Match Reports

Yeovil Town head into Saturday’s round of fixtures just inside the play-off positions following a 4-1 win over Solihull Moors.

Ryan Jones, Slavi Spasov and first ever Yeovil goals for Johl Powell secured the points, with Solihull’s goal coming from a freak own goal which will be attributed to Jos Barker.

First half

The opening exchanges were a little scrappy, but the first proper chance came from the usual source – a charging run down the wings.

Ryan Jones whipped a cross in on the right, James Daly slipped as he looked to get on the end of it, some recycling of the ball, saw the ball come back to Daly who’s cross met the head of Slavi Spasov. The ‘keeper wasn’t troubled, and the assistant’s flag was up.

On seven minutes, Solihull had their first real moment, a long ball towards Jacob Wakeling, saw the forward produce an excellent touch, but his delicate lobbed effort did find its way over Jos Barker, but wide of the post.

Jones was feeling good down the Glovers’ right, on nine minutes, his shoulder dipped from 20 yards out, his effort at goal was easy for the visitors goalkeeper, but the intent was exciting.

The game was no more than 12 minutes old when more lovely footwork in the middle of park saw space open up for Archie Davies off the back of a Hayden Muller pass, but the strike flashed wide of the near post.

With 15 minutes gone, the deadlock was broken and it was that man Ryan JONES and you just knew it was going to happen, play broke down in the middle of the park, Jones got the ball on the right of the penalty area, a few touches of the left foot, a dropped shoulder and the far corner rustled. Glorious.

It was nearly 2-0 within seconds of the restart. Jones (again) involved, whipping a ball centrally for Zain Westbrooke, the former Scunthorpe man saw his chance smothered out for a corner.

James Daly was fancying some of the action Jones was getting and on the half hour he had the chance, bursting down the left, he rounded his man but the angle shortened on him, his shot deflected wide.

He nearly got another chance seconds after, a wonderful Brett McGavin pass was nodded back towards the keeper, Daly was onto it in a flash, caught between a cross and shot, Spasov couldn’t convert.

The fifth Yeovil Town corner of the half produced another chance, but again the Glovers couldn’t convert, but the hosts were turning the screw.

The final 10 minutes of the half were certainly more even, both sides trying to force a significant chance, but neither really able to do so. Jacob Wakeling was certainly the main instigator for the visitors, but nothing of significance.

The half ended with a McGavin shot from distance and a few physical challenges. The Glovers frustrated by not being further ahead.

Half-time: Yeovil Town 1 Solihull Moors 0

Second half

Neither side made any changes at the break but there was certainly a change in early momentum, with the visitors coming out with much more energy.

Solihull had a couple of chances to get shots away, but only a Joe Sbarra pea roller on 50 minutes was the only one of note.

The Glovers were struggling to get their passing going, a James Daly cross evaded everyone and frustration was setting in both on the pitch and in the stands.

But, the first time the Glovers did click into gear, the lead was doubled.

A run from Ryan Jones broke to McGavin who found Daly wide left, his whipped cross fell to Slavi Spasov who couldn’t miss from a matter of inches.

It took more than an hour, but the referee had finally remembered he packed his cards – Ryan Woods cautioned for hauling down Archie Davies who was on another mazy run.

Shortly after, Woods was hooked by his manager, clearly fearing another one of the bright yellow things turning red before the game was over.

McGavin was getting kicked and earned a free kick that found its way to back to the midfielder, his left footed 30 yarder was high and wide.

Now the Glovers were getting going again. James Daly found Westbrooke who’s effort from 12 yards was scrambled away. Another Westbrooke effort was blocked – on 68 minutes, a breathtaking 10 minutes for the hosts.

How it wasn’t three, I’ll never know, the chances kept coming, a Davies cross somehow evaded everyone.

Ben Worman went into the book for being the umpteeth player to foul Ryan Jones.

Worman was then replaced – same as above – that was for protection.

There was a lengthy stoppage whilst Nat Ford in the Solihull net took treatment after a coming together in his own penalty area.

That broke the game up slightly and with less than ten minutes of the original 90 left, the Glovers injected a bit of energy with Johl Powell and Charlie Lennon coming on for Ryan Jones and Slavi Spasov.

Those changes gave Solihull chance to re group and Joe Sbarra had a chance to cross and shot which came to nothing more than a corner.

That corner though did come to something – the corner was whipped in under the ‘keepers nose and somehow, it squirmed through and into the goal. a Jos Barker OG.

I can’t type quickly enough by this point – Zain Westbrooke, Charlie Lennon and Johl Powell teamed up down the right, the latter slotting home for his first ever Glovers’ goal.

Hayden Muller took a tactical yellow card, Jordan Norville-Williams had a wonderful run down the left hand side which resulted in a shot on goal and the fourth official decided we needed eight more minutes of this chaos!

