Match Reports (Page 19)

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Venue: Meadowbank
Tuesday October 4th, 7.45pm kick-off

Conditions: Dry but a little chilly
Pitch: Plastic

Attendance: 1,525 (no away attendance given, but something like 150)

Scorers: Sam Pearson 3 (1-0), Jack Muitt 53 (1-1)

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town:  Chiori Johnson 29, Josh Staunton 87
Dorking Wanderers: Bobby-Joe Taylor 40

Referee: Matthew Russell


Yeovil Town : (3-4-3)

Grant Smith

 Owen Bevan  Josh Staunton   Max Hunt

                              Morgan Williams  Matt Worthington   Lawson D’Ath (Sam Perry 80)   Chiori Johnson (Alex Fisher 75)

Sam Pearson    Malachi Linton   Will Dawes (Charlie Wakefield 55)

Substitutes (not used): Oliver Haste, Jake Scrimshaw.

Dorking Wanderers: Lincoln, Fuller, Gallagher, B. Taylor, McManus (for Jebb, 75), J.Taylor, McShane, Muitt (for Mekki, 66), Bowerman, Ottaway, Seager (for Egan, 59). Substitutes (not used): El-Abd, Quick.

Match Report

This game, which Yeovil Town’s players and management has described as “must win”, ended in the seventh draw of the season as the Glovers slid in to the National League drop zone.

Having taken an early lead through Sam Pearson, the visitors reverted to type defending against a Dorking side more than happy to press their advantage and draw level early in the second half through Jimmy Muitt’s goal.

With Yeovil chairman and owner Scott Priestnall watching on from the stands at Meadowbank, the game concluded with angry chants directed at him at the final whistle.

Here’s how Dave saw another night filled with the F word…..

First half

Having dominated the opening exchanges, a ball forward found Sam PEARSON bursting through to hold off his marker and slam a powerful effort so far in to the corner it stuck there.

Far from looking like the side out of form against their in-form opponents, it was the visitors asking the questions.

But, after a muted speech start, Dorking began to work their way in to the game with some hectic defending from the Glovers to clear a barrage of balls in to the box.

On 18 minutes, Grant Smith was forced in to a point blank save from Grant Smith to deny Harry Ottaway followed by a scramble to clear

Even more worryingly, a slip on the artificial surface saw Smith go down for treatment. Cue a terrace discussion about why we won’t have a keeper on the bench.

Luckily the keeper stayed on and on 23 minutes he got down smartly to turn an effort from Ryan Seager. Yep, that Ryan Seager.

Possession was undoubtedly in favour of the home side (67% in favour of the hosts according to Statman Ben) with the early pressure applied by Chris Hargreaves’ side switching to playing on the break. I mean, when has sitting back ever failed us before, right?

However, for all their possession, it took until the 41st minute for Dorking to create a meaningful chance – and they did it twice in a matter of seconds.

First was a speculative high ball from the right side seemed like it was going out of play, only to come back off the bar and bounce away and eventually land to Seager whose effort was turned aside by Smith.

Two minutes later it was Smith to the rescue again, this time saving with his legs from a point blank effort header from Ottaway.

The half-time whistle was met by a sigh of relief from the away support who began a period of silent prayer that Smith would return after the break.

Half time:  Dorking Wanderers 0 Yeovil Town 1

Second half

The artificial surface at Meadowbank certainly got some questioning looks from the Yeovil players in the first half and seven minutes after the restart it committed a heinous foul to deny a good break forward from Dawes, who stumbled and fell.

The second half started in a similar fashion to how the first half ended with the home sides on the front foot and the visitors on the back foot. The result was inevitable and on 53 minutes Dorking drew level.

More last ditch defending saw the ball pinball around inside the area and it was Jimmy MUITT who turned it home.

The instant response was to replace Dawes with Charlie Wakefield and the substitute almost immediately found Worthington who wasted his opportunity to test the keeper.

That seemed to spark a lacklustre Yeovil who started to venture forward a little more, but a couple of speculative Malachi Linton efforts were all we had to show for it.

Dorking seemed happy to sit back and let us enjoyed possession without any cutting edge.

It took until the 71st minute to force Dorking keeper Dan Lincoln in to a save. Wakefield’s cross was met by the head of Pearson who effort was turned over.

But that was it as far as meaningful chances for the visitors went as chairman and owner Scott Priestnall, watching from the stand at Meadowbank alongside club ‘volunteer’ Martyn Starnes, was the target of chants calling for him to go from a section of the away support.

The hosts, who were playing nine tiers lower than the Glovers less than a decade ago, continued to press for a winner with substitute Adam Mekki shot wide and Bobby Joe Taylor bent a free-kick just over the bar.

As the game crept towards the final whistle, a group of supporters approached the stand to voice their displeasure at Priestnall, who sat impassive before departing with a member of club security at the full-time whistle.

The response to the players was mixed with applause for some – not least Smith, without whom the hosts would have been out of sight by half-time – but angry words for others including some directed at manager, Chris Hargreaves.

Drawing a must win game is truly peak Yeovil.

Full time: Dorking Wanderers 1 Yeovil Town 1

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Venue: Root’s Hall
Saturday October 1st, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Dry and bright
Pitch: Green

Attendance: 5,324 (81 away supporters)

Scorers: Jake Hyde 37 (0-1),

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Richards-Everton 77, D’Ath 88
Southend United: Andeng-Ndi 52, Powell 65

Sendings off:

Yeovil Town: Gime Toure 17

Referee: Sam Mulhall


Yeovil Town : (3-4-3)

Grant Smith

 Owen Bevan  Josh Staunton   Ben Richards-Everton

                                      Morgan Williams  Matt Worthington   Lawson D’Ath   Charlie Wakefield (for Jake Scrimshaw, 76)

Sam Pearson (for Finley Craske, 65)

Alex Fisher (for Malachi Linton, 59)   Gime Toure

Substitutes: Max Hunt, Will Dawes.

Match Report

It was yet another hard luck story for Yeovil Town as the wait due a second National League win of the season goes on.

Having been reduced to ten men after Gime Toure was sent off after 17 minutes for his part in an off-the-ball incident with Southend defender Kacper Lopata. This correspondent, like referee Sam Mulhall, did not see what it was given for but reports on social media suggest a kick out from the Frenchman. If so, that is inexcusable.

The real hard luck came when Josh Staunton had the ball in the net from a corner only for it to be given for a foul on Southend keeper Collin Andeng-Ndi, moments later play swung to the other end and Jake Hyde got what turned out to be the winner.

Here is Dave’s verdict from the away end…..

