Yate Town 2 Clevedon Town 1: Yate Town gave themselves a chance of avoiding relegation with a battling performance to take three points from relegation rivals Clevedon Town.

Both clubs now need to win their final three games to have a chance of avoiding the drop from the Southern League Premier Division.

Clevedon started strongly and Pete Sheppard was denied a goal in the fourth minute by a sprawling save from Yate goalkeeper Lee Matthews, who turned his close-range shot behind for a corner.

Then, in a 10-minute spell, Matthews saved Yate on three occasions.

He denied Sheppard again at the expense of a corner and then did well to save a 20-yard drive from Kyle Bassett and deny the dangerous Jamal Easter, who was a constant threat to the home defence.

Yate took the lead against the run of play in the 36th minute after forcing a corner.

The ball was crossed to the near post, where striker Dean Griffiths got in front of a defender and beat keeper Mike Green with a header back across goal into the far corner of the net.

Minutes later, Griffiths broke clear of the Clevedon defence but unfortunately lost control of the ball and the chance went begging.

Matthews came to Yate's rescue again on the stroke of half-time with a close-range save from Sheppard – and the goalkeeper was in action again early in the second half when he turned away a shot from Matt Walsh.

Yate wasted a chance to extend their lead when Jake Reid went clear but decided to have a shot, which was blocked, instead of passing to the unmarked Joe White.

Clevedon levelled in the 62nd minute when a cross from the left was deflected to the unmarked Tom Billing, who gave Matthews no chance with a close-range header. Shortly afterwards, Billing had a shot blocked by a Yate defender.

Green was forced off with a groin injury after 67 minutes and replaced by Danny Greaves.

A Sheppard free-kick from just outside the penalty area was bundled into the net after 74 minutes but Yate were left relieved as the effort was disallowed.

Ten minutes later, the home side were back in front. Skipper Scott Brice took a free-kick which found Sam Duggan on the right.

He crossed into the goalmouth and the ball was turned in by youth-team player Charlie Lacey.

Clevedon threw players forward in a desperate attempt to score an equaliser but the Yate defence held firm.