Mason Obeng was now on for Westbrooke and he would set up the fourth Glovers goal teaming up with Johl Powell to wrap things up.

The full time whistle went soon after. Breathe!

Full time: Yeovil Town 4 – Solihull Moors 1

Substitutes: Lennon (for Jones ’81), Powell (for Spasov ’81), Obeng (for Westbrooke ’91),
Not Used: Gould, Radcliffe, Nardiello

Solihull Moors: Nat Ford, Cam Green, Jamie Andrews, Jevon Mills, Joe Sbarra, Scott High, Jacob Wakeling, Ben Worman (for Rio Shipston), Ryan Woods (for Matt Carson ’64), Tyrell Warren, Callum McFarlane

Substitutes (not used): Metcalfe, Whitmore, Farquhar, Coffey

Yeovil Town were restricted to just a single point on the road this Tuesday night as a scrambled Michee Efete goal cancelled out Slavi Spasov’s first goal in green and white.

The Glovers played over an hour with 10-men after Loick Ayina saw red in the first half.

First half

The game started in the same theme as just about every other game this season, breathless.

James Daly had been reinstated to the starting line up and was quickly into the fold causing trouble down the left hand side, he forced an early corner which Ryan Jones whipped into a good area. Joe Gubbins unable to double his goal tally for the season.

The Glovers were playing some nice football in the early exchanges and the opening goal was a thing of beauty.

Gubbins, Jones and Zain Westbrooke all worked together to find space in the box and the ball was slid in towards Slavi Spasov who tapped in the easiest goal he will ever score. Yeovil 1-0 up and deservedly so.

The next 15 minutes were physical, both sides giving away silly free kicks and trying to break up each other’s fancy footwork.

Hayden Muller saw yellow for a frustrated tackle, but the big flash point came just short of half an hour in.

Loick Ayina failed to control a clearance and in his haste to try and regain the possession, overstretched his challenge leaving a mark high on the leg of an opponent – malicious? No? Reckless? Probably.

The final 15 minutes of the half was a rejigging process for Yeovil, Muller slotted back into the defence and they had to hold out firm – Jos Barker a commanding presence claiming multiple crosses and clearing his lines.

Half-time: Aldershot Town 0 Yeovil Town 1

Second half

Yeovil Town opted against making any half time changes, and Aldershot came out all guns blazing.

Basil Tuma looked primed for a run through on goal following a break away but Archie Davies found the afterburners pulling off one of the best tackles we’ve ever seen. Not able to get it wrong by a millimetre, he made the challenge and celebrated like he’d scored a goal. We love it, Archie.

Brett McGavin was fouled on 52 minutes, the referee pulling the game back to award the yellow card to Dom Odusanya despite the Glovers being through on goal.

That frustration started to creep in with the official’s decision making with more petty fouls going unpunished. Unless you wore green of course, Zain Westbrooke going in the book.

We had barely played an hour when Tristan Abrahams had a free kick clip the post on the way out, a fierce effort keeping the Glovers on their toes.

Luke McCormick replaced Slavi Spasov then Muller was fouled by Michael Stickland… it was a yellow card that on another day could have been a red.

Yeovil still looked dangerous on the counter attack and Brett McGavin had a glorious chance to double Yeovil’s advantage, the midfielder did everything right with his shot squirming under Jonathan Macauley and creeping towards the line. The keeper scrambled back and clawed it into his grip. Just.

But, no more than 60 seconds later, the ball was in Yeovil’s net.

A deep cross was nodded back and scrambled in, by some way shape or form – Michee Efete certainly made his presence felt over James Daly at the back post and the equaliser was landed.

Conor Lawless was next to go into the book, living up to his name and breaking a law or two by fouling McCormick.

The Skipper was in the mood, he so nearly capitalised on the keeper spilling a Brett McGavin free kick but that came after he had the ball in the net.

James Daly chased down a lost cause, won the ball on the edge of play and squared to McCormick who found the net. After waiting an age, the referee decided that Daly had committed a foul.

Ryan Jones’ evening came to an end on 83 minutes, he had run the Aldershot defence ragged, drawn fouls, had a solid penalty claim turned down and been unfortunate not to be on the winning side against his former employers.

The final few moments saw Yeovil negotiate the final throws of the home dice.

A point a piece, but plenty of what might have been moments.

Full time: Aldershot Town 1 Yeovil Town 1

Substitutes: Luke McCormick (for Spasov ’57), Mason Obeng (for Jones ’84)
Not Used: Gould, Kingdon, Lennon, Powell, Radcliffe

Aldershot Town: Macauley, Efete, Stickland, Dyce, Adom-Malaki, Oshilaja, Odusanya, Borgnis, Lawless, Abrahams, Tuma

Substitutes (not used): Tenconi (for Borgnis ’36), Peart (for Abrahams ’62), Sandah (for Dyce ’64), Wyllie (for Tuma ’84), Alves, Matton, Oladunjoye,