First half

 

The first surprise saw Charlie Wakefield slotting in at left wing-back in place of the injured Jamie Reckord.

The first chance fell to the star man playing down the….errr….left after just two minutes when a sweeping move made its way out to him and he curled a shot just wide of the post.

Chances were few and far between, but on 12 minutes Morgan Williams got away down the left and put a ball in which ended up at the feet of Sam Pearson whose effort hit as much air as it did ball and failed to test the hosts’ keeper.

Another effort saw a scramble in the hosts’ box which came to nothing before play broke to the other than end Cav Miley effort from the edge of the box was palmed aside by Grant Smith.

The most notable of the game so far came on 18 minutes after an off the ball incident led to a red card for Gime Toure. The incident seemed to pass everybody in ground, including referee Sam Mulhall by, but a tussle and a Southend defender Kacper Lopata saw the latter hit the deck. The assistant flagged and, after discussion with the referee, the man in black produced a red card.

A bit of Googling (thanks, Ben) suggests Mulhall was the same man who gave an early red to Wealdstone defender Lewis Kinsella for a boot up Malachi Linton’s backside. Suggestions on social media suggest Toure may have done the same to Lopata. Impossible to see from the angle of the away support.

Cue confusion in the away end and an intense period of pressure from the home side as Yeovil went deeper and deeper, welcoming the Shrimpers pressure on.

A lot of the threat came from Jack Bridge down the left but Ollie Kensdale and Marcus Dackers both called Grant Smith in to action as it seemed

On 32 minutes, Sam Pearson was set away on the left and fired a ball in to the near post where Alex Fisher could not make the contact and the ball went away for a corner. From the resulting corner by Lawson D’Ath, Josh Staunton rose highest in the box to head home, only for a foul to be given against Southend keeper Collin Andeng-Ndi. Against any other player on the pitch, that is never a foul but it’s the keeper.

There was a sense the dye may be cast there and two minutes later, a cross by Bridge was met by a close range header from Jake HYDE to open the scoring.

 

Half time:  Southend United 1 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

The first chance of the half fell to Yeovil on 52 minutes when Andeng-Ndi brought down Fisher on the edge of the box after a self-inflicted foul due to some poor decision making.

As the half wore on, the home side saw a lot of possession without creating too many opportunities to force a save out of Smith with an effort out of the dangerous Bridge putting an effort over the bar after cutting in off the left flank either side of the hour.

Malachi Linton replaced Fisher up front for the visitors on 59 minutes and six minutes later Finley Craske replaced Sam Pearson, taking up a position in the middle of the park.

The two substitutes combined on 72 minutes when good pressure from Linton presenting Craske with a chance with the hosts’ keeper off his line, but his effort floated wide. Speculative but that’s all I have!

Dackers put an effort just over four minutes later but, for all the possession they enjoyed (and they did enjoy plenty of it), that was as near to a meaningful chance as the home side got.

The frustration of knowing that the standard of our opponents is not that far off our own even on a sub-par showing like this one was palpable to those in the away end in Essex.

Socks were worked off, no doubt bits were being chomped at but again it’s those decisive moments. One came just in to the first of six minutes of added time when Matt Worthington did superbly to break in from the left flank, picked out Craske with a great opportunity but his shot sailed high, wide and not so handsome.

Goal difference is all that separates us from the National League relegation zone and, after 11 matches, that is no hard luck story.

Full time: Southend United 1 Yeovil Town 0

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Venue: Huish Park
Saturday September 24th, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Cloudy and cool
Pitch: Soft and cut up as the match went on

Attendance: 2,146 (65 away supporters)

Scorers: Alex Fisher 39 (1-0), Jack Payne 45 (1-1)

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Morgan Williams 62
Boreham Wood: Zac Brunt 45, Dion Kelly-Evans 77

Referee: Scott Jackson


Yeovil Town : (3-4-3)

Grant Smith

 Morgan Williams   Josh Staunton   Ben Richards-Everton

                                      Charlie Wakefield   Matt Worthington   Lawson D’Ath   Jamie Reckord

Sam Pearson (for Jake Scrimshaw, 80)

Alex Fisher (for Malachi Linton, 80)   Gime Toure

Substitutes: Will Buse, Fin Craske, Max Hunt.


Boreham Wood: Nathan Ashmore, Dion Kelly-Evans, Femi Ilesnanmi, Will Evans, David Stephens, Josh Rees (for George Broadbent, 61), Tyrone Marsh, Danny Elliott (for Newton, 54), Dennon Lewis, Jack Payne, Zak Brunt (for George Williams, 85).

Substitutes: Connor Stephens, Jude Murphy.

Match Report

It was a yet another case of what might have been as Yeovil Town’s search for their second National League win of the season continued with a frustrating 1-1 draw at home to Boreham Wood.

And, it was not for a want of opportunities being carved out by the host, but repeatedly they were denied by visiting goalkeeper Nathan Ashmore.

Ironically it was a mistake by the gloveman on 39 minutes which gifted Yeovil their opener with striker Alex Fisher on the spot to take advantage after the keeper spilled a tame Gime Toure shot, but on the strike of half-time Jack Payne equalised.

The Glovers pushed in the second half and limited Boreham Wood to few chances, but it was another case of so close, but yet so far. Six draws from the opening ten games of the season for Chris Hargreaves’ side.

First half

The opening exchanges were a bit of a non-event with neither side particularly looking to take the game to their opponent with the nearest Yeovil got to carving out a chance came after 12 minutes when a ball over the top set Sam Pearson away, but he was denied by visiting midfielder Jack Payne.

At the other end, Dion Kelly-Evans found himself in a good position before Jamie Reckord’s covering tackle denied him. Can you tell it was a struggle to talk about things happening in the opening third of the first half?

The visitors began to up the ante and the best chance came on 16 minutes with Yeovil temporarily down to ten men with Lawson D’Ath off the pitch getting treatment for a bloodied nose. A well worked move; by the visitors found Femi Ilesanmi who put the ball in to Danny Elliott whose effort went over from close range.

Moments later, Gime Toure broke clear of the visitors’ defence and found himself one-on-one with Wood keeper Nathan Ashmore, but rather than taking a shot he tried to round the gloveman who made a superb stop to deny him.

On 21 minutes, Matt Worthington had a low shot from the edge of the box which Ashmore did well to get down to and turn around for a corner and Wakefield called the keeper in to action again two minutes later.

In a five minute spell after Elliott’s opportunity, it was Yeovil who were in the ascendancy with the game picking up after a slow start. Other than Toure’s chance our efforts were at probably half chances, but there seemed to be opportunity in getting at the visiting defence with some pace.

