It’s the last eight of the FA Trophy for Yeovil Town for the first time in 23 years – albeit 16 of those years we didn’t compete in it – after an impressive performance and 2-0 win at AFC Telford United. Dave was in the away end at New Buck’s Head to watch the Glovers side-step a banana skin and here are his thoughts.
A banana skin avoided: We had all the excuses you could hope for to slip up at Telford. Having not played for two weeks, missing a number of key players through being cup tied or injury, facing a team in great form going in to this game and on a pitch which was not exactly a snooker table. But, the game plan could not have been better executed. We threatened from the first minute and looked comfortably the better side in the first half, nullified everything Telford threw at us including making their prolific strike Matt Stenson look average, and we took our chances – well, enough of them to matter, anyway. A thoroughly professional performance.
It could/should have been more comfortable: Going forward, we looked a threat and we should have won this game more comfortably than we did. Tahvon Campbell, Harvey Greenslade and Dakari Mafico all had great opportunities to make the scoreline far more convincing. Campbell took his chance coolly, but he’s still not the one for me. In his post-match interview, Billy Rowley said the striker was “on his back” when he came off in second half stoppage time, but I am not sure where he expended his energy. Then again, he scored a goal and if he does nothing but score all season, he’ll be right by me. Not that he cares much about pleasing me, I’m sure!
Defensively solid: I don’t mind admitting that seeing the number of goals Telford have scored in the past couple of months, I feared for our back line. I thought we looked more solid when Finn Cousin-Dawson came on in the second half, but I was really impressed with what I saw from Joy Mukena and, if he’s not match fit, he can only improve. Jake Wannell has had his critics this season – including me – but I thought he looked composed. A clean sheet will do them the world of good with some tough league fixtures coming up.
Vote for your top performer at Telford in our Man of the Match poll – click here.
The last eight looks good: Having scraped through the last two round of the Trophy on penalties, it was good to get a convincing win in the fifth round – and have you seen who’s left in the quarter-finals? We are one of four National League Premier Division sides with the others being Southend United, Wealdstone and Woking, and then four teams from lower divisions – Horsham, Kidderminster Harriers, Marine and Southport. In a season where not getting pulled in to a relegation scrap in the league feels like a success, the Trophy feels like a great opportunity for us to enjoy yourselves. The last time we made the quarter finals was 2002-2003 when we lost at home to Burscough in the last eight – but we did also win promotion to the Football League that season. I’m sure we’d all take that, but you can almost see the Wembley arch, can’t you?
Now for some league points: Asked about whether he was looking forward to the quarter-final draw on Saturday, Billy Rowley was very quick to point out we need to start picking up league points. A trip to Altrincham is next up next weekend and, as one of the teams below us in the table, that has to be seen as an opportunity to take the momentum of a positive Trophy performance in to the league. We have games in hand over all of the teams below us in the table – with the exception of bottom club Gateshead who have played the same number of games – but getting points on the board has to happen quickly.
It’s funny how Yeovil town fans prefer not to mention on many occasions it is a full-time squad of players and often playing part time players. Yes men who have to go out and do a real job as well as play football
What’s your point?
On the day Yeovil were the better team and deservedly won the match, however I have to take exception to the criticism of our pitch. The groundsman works tirelessly to deliver an exceptional surface, which is regularly recognised for its high quality. Good luck going forward.