YATE TOWN | STEARN FOCUS

Experienced front-man determined to get the job done

With five games to go and their lead at the top of the Pitching In Southern League Division One South table now cut down to just one point, nothing is going to distract Ross Stearn from the task in hand.

The Yate Town front-man, who joined the club during the summer, recently chalked up his 600 senior appearance from a career that has seen him give sterling service to the likes of Weston super Mare, Bath City, Sutton United, Eastleigh, Chippenham Town and Taunton Town over the past decade.

“Not many players reach 600 games, so I am proud of the achievement,” he said. “But right now my focus is firmly fixed on getting the job done and securing the title here at Yate.

“When the dust settles on the season, sure, it’s something I will look back upon with great pride but for now there is work to be done and with just five games to go we’re down to the nitty-gritty of the season.

“We’ve been at the top of the table for a long time and when that’s the case, everyone is out to beat you and rightly so.

“We’ve earned that tag and now we’ve got to make sure that we get it over the line. Things are still very much in our hands, so it’s down to us to go out there and win these remaining games.

“We’ve had winning runs throughout the season and there’s no reason why we can’t go on another one now.

“It’s fine margins. Whilst we’ve only won one of our last six games, on the flip-side we’ve only lost one of those games too. There have been too many draws and we know that this has to improve, particularly with a number of clubs just below us finding good form.

“We have to be able to find a way to get to where we want to be. We’ve worked hard to rectify the areas that we’ve not done so well at recently and we’re excited and ready for the challenge that lies ahead during the month of April.

“Each game becomes bigger than the last. I’m fortunate to have two title-winning seasons under my belt and I am desperate for a third. I’ll be doing everything I can to ensure that this is the case and we can achieve what we set out to at the very start of the season.”

Stearn and his team-mates head to relegation-threatened Helston Athletic on Saturday before a successive Saturday in Cornwall sees them take on Mousehole. They return to home action on Good Friday with the visit of Cinderford Town before ending the campaign with an away trip to neighbours, Bristol Manor Farm and a home encounter with Didcot Town.

IMAGE: Yate Town FC

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