Having kept his side in the game with some decent stops, it was a mistake by Ashmore which led to the Glovers taking the lead on 39 minutes. Toure fired in a shot from distance which was spilled by the big keeper and Alex FISHER was in the right place to fire home his first goal in his second spell at the club.

The previous weekend, Yeovil had twice failed to hold on to a lead against league leaders Chesterfield and just as the game ticked in to added time at the end of the first half – they did it again.

Matt Worthington swung a leg to make a tackle and the ball broke to a visiting player, the Yeovil defence switched off and the ball broke to Jack PAYNE free at the back post to fire home the equaliser.

The half-time whistle was met with a muted response from the Huish Park crowd frustrated at a seeming inability to hold on to a lead. Cue Ben Barrett’s dog walking puns.

Half time:  Yeovil Town 1 Boreham Wood 1

Second half

Ashmore was back in action to tip a thunderous strike from Lawson D’Ath over the bar on 52 minutes before Ben Richards-Everton flashed a shot wide from the edge of the box.

A lovely lay-off by Matt Worthington found Sam Pearson whose effort was superbly stopped by Ashmore (yep, him again) who did not know the assistant referee’s flag was up.

There seemed to be a desire to get the ball forward quicker in the second half with any effort to retain possession changed for getting the ball up the field as soon as possible.

With 67 minutes played, a corner found the head of Fisher whose goal-bound header was superbly denied by you know who. Yes, Nathan Ashmore who came to the rescue of the Wood again. How many opportunities do we need? No, you know what, don’t answer that.

With ten minutes of the game replacing, Yeovil manager Chris Hargreaves made a double substitution with Malachi Linton and Jake Scrimshaw replacing Sam Pearson and Alex Fisher, clearly not keen to add to the draws column of the National League table.

But, even with plenty of attackers on the pitch, it was giant centre half Richards-Everton who again found himself in space on the edge of the box to warm the palms of Ashmore.

Six draws from the opening ten matches of the National League season. Remarkable. Not good remarkable, but remarkable.

Full time: Yeovil Town 1 Boreham Wood 1

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Venue: Huish Park
Saturday September 17th, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Sunny with a gentle breeze
Pitch: Heavily watered which made it slick but also cut up in places

Attendance: 2,672 (367 away supporters)

Scorers: Gime Toure 3 (1-0), Jamie Grimes 8 (1-1), Josh Staunton 80 (2-1), Jesurun Uchegbulam 87 (2-2)

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Grant Smith 6, Matt Worthington 33, Jamie Reckord 90+5
Chesterfield: Tyrone Williams 43, Calvin Miller 63, Michael Gyasi 90+5

Referee: Elliot Swallow


Yeovil Town : (3-4-3)

Grant Smith

Owen Bevan  Josh Staunton Ben Richards-Everton

                          Chiori Johnson                                                                       Jamie Reckord

Matt Worthington Lawson D’Ath

Sam Pearson (for Finley Craske, 66)

Malachi Linton (for Charlie Wakefield, 76) Gime Toure

Substitutes: Morgan Williams, Max Hunt, Jake Scrimshaw.


Chesterfield: Covolan, King, Williams, Grimes, Horton, Oldaker, Banks, Mandeville, Clarke (for Gyasi, 70), Miller (for Uchegbulam 66), Quigley. Substitutes: Maguire, Cooper, Akinola.

Match Report

A late leveller three minutes from time saw Yeovil Town denied a win against league leaders Chesterfield in a thoroughly entertaining encounter at Huish Park.

It appeared that Glovers’ skipper Josh Staunton had earned all three points when he bundled home his first goal of the season on 80 minutes, but the visitors’ equalised after Yeovil switched off from a corner to allow substitute Jesurun Uchegbulam.

The equaliser was harsh on Chris Hargreaves’ men who had gone toe-to-toe with their big-spending opponents and been the better side for much of the match – sadly, two defensive lapses mean we are still looking for our second win of the National League season.

 

First half

Chiori Johnson and Gime Toure came in to the starting XI in place of the previously ever-present Morgan Williams and the out-of-sorts Charlie Wakefield, who both dropped to the bench alongside Finley Craske, who made his first appearance in a match day squad. Alex Fisher was not named in the squad having been given compassionate leave.

Gime Toure is congratulated on his opening goal. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

And Toure made the most of his call up after he did not give up on a ball over the top and took advantage of a mix-up between visiting keeper Lucas Covolan and Tyrone Williams. Covolan came a long way off his line and TOURE nicked the ball around goalkeeper and defender fired in to an unguarded net.

But, less than five minutes later the visitors equalised. Grant Smith bizarrely came a long way out of his box and gave away a completely unnecessary free-kick for a foul on ex-Glovers’ striker Joe Quigley. From the set piece, the visitors broke down the right and fired in an effort which Smith only parried straight to Chesterfield captain Jamie GRIMES who turned home an equaliser.

Soon after a Lawson D’Ath corner was sent over the bar by a diving header from Owen Bevan, but it was the visitors who dominated momentum after that goal showing the confidence of a team who had won their last four matches while Yeovil wobbled like a team who had won just once all season.

There was a bright spot on 19 minutes when Johnson’s beat his man and slotted a ball across through to Sam Pearson who could not make the most of the opportunity.

That sparked a bit of pressure from Yeovil with Josh Staunton firing an effort straight in to the ‘non-core land at Huish Park and moments later Johnson, who looked in the mood going forward down the right, found Linton, but the striker fired wide.

Having soaked up some pressure, it was the Glovers who were in the ascendancy as the game entered the final 15 minutes and the more than 250 youngsters brought to Huish Park by the Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust had plenty to shout about – and shout they did!

Five minutes before half-time Calvin Miller dragged a shot wide and minute before the break a low free-kick from Matt Worthington forced a good save out of Covolan.

Having been booed off the pitch at the end of their last outing on home soil, Yeovil were applauded off at the interval having taken the game to their lofty opponents for much of the half. Is this the ‘HargBall’ of which we’ve been told?

Half time:  Yeovil Town 1 Chesterfield 1

Second half

The home side started brightly with Toure at the heart of everything that was good creating a good chance for Johnson on 52 minutes but his header did not have enough power to trouble Covolan.

A minute later, the visitors broke forward through Jack Clarke, who had an unsuccessful spell on loan at Huish Park last season, but his was denied by a superbly-timed tackle from Jamie Reckord and the ball dropped to Liam Mandeville whose shot was straight at Grant Smith.

