EDD VAHID was the unlikely hero as Yate kept their chances of survival alive with a crucial victory over Bashley this afternoon.

The defender, thrusted into midfield due to injuries, smashed home the winner after 70 minutes when Scott Brice’s header from Sam Duggan’s corner came back off the bar.

It looked like being a frustrating afternoon for Dave Mogg’s men especially when Aaron Blakemore had a penalty saved three minutes before half time.

Anything less than three points would have been disastrous for Yate as other results went against them today, and they go into Tuesday’s six pointer against 18th placed Hitchin five points adrift of their opponents who lie just outside the relegation zone.

Yate look like being without Jason Wood and Blakemore for that trip as both limped out of the action today.

Bashley had a great chance to take the lead after eight minutes when Yate skipper Scott Brice was twice dispossessed and striker Ryan Moss fired over from just inside the box.

Yate striker Dean Griffiths was thwarted by a great one handed save by Bashley goalkeeper David Elm after Sam Duggan’s lovely through ball passed.

Both sides struggled to take the initiative but Yate were given a great opportunity to go in front when Griffiths showed his pace to reach Duggan’s ball over the top and was brought down by Elm in the box. The goalkeeper, who appeared to be the last man, was lucky to escape with just a caution and he then went the right way to save Blakemore’s firmly struck penalty. From the rebound Blakemore hooked the ball to the back post but Duggan’s overhead kick went wide.

With Yate pushing for the win, the game opened up in the second half. Within the first ten minutes Griffiths ran into the box and blazed over, Aaron Blakemore had a great chance to open the scoring but lobbed over from 20 yards after Griffiths’ great through ball, and Brice’s stretching header went wide from Duggan’s free kick.

Then at the other end Moss headed wide from four yards after Knight drilled in a cross from the left and nine minutes later the dangerous Gillespie volleyed over from ten yards.

Elm made a great reaction save to keep out Neil Ward’s header from another Duggan free kick but Vahid gave Yate the lead from the resultant corner.

It was back against the walls stuff for Yate towards the end and Bashley couldn’t have come much closer to an equaliser with four minutes left when Gillespie crossed for Moss, whose stretching volley thudded against the crossbar.

Yate Town: Matthews, Metitiri, Robbins, Ward, Brice ©, Duggan, Blakemore (Reid, 60), Vahid, White, Griffiths, Wood (Whittington, 12). Subs not used: Yeo, Lakey, Simmons.

Bashley: Elm, Gazzard ©, Ferrett, Middleton, Parnell, Knowles, (Kelly, 38), Castle (Finlay, 86), Allen, Moss, Gillespie, Knight. Subs not used: Hollick, McCarthy, Keeler.

Ref: Mr J Busby.

Attendance: 147 Gazette star man: Sam Duggan