Bluebells Away Day

Pre season Friendly . Monday, July 29

Yate Town v Tiverton Town

Lodge Road . 7.45pm

WE enter the last week of pre-season games, with the start of the league campaign away at Merthyr on August 10 not too far away in the distance.

Fine tuning is probably the theme of our next two games as Leigh Robinson's line-ups start to bear a resemblance to the one that will travel to Wales in 12 days time.

On Saturday, we conclude our preparations when Torquay United will be the visitors to Ladysmead, while this Monday sees our last road trip of pre-season when the Yellows travel to Gloucestershire to take on Southern League Division One South side Yate Town.

Tiverton will be hoping to welcome back some absentees from last Friday night’s game against Truro as the tweaking begins. Players will be looking to impress and cement their places in that starting line up at Merthyr.

Hopefuls at Yate may include Under-18 defender Sam Gleeson, whose impressive displays in the build-up to the new campaign have seen him offered a place in the senior squad.

The Yellows’ reshaped defensive line means that previous occupants have moved on this summer, among them Jack Veale.

The former Exeter City Academy player and ex-Willand man was an integral part of the team last season until injury meant that he missed the final two months of the season.

He contributed strongly to the Yellows' successful bid for survival and we thank the versatile defender for his efforts in the cause.

Both Leighton Thomas and new signing Kyle Anderson have played for our hosts, who look strong, with their recruitment being distinctly of a National League South flavour.

The close-season arrivals from Taunton of Lloyd James and Ross Stearn, as well as Weston-super-Mare’s Marlon Jackson, will make Yate serious contenders for promotion. Joe Guest was also a capture from Taunton last season.

So, on paper, Tivvy will face a tough examination from the Gloucester side. With former EFL player and Salisbury favourite Darren Mullings as manager, too, we will expect a challenging evening.

This promises to be a hotly contested affair for Leigh Robinson’s men and, if he and Ben Gerring are still uncertain of their starting line-up for the season’s opener, individual displays within the team will give them plenty of consideration and influence their thoughts.