Shortly after the hour mark, Pearson had a time effort in on goal and on 66 minutes he was replaced by Finley Craske, the versatile player on loan from Plymouth Argyle. It had been a frustrating afternoon for Pearson who was outmuscled by some of his more experienced opponents for much of this match.

Josh Staunton celebrates his equaliser in the 2-2 draw against Chesterfield. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Malachi Linton, who had another hard-working performance without finding the net, was replaced by Charlie Wakefield with 15 minutes remaining.

For all the disappointment of the past couple of weeks, this was a much improved performance from Yeovil and they deservedly regained the lead ten minutes from time. A Reckord corner from was met at the back post with a header back across goal which went through a crowd of bodies and Josh STAUNTON was there to turn it in – probably! No-one could really tell but the captain certainly claimed it.

But they were in the lead for just seven minutes as a defensive error saw a low corner was not picked up by the Glovers’ defence and the ball found its way to substitute winger Jesurun UCHEGBULAM who was unmarked to hammer home another leveller. Such frustration that two defensive lapses cost had undone an otherwise impressive performance from Yeovil.

Toure, who had been in the mood all afternoon, burst down the left in the next attack but his effort went over the bar.

Overall, a brilliant game which saw Yeovil go toe-to-toe with the league leaders. There were some ‘handbags’ at the end with a confrontation between Jamie Reckord and visitors’ substitute Michael Gyasi. Bookings handed out, but applause for Chris Hargreaves’ men at the final whistle.

Full time: Yeovil Town 2 Chesterfield 2

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Venue: Silverlake Stadium
Tuesday September 13th, 7.45pm kick-off

Conditions: Dry after a couple of days of rain
Pitch: Slippy

Attendance: 1,977 (291 away supporters)

Scorers: Sam Pearson 7 (1-0), JJ McKiernan 72 (1-1)

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Jamie Reckord 15, Ben Richards-Everton 22
Eastleigh: Vincent Harper 25, Ousseynou Cisse 60

Sendings off

Eastleigh: Brennan Camp 90

Referee: Paul Johnson


Yeovil Town : (4-3-3)

Grant Smith

Morgan Williams Owen Bevan Ben Richards-Everton Jamie Reckord

Lawson D’Ath (for Jake Scrimshaw, 90) Josh Staunton Matt Worthington

Charlie Wakefield (for Alex Fisher, 76)  Malachi Linton (for Chiori Johnson, 89) Sam Pearson

Substitutes: Max Hunt, Gime Toure.

Eastleigh: McDonnell, Oyenuga (for Hesketh, 72), Camp, Cisse (for Carter, 62), Panter (for Langston, 62), Martin, Harper, McKiernan, Hill, Whitehall, Abrahams. Substitutes: Rutherford, Ebanks.

Match Report

An early goal from Sam Pearson earned Yeovil Town a point after a backs-to-the-wall performance against an Eastleigh side who did more than enough to win the game.

The on loan Bristol City winger took advantage of a mistake from goalkeeper Joe McDonnell to open the scoring after just seven minutes, but it was the home side who were completely dominant with goalkeeper Grant Smith pulling off three exceptional saves.

But, in the 77th minute on loan Watford midfielder JJ McKiernan fired home a deserved equaliser and set up a kitchen sink affair.

W*ymouth-born Brennan Camp saw red for a crunching tackle on Lawson D’Ath in added time and the visitors held on for a point.

 

First half

Chris Hargreaves made three changes from the 1-0 home defeat to York City ten days earlier and reverted to the 4-3-3 formation which saw Sam Pearson returning to the starting XI as part of a three-man forward line alongside Malachi Linton and Charlie Wakefield.

Other changes saw AFC Bournemouth loanee defender Owen Bevan replacing Max Hunt in the centre of defence while Matt Worthington who replaced Sam Perry, who was left out of the squad with the manager revealing he suffered a concussion in the York match.

After a fairly uneventful opening seven minutes, it was a howler from Eastleigh keeper Joe McDonnell which gifted the visitors a lead. Malachi Linton was alive to the error from the gloveman and teed up Sam PEARSON who did superbly to fire home an early opener.

Sam Pearson. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Six minutes later, a mistake by Josh Staunton in midfield gifted the ball to striker Tristan Abrahams, who has two goals to his name since joining from Carlisle United in the summer, but the former Glovers’ loanee fired his effort wide.

Then, three minutes later, a carbon copy error from Staunton gave Abrahams another opportunity to shoot and this time forced Grant Smith in to action.

The keeper was in action again after 20 minutes to deny Spitfires’ striker Danny Whitehall. The reaction from the home side to going behind was strong with the visitors pinned inside their own half.

Another mistake from a slip by an Eastleigh defender gave Yeovil another opportunity which saw Charlie Wakefield, back in his favoured position on the right side of attack, break through and have a shot which was blocked with Linton in a decent position.

Defender Corey Panter’s free-kick forced another fantastic stop out of Smith soon after and the ball dropped to defender Aaron Martin, who has seen service with Yeovil, but his effort was superbly blocked by visiting debutant defender Owen Bevan.

Despite the advantage, it was Eastleigh in the ascendancy with some attractive football with the pace of Abrahams a real thorn in the side of his former club.

As the game pressed towards half-time, a good spell of pressure saw an opportunity break to Malachi Linton whose effort went wide on 40 minutes.

Half time: Eastleigh 0 Yeovil Town 1

Second half

Smith was in action again on 52 minutes when Abrahams’ effort was turned over the bar by the keeper to add another outstanding save to a string of them.

The linesman had his flag up for a handball against the home side, but referee Paul Johnson overruled his assistant. To say that the visitors’ bench let the fourth official know their views would be a mild way of saying it.

Shortly after the hour mark, Eastleigh had two good opportunities through first substitute Charlie Carter, whose effort was blocked by Worthington, and then full-back John Oyenuga went over the bar.

Grant Smith. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

The pressure that had been mounting since Yeovil took the lead continued to mount and on 70 minutes the home side’s forwards seemed to be queuing up to turn a ball across the face of goal with Ryan Hill perhaps best placed. None of them did and the ball broke to Smith.

But, the goal that had been coming finally came with 72 minutes gone. Staunton was outmuscled by on loan Watford midfielder JJ McKIERNAN who hammered an effort across the slippery surface past Smith. It was nothing more than Eastleigh deserved.

There was no drop off in intensity from the home side after their equaliser whilst Yeovil still could not get a foothold in the game. Defender Brennan Camp – who was born on a rock south of a Dorset coastal town – was the latest to have a chance as headed just over on 76 minutes.

