Tails up, Yatton now took more control and it was not long before a great run and cross from Will Taplin landed right on Mike Luker’s forehead, who nodded it goal-wards. The keeper saved but in any event the linesman’s flag dictated it would not have counted.
Half time brought the arrival of Adam Cottam and Jake Takle, on for Joe Murphy and Dan Parsons. The fresh legs boosted Yatton’s urgency, and Nailsea were clearly rattled. Kyran Matthews was fouled just outside the ‘D’.  The resultant free kick was unfortunately wide of the mark and Nailsea now began to fight back more forcing a diving save from John Burnett. 
Tired legs brought another foul from Nailsea and this time Rob Hunter took the free kick from mid-way in the Yatton half. He hoofed the ball long, wide and left, picking out Colm Reid who darted in on goal but the shot went just wide.
It was not long before another cross landed in the Nailsea box – the first bounce beat Jake Takle, but the ball ran through to Will Taplin who blasted it inches over the bar to the relief of the Nailsea keeper.

With previous success in pre-season friendlies at both Backwell Athletic and Congresbury under their belts, Yatton got their first league game off to a disappointing start away at Clevedon, conceding an early goal to a high ball over the top of the defence. Mike Luker and Jake Takle almost levelled when they both rounded on a Colm Reid cross, ending in a heap with the opposition keeper, and the ball safe.

With the wind behind them, Clevedon took a second, but Yatton quickly pinned them back when a blistering run from Colm Reid set up Jake Takle, who smashed his first shot against the post and then scored from the re-bound. Unfortunately, another high ball caught out the Yatton defence and it was 3-1 at half time.

A half-time injury to Joseph Murphy prompted a reshuffle at the back for the second half. Unsettled to start, a mix-up led to an early Clevedon goal, which at last seemed to sting the visitors into action. Yatton then dominated the second half with strong performances throughout the team. They were by far the stronger side now, controlling the possession and setting up a string of chances, but inexplicably, the Clevedon goal remained intact.
A disappointing start maybe, but there were many positives to build on for the coming season and the visit of Portishead United to Rock Road next week. Special mention goes to Yatton keeper John Burnett and centre back Adam Cottam, for their strong, battling efforts throughout.

A beautiful sunny October morning, with perfect pitch conditions for football. Clevedon won the toss, but it was Yatton who took first blood within the first minute when a quick dash down the right hand side by Colm Reid took the Clevedon left-back by surprise. Reid crossed the ball into the box to Jake Takle who had a simple tap-in to open the scoring.
It was only minutes later when again the Clevedon left-back was exposed when a great run by Will Taplin down the right was followed by a thunderous shot into the top corner.
With Clevedon bolstering the left-hand side of their defence, this allowed Connor Patch to now slip slip down the Yatton left and lay off a cool pass to captain Mike Luker who found the bottom corner beyond the outstretched keeper.
3-0 down in 15 minutes, Clevedon were now rattled and the game became harder with both sides increasing their determination in the challenges. Clevedon got a break and charged through but the shot went over the top. Pressure mounted and despite the best efforts of Baker, Hunter, Hollander and Murphy in the Yatton back four, Clevedon pulled one back with only 3-4 minutes to go before half-time
The start of the second half and the game became more feisty. There was intense pressure in the Clevedon goal in the first 5 minutes, but somehow it remained intact.
However, not for long, good work again from Taplin as he lobbed the keeper from long range – the ball was heading goal-wards, but Jake Takle made sure with a headed finish into the open net.
The next Yatton move resulted in Yatton’s Goal of The Season so far. Again it was good work from Taplin on the right who crossed a high ball into the box. This time, Takle jumped clear in the air, way above his defenders, and crashed a perfect centre-forward’s header into the roof of the net, leaving a stunned ‘keeper stranded.
Some niggly tackles now in the midfield resulted in a Clevedon free kick in the Yatton half. They took it well and the ball cleared the Yatton wall to make it 5-2. Gaining confidence, Clevedon now started to take more control and it took several good saves on the ground from ‘Safe Hands Hance’ to keep them out plus a perfectly timed tackle in the box from centre-back Rob Hunter to foil a Clevedon striker who was clean through on goal.
In the dying minutes, Hunter took a direct free kick just inside the Clevedon half, the ball drifted just wide of the post but fell to Mike Luker who kept it in play and buried it for the last goal of the match.
Yatton finished worthy winners at 6-2.
A brilliant all round effort with great teamwork.

After a convincing win for Yatton against Clevedon United Colts last week, this was a rather lacklustre game. 

The main highlight came early on in the 3rd minute when a dash down the left from Mike Luker slipped the ball to Dan Parsons, whose shot on goal was deflected wide by the keeper for a corner. A high ball in from Will Taplin was met by Jake Takle as he rose above Crusaders and headed home a thumping goal.

However, perhaps thinking the job was done, or for whatever other reason, from then on the game deteriorated into a fairly nondescript struggle with neither side able to create much in the way of chances.

The game remained 0-1 to Yatton until well into the second half, when Weston finally came to life more and had a goal ruled out for off-side. This spurred the home side on and it was not long before a very similar move resulted in the equaliser which had been threatened. Soon after that, Weston hit the bar and Yatton were somewhat lucky to retain a point at the end of the day.

On the positive side, the Yatton back four of Murphy, Hunter, Baker and Cottam, had a very good game, largely frustrating the few chances that Weston did have on goal, with key plaudits going jointly to Ceri Baker and John Burnett in goal. 

Half term now approaches and it is hoped that a refreshed squad will be up for the next home tie against Gordano Valley Giants.

The weather was foul with a brisk wind adding to lashing rain, but this did nothing to dampen an exciting match. However, ultimately, it was to be a game of two halves!

From the off, Yatton took control of the first half when a throw-in from Joe Murphy was knocked on by Mike Luker’s knee into the path of top scorer, Jake Takle for his opening goal. Ten minutes later, Gordano were given a chance to come back when centre-half Rob Hunter, conceded a penalty. The resultant shot hit the post, rebounded to the GVG taker, who hit the post once more before the ball was made safe.

Continued pressure from Gordano gave them their equaliser, but Yatton responded – a Taplin corner found Rob Hunter’s head, but the keeper was there to save it. Soon after, a Connor Patch shot rebounded to Takle who tapped in for his second and Yatton were 2:1.

A tactical switch had Patch and Taplin swap sides in mid-field and within minutes, Patch passed the ball through to Takle on the right who made a delightful lob over the keeper to win his hat-trick. The half then drew to a close when after some hard work by Patch in fending off not one, but three Gordano defenders, resulted in him being brought down in the box. Will Taplin took the penalty, but it was too straight and was caught by the Gordano keeper.

After the thrills and dominance of Yatton in the first half, the second half saw them lose their way and allow Gordano back into the game.

A long, high, looping shot was semi-caught by Connor Hance in goal, but the spill fell for a Gordano tap-in to make it 3:2.

Dan Parsons quickly restored the 2 goal margin when he broke away from his marker and scored in the bottom corner.

At 4:2 up, Yatton should have held on for the win, but playing with the wind behind them, Gordano were allowed back into the game and 4 more goals followed, 2 from corners and one which was arguably offside.

Definitely a game of two halves – after dominating the first half, Yatton relaxed too soon.