THE BLUEBELLS ARE PICKED OFF

TWO first-half goals were enough to give Football League side Forest Green Rovers the win against Yate Town in an entertaining contest played in sweltering conditions.

- John Davis

Rovers opened brightly, winning plenty of possession, although it was Yate who fashioned the first real chance of the game when Olly Mehew was played in down the left before lofting his effort just over the crossbar.

With Ben Stevenson prominent in midfield, it was the visitors who opened the scoring after 19 minutes following some slack defending by the home side.

It looked as if the danger had been averted when Yate goalkeeper Andy Hannah cleaned up after a clumsy back-pass but Opi Edwards was quickly onto the ball and with the home defence flat-footed he slid his pass through to Matt Stevens who fired home.