Attacks at the other end were a case of having to take what you could find and a half chance from Pearson as the game ticked over 90 minutes – with six added on. With the home side still (yes, still) piling on the pressure, that was all Yeovil needed to hear.

With a couple of minutes of the added on time gone, Camp saw red after a crunching tackle on Lawson D’Ath which left the play-maker in a pile on the floor. Referee Paul Johnson had no hesitation in showing the card. Dirty W*ymouth…..etc.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Jamie Reckord was well positioned to deflect a goalbound effort wide and that was (mercifully) the final opportunity for the home side.

Full time: Eastleigh 1 Yeovil Town 1

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Venue: Huish Park
Saturday September 3rd, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Unpredictably windy
Pitch: Looking good

Attendance: 2294 (127 away supporters)

Scorers: Lennell John-Lewis 80

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Lawson D’Ath 15,
York City: Fraser Kerr 36, Lennell John-Lewis 42

Referee: Aji Ajibola


Yeovil Town : (3-5-2)

Grant Smith

Max Hunt  Josh Staunton  Ben Richards-Everton

Morgan Williams (for Sam Pearson, 60) Lawson D’Ath Sam Perry Jamie Reckord

 Charlie Wakefield

Alex Fisher (for Chiori Johnson, 81)  Malachi Linton (for Gime Toure, 60)

Substitutes: Owen Bevan, Jake Scrimshaw.

York City: Ross, Kouogun, Kerr, Sanders, Fallowfield, Pybus, Dyson, Hancox, Hurst (for Boden, 65), Kouhyar, John-Lewis. Substitutes: Whitley, Whittle, Greaves, Duku.

Match Report

A frustrating afternoon saw Yeovil Town outclassed by a York City side who were unfortunate to only go away from Huish Park with a 1-0 victory.

It looked like the Glovers might have got out of jail after a lacklustre showing when Grant Smith saved a penalty from visiting striker Lennell John-Lewis on 70 minutes, but ten minutes later the experienced striker was found inside the box and fired the opener.

The sponsors’ man of the match was awarded to Smith who made two impressive saves to deny John-Lewis whilst at the other end one tame effort from Alex Fisher was all the hosts offered.

Not a good day at the office, here’s how it went…….

 

First half

Yeovil Town made three changes  from the Bank Holiday Monday stalemate at Wealdstone with Charlie Wakefield returning in a more advanced possession in place of Gime Toure who dropped to the bench.

The other changes was Max Hunt return in place of Alfie Pond, whose loan stay was cut short by his deadline day move from Exeter City to Wolves, and Lawson D’Ath replaced Matt Worthington who boss Chris Hargreaves said was injured albeit “not serious.”

On-loan Bristol City winger Sam Pearson returned to the bench having missed the previous three matches through injury. He was joined by Owen Bevan, the teenage centre half who joined from AFC Bournemouth on Friday.

After a bright start from the home side without threatening on goal, visiting midfielder Alex Hurst had a ninth-minute shot just over had Grant Smith scrambling in the Yeovil goal and moments later striker Lennell John-Lewis forced a fine stop out of the keeper, albeit the linesman’s flag was raised.

Linton, who missed a penalty five days earlier at Wealdstone, had an opportunity denied by the flag on 15 minutes, but it’s fair to say opportunities were at a premium in the opening quarter-of-an-hour.

The assistant was involved again four minutes later when Reckord’s free-kick was well met by Ben Richards-Everton, and a minute later Hurst was denied by a well-timed tackle.

On 39 minutes, a quick throw caught the Yeovil defence napping and John-Lewis nicked the ball over the leg of Josh Staunton and fired in a shot which Grant Smith did well to deny the powerful striker. Far and away the best chance of the match.

Three minutes later, John-Lewis was at the heart of the action soon after he caught Sam Perry with what looked like a stray elbow. There were cries for a red card from the home crowd although it looked as if a heavy landing was more damaging for the Walsall loanee. He was eventually fine to continue.

On 44 minutes, it was John-Lewis who was at the heart of a quick break and was forced wide and had a shot block, it dropped to Dyson whose effort went wide.

The issue for Yeovil was a lack of creative spark and energy in the centre of midfield (again, I know!) with D’Ath lying deeper and the absence of the industrious Worthington, there was not much forward play from Perry and Wakefield isolated in a more central role.

Goalless at the break. Very goalless.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 York City 0

Second half

There were no changes for either side at the break and with the exception of an Alex Fisher flicked header flicked which went over there was not a meaningful opportunity for either side by the time we reached the hour mark.

It was the visitors who looked the more cohesive in their play and showing some attacking intent which was sorely lacking from the home side.

On the hour mark, Pearson and Toure entered the fray in place of Morgan Williams and Linton.

Alex Fisher forced York keeper Ethan Ross in to his first meaningful action of the match when he picked the ball up on the edge of the box and fired in an effort.

The changes failed to have an instant impact with neither Toure or Pearson unable to become the player able to get on the ball and cause a threat.

On 69 minutes, Staunton looked to go to head a ball away, it struck his arm and the referee awarded a clear-cut penalty. John-Lewis took the ball but also took an age to take the spot kick and, when he eventually did, Smith saved with his legs.

Sloppy play from Yeovil gifted John-Lewis an opportunity to rectify his mistake soon after, but he headed his effort wide. On another day, the former Grimsby man could have had a hat-trick and no-one could have grumbled.

The penalty miss did not deter York with substitute Scott Boden heading wide and then Smith denying Dyson with Yeovil dropping deeper and deeper against the frantic waving of Chris Hargreaves in the opposite direction. The frustration around Huish Park was audible.

With ten minutes gone, the inevitable happened with York taking the lead and it was the outstanding Lennell JOHN-LEWIS who got it. A low cross from the man they call ‘The Shop’ inside the box, he got a bit of luck with a deflection past Smith, but you could not deny the visitors deserved their lead.

In the first minute of stoppage time, substitute Chiori Johnson header a D’Ath corner against the crossbar. It could have been an equaliser but it would have been completely undeserved.

The final whistle was met by boos from the Huish Park crowd and you can’t blame them on that performance. For York City, well played, thoroughly deserved it.

Full time: Yeovil Town 0 York City 1

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Venue: Grosvenor Vale
Monday August 29th, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Dry and warm
Pitch: Green all over

Attendance: 1,714 (251 away supporters)

Scorers: None

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Reckord 53, Wakefield 55, Pond 85, Scrimshaw 90+5
Wealdstone: Allarakhia 75

Sendings off

Wealdstone: Kinsella 9

Referee: Sam Mulhall


Yeovil Town : (3-5-2)

Grant Smith

Alfie Pond  Josh Staunton  Ben Richards-Everton

Morgan Williams Matt Worthington Sam Perry (for Charlie Wakefield, 46) Jamie Reckord

Gime Toure

Alex Fisher (for Jake Scrimshaw, 72)  Malachi Linton (for Callum Rowe, 84)

Substitutes (not used): Max Hunt, Chiori Johnson.


