Yate Town in bid to sign Rob Cousins from Paulton Rovers

Yate Town manager Dave Mogg has made an audacious bid to lure Rob Cousins away from Paulton Rovers.

Mogg sees the vastly experienced Cousins, who is approaching 1,000 first-team games, as just the sort of player to bring some much-needed guile and cunning to his midfield.

Cousins is highly thought of by Paulton boss Andrew Jones. He is part of the club's coaching team as well as still being in the first-team squad.

But with Jones having strengthened his squad following the club's history-making FA Cup run, Cousins is no longer a first choice, and Mogg is hoping that the promise of regular football might persuade him to move to south Gloucestershire.

"I have known Rob for a long time, since we played together at Bath City, and he is not only an excellent footballer who has kept himself in tremendous shape but is also a really good lad," said Mogg.

"Unfortunately he has come to that point in his career where he is in and out of the side at Paulton, whereas he could come to Yate and be a regular member of the side.

"Rob knows how badly I want him and I'm trying to convince him to come to Yate."

Mogg confirmed that Cousins would also be offered coaching responsibilities at Lodge Road but his primary duty would be to provide an injection of quality into a team that has been struggling of late.

The side are without a win in the South & West Division since September 26.

"I can't fault the honesty and hard work of the young players in the team but I'm also talking to a few other players as I need to bring in some quality to the side," added Mogg.

Tomorrow, Yate take on Bishop's Cleeve at Lodge Road again without Mark Reynolds, who serves the final game of his suspension.

Paulton Rovers' new strike partnership of Robbie Claridge and Matt Cooper will be looking to continue their good form against basement side Bracknell tomorrow.

Since Cooper joined from Weymouth, either he or Claridge has scored in every game and against opponents with just three points from 14 games, further goals seem likely.

"They are developing a really good understanding," said Jones. "Last season the pressure was on Robbie to get our goals but now we have Coops and also Dave Burborough returning to fitness so we will have three very good strikers."

Jones has done well to ensure that the team's Cup success has not affected their league form. With 20 points from a possible 26 and unbeaten in their last eight games, they have risen to fifth in the table and are hot on the heels on the leaders.

Nick Tucker is also making progress at Clevedon Town after a sticky start in the Premier Division and he will be looking to extend a four-game unbeaten run at home to Halesowen Town tomorrow.

The signing on loan of Newport County defender Gary Colbourne should strengthen his options, though he could face a tough debut against Halesowen's ex-Aston Villa striker Stefan Moore.

"Gary is only 19 but he is a strong defender and very good in the air, which is an area I have been looking to improve," said Tucker.

"He was captain of Wales Under-18 Schools' for two years and he recently played against us in the FA Cup. I'm glad to have him on board."

Mangotsfield United manager Phil Bater knows it will be another season or two before he can put together a promotion-challenging side but three wins from their last five games have lifted the club away from the bottom.

Tuesday's defeat at title contenders AFC Totton was a setback, though, and for tomorrow's match at Gosport Borough, Neil Arndale (groin), Geraint Bater (ankle) and Scott Hendy (ankle) all require fitness tests while Mike Trought (knee) and Jack Allward (shoulder) remain unavailable.

Bater is still waiting to hear whether Bitton's experienced former League forward, Michael Meaker, will accept an offer to join the club.