Match Reports

Yeovil Town’s first season back in the National League Premier Division ended in defeat at FA Trophy finalists Aldershot Town.

The Glovers spurned three gilt-edged chances to open the scoring with winger Lewys Twamley and loan striker Ciaran McGuckin guilty of missing great openings before a breakaway from hosts’ striker Jack Barham saw him fire home the opener after 39 minutes.

Tyler Frost doubled the advantage four minutes in to the second half before Dom Bernard pulled one back on the hour mark. Yeovil made a number of changes with Aaron Jarvis, Brett McGavin and Michael Smith all appearing off the bench. The cavalry spurred a strong response, but the visitors could not find an equaliser.

The result means we finish 18th in the division, four points off the division’s relegation places and 12 points off the play-off spots.

First half

Ahead of kick-off Yeovil manager Mark Cooper slammed the state of the pitch at The Recreation Ground which he said would embarrass a Sunday League team. From the kick-off the long grass was obvious with both team seeming likely to not play much on the deck.

It took until the 17th minute for Yeovil to fashion an opening, but then they created three clear-cut opportunities to open the scoring in the space of as many minutes.

The first fell to Lewys Twamley, making his first start since joining in January. The winger exchanged passes with Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and had only keeper Marcus Dewhurst to beat, but he pulled his shot wide.

Seconds later, Ciaran McGuckin was played in by Harry Kite inside the box, but he pulled his effort wide. Then, moments after that, McGuckin broke clear, lifted the ball past the stranded Dewhurst, but fired in to the side netting.

Aldershot’s defence is all over the place and on 22 minutes Yeovil captain Jake Wannell seemed to be infected by the same problem.
He dallied on the ball on the edge of the box and was caught by hosts’ striker Jack Barham who poked it towards goal and Aidan Stone had to scramble back to claw it around the post for a corner. How is this game goalless?

On 35 minutes, Shots’ midfielder Cameron Hargreaves, son of ex-Yeovil manager, Chris, had to be replaced after a coming together with Charlie Cooper, son of current Glovers’ boss, Mark. He was replaced by Dejen Tetek.

Four minutes later Aldershot took the lead. A long clearance forward from Theo Widdrington, son of Aldershot manager, Tommy, found Jack BARHAM out on the left wing, he out-muscled Morgan Williams and fired past Aidan Stone, who should have done better as well. Wasteful finishing and poor defending, a goal that sums up why we are finishing where we are this season.

As four minutes of first half injury time were announced, Aldershot threatened again. Frost fed substitute Tetek in on the left side of the Yeovil area and he fired the ball in to a dangerous area where Wannell was on hand to clear off the line. Moments later Frost sliced through the Yeovil defence and poked the ball in to James Henry who could not turn it in.

The first half ended with the home side ahead, but how they are will only be known by the Yeovil forward line.

Half time: Aldershot Town 1 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

With just four minutes of the second half played, the home side doubled their advantage. Tetek broke forward unchallenged by a Yeovil played, fed it in to James Henry inside the box, he pushed it out to Tyler FROST and his effort across the face of goal looked like it took a touch off a Yeovil defender on its way in to the net.

The chances they missed when the game was goalless will be a talking point at the end of this game, but the defending for both goals has been appalling. We’re on the beach – a very grassy beach.

Five minutes later, Aldershot’s mercurial forward Barrett put a free kick over the bar, and then on the hour mark it was Aldershot’s turn to defend poorly as Yeovil pulled a goal back. It was Frankie Terry’s ball in from the left and Dom BERNARD arrived at the far post to head home.

Manager Mark Cooper responded by making three changes with Finn Cousin-Dawson, Aaron Jarvis and Kyrell Wilson coming on to replace Twamley, Kite and Terry. Aldershot, who have an FA Trophy final on Sunday to think about, made their changes in stages.

Barrett clipped an effort just wide on 70 minutes before Yeovil lost McGuckin who had been holding his hamstring. He was replaced by Brett McGavin, returning from an injury which it seemed had put him out for the season.

On 76 minutes, Cousin-Dawson strode forward in midfield and unleashed a shot from fully 25 yards which Dewhurst made a flying attempt to turn over the post. It was adjudged to be a goal kick, but I’m pretty sure the keeper got something on that.

More changes saw Michael Smith replace Dom Bernard, but it was Wilson who was causing the most problems down the Yeovil right. The Swansea City loanee was twice denied by great blocks from the Aldershot defence. We are giving it a right go.

With two minutes of stoppage time, a corner found its way to Morgan Williams at the back post, but his effort was deflected wide for another corner. We have looked much better since the introductions of some of our quality players – as you would expect – but in front of goal, we are the victims of our own downfall.

In the sixth of six minutes of injury time at the end of the game, Yeovil won a free-kick in prime Brett McGavin territory. The midfielder fired in a shot which was winging its way in to the net, only for Dewhurst to get across to pull off an outstanding save to deny him

And with that, the season ended with defeat. It was a performance with summarised our season and sees us finish in 18th place, four points clear of the relegation places.

See you all in August!

Substitutes:  Aaron Jarvis (for Frankie Terry, 61), Kyrell Wilson (for Harry Kite, 61), Finn Cousin-Dawson (for Lewys Twamley, 61), Brett McGavin (for Ciaran McGuckin, 76), Michael Smith (for Dom Bernard, 80), Harvey Greenslade (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Aldershot Town: Marcus Dewhurst, Theo Widdrington (for Ollie, Bray, 86), Cameron Hargreaves (for Dejen Tetek, 36), Tyler Frost, Josh Barrett (for Kai Corbett, 78), Aaron Jones, Jack Barham (for Maxwell Mullins, 69), James Henry (for Kwame Thomas, 67), Luca Woodhouse, Dan Ellison, Armitage. Substitutes (not used):  Jordi van Stappershoef, Hady Ghandour.