Wealdstone: Howes, Cook, Habergham, Kinsella, Charles, Allarakhia (Hutchinson 75), Ferguson, Sesay, Napa, Kretzschmar (Dyer 66), Browne (Mongoy 83). Substitutes not used: Young and Mundle-Smith.

Match Report

If we’d stayed out there all day, we still would not have scored. That sentiment summed up a day where “disappointing” just does not cut it.

Having seen their hosts Wealdstone (league leaders, yes, but a part-time side nevertheless) reduced to ten men after Lewis Kinsella kicked out at Malachi Linton after just nine minutes, the game should have been there for the taking.

But, though the opposition was organised and had a plan of what to do as they faced up to 81 minutes with a man down, Yeovil did their level best to make it easy for him.

There was even a ‘Get Out Of Jail – Free’ card printed and handed to the visitors in the form of a 69th minute penalty kick which Malachi Linton put out of the ground. That one moment summed up Yeovil’s day.

Here’s how Dave saw it from the away end in the London Borough of Hillingdon…..

First half

The only change from the first win of the season 48 hours early saw Sam Perry replace the injured Lawson D’Ath in midfield, whilst Charlie Wakefield returned on the bench.

After a bright start with Matt Worthington warming the palms of hosts’ keeper Sam Howes with an early sighter, the first incident saw Wealdstone reduced to ten men after just nine minutes.

Lewis Kinsella tussled for a ball with Malachi Linton and appeared to kick out at his opponent. When referee Sam Mulhall went for his pocket, a yellow card looked most the likely course of action – but it was red.

But, as we have seen on many occasions, a man advantage and Yeovil Town do not always mix well. Possession, we saw plenty of it but the 15 minutes after the dismissal only saw us probe at the home defence without much cut through.

The next meaningful chance actually fell to the home side when Napa was found by a ball in from the left and stabbed it wide. Moments later, Gime Toure weaved in from the left and flashed one across the face of goal.

Two minutes later, saw a golden opportunity arrive a both ends. First a quick break away saw ex-Glover Rhys Browne inside the box but his effort was well blocked by Alfie Pond and scrambled away. The play swung to the other end where Ben Richards-Everton’s header was cleared off the line.

The opening 38 minutes had not seen a great deal of Jamie Reckord, still our top scorer let’s not forget, but it was his ball in front the left that picked out Alex Fisher whose effort went over.

A minute later, Morgan Williams’ cross from the opposite side needed to be turned over by Howes, but the resulting corner saw the other side of Williams’ attacking play, smashing a shot high, wide and not so handsome from the edge of the box.

Half time: Wealdstone 0 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

Almost as if Chris Hargreaves had heard the half-time thoughts of the away end, Charlie Wakefield replaced Sam Perry at the start of the second half.

But if you’re going to play Wakefield down the wing , he needs the opportunities to get forward and for the first 15 minutes he didn’t get many. When he did, he won a corner and from Worthington’s ball in, Fisher’s effort was goalbound but without the venom required and it was easily cleared.

For all the plaudits Worthington has had in recent games, he went missing on too many occasions. Far from the all-action midfielder we have enjoyed so early this season, his only meaningful contribution was from corners.

On 68 minutes, a golden opportunity as Linton made a nuisance of himself to squeeze in between Howes and his defence and was pulled down. The young striker, who had not had his most effective game, grabbed the ball – but skied his effort out of Grosvenor Vale.

It certainly wasn’t Mal’s day and having headed a cross further away from goal that towards it, he was mercifully substituted Hargreaves after 84 minutes. Definitely not his day.

By that Jake Scrimshaw had come on and, for all his running and effort, did little to effect the game. In reality, we could have stayed out there until the next bank holiday and still not scored.

Full time: Wealdstone 0 Yeovil Town 0

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Venue: Huish Park
Saturday August 27th, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Dry and bright
Pitch: Looking good

Attendance: 2,152 (70 away supporters)

Scorers: Jamie Reckord 34 (1-0)

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Worthington 81
Dagenham & Redbridge: McCallum 76

Referee: Wayne Cartmel


Yeovil Town : (3-5-2)

Grant Smith

Alfie Pond  Josh Staunton  Ben Richards-Everton

Morgan Williams Matt Worthington  Lawson D’Ath (for Sam Perry, 54)  Jamie Reckord

Gime Toure (for Jake Scrimshaw, 73)

Alex Fisher (for Callum Rowe, 63)  Malachi Linton

Substitutes (not used): Max Hunt, Chiori Johnson.


Dagenham & Redbridge: Justham, Hare, Onariase, Longe-King (for Vilhete, 41), Weston, Tavares, Robinson, Sagaf (for Mussa, 63), Ling, McCallum, Walker (for Morias, 63). Substitutes: Strizovic, Zouma.

Match Report

A first half goal from Jamie Reckord saw Yeovil Town earn their first win of the National League season at home to Dagenham & Redbridge.

The wing-back made it three goals in his opening five matches for the Glovers after good play from striker Alex Fisher on 34 minutes.

However, it was a performance which relied on defensive resilience with young loanee Alfie Pond impressive alongside captain Josh Staunton and the returning Ben Richards-Everton in a back three as Dagenham dominated the second half.

Here’s how it played out in manager Chris Hargreaves’ first win since taking charge…..

First half

With two games in three matches, manager Chris Hargreaves made three changes with Ben Richards-Everton, who had been missing with a knee injury since the opening day, and young Exeter City loanee Alfie Pond coming in for Chiori Johnson and Max Hunt, who dropped to the bench.

The other change saw Charlie Wakefield, who was suffering with a thigh injury, replaced by Gime Toure with new signings striker Jake Scrimshaw and defender Callum Rowe named on the bench.

Josh Staunton headed an early free-kick from Lawson D’Ath just over, but it was the visitors who made the brighter start with winger Myles Weston firing a decent chance in to the side netting after ten minutes.

A nice bit of passing play seven minutes saw the ball break to Toure who caught it sweetly but his effort ricocheted off defender David Longe-King and behind for a free kick.

Jamie Reckord. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

The absence of on loan winger Sam Pearson, still suffering the after effects of a back injury, was obvious as the half progressed. With Toure keen to get far forward as possible, the hosts were missing someone to pick it up and take it forward in the way we’ve seen from Pearson so far.

After a fragmented 34 minutes of very little to trouble either Grant Smith or his counterpart Elliot Justham, out of nothing Yeovil went ahead. A brilliantly time run by Alex Fisher saw him beat the Daggers’ offside trap and fired a great ball across to Jamie RECKORD turned home his third goal of the season.

That sparked the hosts in to life and Malachi Linton found himself through and collided with Justham, the ball broke to Worthington who had a shot despite having Toure in acres of space on the edge of the six yard box. Manager Chris Hargreaves left his midfielder in no doubt what he felt he should have done – to put it mildly.

With the game closing to half-time, a good effort from Worthington forced a good stop out of Justham.

Half time: Yeovil Town 1 Dagenham & Redbridge 0

Second half

Within two minutes of the restart, good play by Myles Weston saw him play a ball to the back post where it found substitute Mauro Vilhete, he found Nikola Tavares whose effort hit the post with the goal at his mercy.

It was Dagenham who dominated the opening 15 minutes after the restart, but aside from Tavares’ chance and a header over the bar from striker Paul McCallum there was not a huge threat from the visitors.

With another game coming up for both teams on Monday, there were unsurprisingly changes. D’Ath, who returned after the break with a brace on his knee, was replaced by Sam Perry on 54 minutes, and Rowe replaced Fisher soon after the hour.

Rowe was described as “a ball-playing midfielder” by Glovers’ boss Chris Hargreaves and his arrival was perhaps a desire from the manager to take control of the game with their opponents upping the pressure. Their substitutes Omar Mussa, who was part of the W*ymouth side relegated last season, and Junior Morias both looked bright after coming on after 63 minutes.

On 73 minutes, Scrimshaw replaced Toure who had tired as the match progressed.

Rowe impressed with some confident touches in the middle of the park, but it was Dagenham – led by the impressive pair of Mussa and Weston – who were firmly in control as the game ticked towards the conclusion. Is this holding out the return of the resilience which Hargreaves has spoken about so much in recent weeks?

There were calls ahead of the match for his leaders to step forwards and it’s fair to say that captain Josh Staunton and Morgan Williams responded the strongest although it was Alfie Pond who received the sponsor’s man of the match.


Full time: Yeovil Town 1 Dagenham & Redbridge 0

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Venue: Moss Lane
Saturday August 20th, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Bright and sunny with a strong cross wind
Pitch: As you would expect on the second home game or the season.

Attendance: 1,621 (142 away supporters)

Scorers: Malachi Linton 8 (1-0), Toby Mullarkey 39 (1-1), Gime Toure 70 (2-1), Egli Kaja 90 (2-2).

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: None
Altrincham: Cooper 60

Referee: Gareth Rhodes


Yeovil Town : (4-4-2)

Grant Smith

Morgan Williams, Max Hunt, Josh Staunton, Jamie Reckord

Charlie Wakefield, Matt Worthington, Lawson D’Ath (for Sam Perry 89), Chiori Johnson (for Matt Grivosti 73)

Alex Fisher (for Gime Toure, 61) Malachi Linton

Substitutes (not used): Will Buse, Alfie Pond.

Altrincham: Mee, Jones, Baines, Osborne, Cooper, Mullarkey, Lundstram, Bennett (for Kaja, 68), Conn-Clarke (for Pringle, 68), Colclough, Hulme (for Dinanga, 79). Substitutes (not used): Brockbank, Samizadeh.

Match Report

An injury time equaliser from Altrincham substitute Egli Kaja saw Yeovil Town’s search for their first win of the season go on.

Having taken the lead early on through Malachi Linton, the visitors were pegged back by a goal from Toby Mullarkey late in the first half and then forced to soak up a great deal of pressure early in the second half.

The ‘Hargreaves-ball’ style which had been evident in the previous two matches was in short supply, but the introduction of forward Gime Toure midway through the second half provided a spark.

The Frenchman drew Yeovil level on 72 minutes before Kaja struck at the death. In fairness, it was a game we have probably did not deserve to win, but it was a sickening way to be denied it.

Here’s how Dave saw it from the sun-soaked away end at Moss Lane…..

First half

The game opened with the visitors attacking the home end with a strong left-to-right wind causing issues with balls floated over the top.

Jordan Hulme and Ryan Colclough both forces Grant Smith in to early action, but it was Yeovil who took the lead after just nine minutes.

Matt Worthington dispossessed his man and fed the ball to Malachi LINTON (aka ‘Mal’ to our listeners) who turned and slammed home an unstoppable shot from the edge of the box.

But Altrincham kept up the pressure seeing more or the ball with Colclough a threat down the left flank without causing too much to trouble Grant Smith. However, if there was to be any joy for the home side, it was going to come from a wide position

Having earned a corner shortly before the half-hour mark, Glovers’ defender Max Hunt directed a corner in to the hands of Dermot Mee in the hosts’ goal.

Moments later a great through ball from D’Ath set Wakefield away, he was clattered just outside the box but the referee Gareth Rhodes was unmoved.

With the game closing towards half-time, Altrincham found their way through the visitors’ defence and on 40 minutes they pulled level.

Chris Conn-Clarke brought the ball forward without much resistance and his effort deflected to Colclough whose smashed a shot across the face of goal. The chance looked to have gone wide, only for Toby MULLARKEY to burst in from right back at the far post to tuck it home from an acute angle.

It was nothing more than Altrincham deserved having carved out a couple of opportunities as the half wore on, however, the half-hearted nature of the efforts to stop the move will have frustrated boss Chris Hargreaves.

I firmly suspect the possession stats would show Alty bossing the ball in the first half and there was not a great deal of the free-flowing ‘Hargreaves-ball’ which had been seen in the previous two outings.

Half time: Altrincham 1 Yeovil Town 1

Second half

The second half started as the first one finished with the visitors affording their hosts too much time on the ball. Altrincham responded by testing Grant Smith before Max Hunt was forced to clear a goalbound effort off the line.

For the opening 15 minutes of the second half, it was the home side in the ascendancy, but again they were not able to turn their dominance in to many clear-cut opportunities.

Seeking a spark, Hargreaves threw on forward Gime Toure in place of Alex Fisher around the four mark. For all his running around, Fisher never looked like threatening the goal.

Toure’s arrival had the desired impact with the Glovers having a flurry of opportunities around the 66 minutes mark. Johnson’s tame header could not threaten, but a sumptuous ball in from D’Ath moments later almost found the head of Toure. From the resulting corner, Josh Staunton nodded over Worthington’s corner.

The arrival of Toure seemed to give the home side something to think about and on 72 minutes he grabbed the lead. A mistake from the home side saw him gifted possession, he broke forward in to the box and, having had his first efforts blocked by on-rushing defenders, the ball broke to him again and  TOURE slammed home his first goal for the club.

The lead was probably harsh on Altrincham who had dominated up to the Frenchman’s arrival, but there was always the fear of a mistake in Yeovil. With ten minutes to go, Jordan Hulme twisted and turned in the box and fired in a shot that Smith had to save with his feet.

If the Hargreaves-ball was missing, there is always the class of D’Ath to enjoy. The playmaker was taken off in the 89th minute, replaced by Sam Perry to well-earned  applause from the away end.

But remember how I said there was a mistake in the visitors? Just moments after the fourth official’s board went up to display five minutes of added time, a ball from a wide position (where have we heard that before?) got a glancing header from substitute Egli KAJA to draw the game level.


Full time: Altrincham 2 Yeovil Town 2

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Venue: Huish Park
Tuesday August 16th, 7.45pm kick-off

Conditions: Damp
Pitch: Green – well, except for the damp bits

Attendance: 2,263 (89 away supporters)

Scorers: Nicky Kabamba 72 (0-1), Nicke Kabamba 78 (0-2), Jamie Reckord 80 (1-2)

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Fisher 41, Worthington 50, Reckord 82
Barnet: Gorman 72, Phillips 85

Referee: Gary Parsons


Yeovil Town : (5-3-2)

Grant Smith

Charlie Wakefield, Morgan Williams, Max Hunt, Josh Staunton, Jamie Reckord

Sam Perry Matt Worthington, Sam Pearson (for Lawson D’Ath, 72)

Alex Fisher (for Gime Toure, 58) Malachi Linton (for Chiori Johnson, 80)

Substitutes (not used): Will Buse, Chiori Johnson, Alfie Pond.

Barnet: Walker, Wynter, Collinge, Okimo, Beard, Gorman (for Phillips, 77), Pritchard,. De Havilland, Mason-Clark, Kabama, Shields (for Smith, 62) Substitutes: Callan, Thomas, Hall.

Match Report

A second half brace from Barnet striker Nicke Kabamba earned them a smash-and-grab win on a damp Tuesday night at Huish Park.

After a first half which saw visiting keeper Laurie Walker pull off three fantastic saves to twice deny Yeovil striker Malachi Linton and Jamie Reckord, it took until 72 minutes for the visitors to make their hosts pay for not taking their chances and then doubled it after an error from goalkeeper Grant Smith.

Jamie Reckord pulled one back after 82 minutes which sparked a late flurry of attacks which could not find a breakthrough.

In the words of our own Ben Barrett co-commentating for BBC Somerset, “skullduggery has prevailed” and you’ll not be surprised to hear that former Glover Dale Gorman was at the heart of the dark arts.

Here’s how it went down…..

First half

Chris Hargreaves named an unchanged squad from the 1-1 draw against Wrexham at the weekend with Malachi Linton and Alex Fisher paired up front, whilst Gime Toure and Lawson D’Ath, who both impressed whilst coming off the bench three days earlier, both remained among the substitutes.

The opening 20 minutes were all about Barnet goalkeeper Laurie Walker who made three fantastic saves to deny the Glovers.

After just four minutes, strong play by Fisher saw him win the ball well and then unselfishly play the ball to Jamie Reckord whose shot was superbly stopped by the big keeper, who was at it again four minutes later when good play by Sam Pearson set up Linton whose effort was kept out.

Linton was denied again on 18 minutes when his free header was denied by probably the best of the keeper’s three saves with the ball almost behind the keeper.

That saw Barnet begin to enjoy a bit of possession without doing much to carve out any meaningful opportunities as the game ticked past the half-hour mark. One thing is for sure, former Glover Dale Gorman is likely to spend much of his game in the ear of referee, Gary Parsons.

Charlie Wakefield. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Walker was at it again on 38 minutes when Charlie Wakefield, who was having a quiet game up to that point, got involved and fed the ball on to Pearson who turned on the edge of the box and fired in a shot which the former Stevenage keeper did superbly to deny going in the wrong direction.

Moments later, Gorman fulfilled his role as the pantomime villain when he made the most of a tackle from Fisher earning the striker a yellow card. The home crowd let him know what they thought of him and the Northern Irishman loved it – as you’d expect.

The half ended goalless and Barnet no doubt went in thanking the efforts of their keeper for keeping them in the game.

 Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Barnet 0

Second half

With just five minutes of the second half played, Sam Pearson burst through and lifted the ball over the keeper but fluffed his lines from a glorious opportunity. Fisher kept the ball in play but his effort was cleared off the line. Great opportunity – again.

Fisher brought the ball down well moments later, but his effort was tame and easily held by Walker.

Just before the hour mark, Yeovil introduced Gime Toure in place of Fisher, who was on a booking.

It took until the 65th minute for the visitors to put pressure on Grant Smith as referee Gary Parsons failed (a sentence quite often uttered….Rule 1, I know, I know) to give a free-kick in their favour in the middle of the park. Mason Ephron-Clarke got away and put in a shot which Smith had to deal with.

However, with the chances missed at the other end, you just knew the sucker punch was coming and it came on 72 minutes. Ephron-Clarke was at the heart of it again, firing a low cross in to the box and Nicke KABAMBA was there to steer home to opener.

Ex-Glover Dale Gorman is finally booked by referee Gary Parsons. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Lawson D’Ath was introduced in place of Pearson straight after the goal before Gorman finally found his way in to the referee’s book and was shortly substituted for his own safety.

But, with 11 minutes remaining, the visitors got their second A mistake by Max Hunt led to Smith came for a ball that was not his to come for and he found himself in No Man’s Land allowing KABAMBA to lift the ball over him and his second of the night.

Moments later, Chiori Johnson replaced Linton with Charlie Wakefield moving up front and the substitute soon found Lawson D’Ath whose cross came in from the right and found Jamie RECKORD at the far post and he fired home his second goal for the the club. Lifeline?

Sam Beard sent a free-kick just over the box which had Smith scrambling soon after and the keeper will have been relieved to see the effort go wide.

Toure almost turned an injury time corner home when he smashed an effort in which was blocked by a Barnet player on the line.

The pressure was all from Yeovil in injury time with a penalty shout for a shove on Morgan Williams before Toure and Sam Perry both had chances. However, it was too little, too late for the home side.

Full time: Yeovil Town 1 Barnet 2