The new season got underway at Huish Park in heart-breaking fashion yesterday as Carlisle United snatched a point scoring an equaliser with the final kick of the game. Dave paid a rare visit to Huish Park and here are his conclusions from his view on the Thatcher’s End.
Absolutely gutted: The first emotion I and I am sure everyone of a Yeovil Town persuasion felt at the final whistle was absolute heartbreak. It felt like it was going to be a tall order to keep out even a below par Carlisle side for 25 minutes with ten men following the sending off of Joe Gubbins. But it looked like our heroics had done it right up until Harvey Bunker’s equaliser in the sixth minute of stoppage time. It was de ja vu from last weekend at Scunthorpe, that mixed emotion of positivity at how we had played, but utter heartbreak that we had not got all three points.
Heroic defending: For the final 25 minutes with ten men we defending like absolute lions, but our good defending extend beyond that. Yes, granted Carlisle were not great, but our defence made players who are good even below their best, the likes of Regan Linney, David Ajiboye and Georgie Kelly, look average. That was the case last weekend at Scunthorpe as well and that is not just by chance.
Super Jos Barker in goal: We always needed to see Jos Barker in competitive action before we judged him and I’m liking what I see. He’s not afraid to mix it and comes for everything and gets it more often than not. It is only two competitive games, but from the a player who has jumped two tiers of the football pyramid, he has not looked out of place from anything I have seen.
How good is it to have a striker again?: Did anyone else get Rhys Murphy vibes when Ste Walker picked up that through ball from Ryan Jones and coolly slotted it home? In his competitive debut for us, that is the mark of a true striker. I can only imagine what the strikers we had at the club last season would have done in that situation.
So much to be positive about: We are sat here a matter of minutes (seconds in the case of yesterday) away from six points against two sides who will be in the promotion mix come May, and we only have two on the board. But I can’t feel anything but positive about how we have started the season. Seeing us pass the ball quickly and look to move it forward when the time is right is like meeting an old friend after many years apart. Even when we had to move it sideways or backwards, I felt like it was all part of the plan. To hear so many cheers and applause at the final whistle, I know I can’t have been the only one.
Strong performance all over the park for all of 96:50 minutes but a shame the final minute was one too many. Will be interesting to see how we approach the next three games – a relegated L2 team sandwiching two mid/low pack from last season. Hoping we can turn 1 point into 3 and see out the whole game. PS, Jos Barker missed one cross before time added on. He’s definitely strong, brave and fully committed.
Ah, I’m going to pull an Arsene Wenger and say I missed that one! Haha.
Hah hah, probably being a bit tough on the lad. It was on the highlights but realised he was nowhere near the ball. Fair play to Jos – he got everything else. Hope you had a great birthday Arsene/Dave!
A really organised and encouraging performance. Players seemed aware of the expected patterns. If we can play a half like yesterday’s first after one game we should be very competitive after a few months. Second half was a bit slow but we defended the box well. Every player looked good and did the job asked of them. Very much looking forward to the season now!
Some observations:
Thought the Ref let them dictate the tenor of the game when thats his job. A yellow or two in the first 20 mins would have confirmed his authority.
We seemed a bit nervous for first home game. Passes going astray on the pitch and fidgeting in the Stands.
Very well taken goal and good passage of play for 20 mins after. We had em on the backfoot then and pity the second didnt come.
In the closing minutes the support all around Huish was excellent.
Made Jos Barker man of the match. Outstanding performance for young man at this level.
Attendance a tad disappointing? I was hoping for 4000 plus
I think after the past couple of seasons and on a sunny day in the school holidays, people might have had a reason to stay away, Derek.
Hopefully the word starts to spread about improved performances and the crowds will rise at HP.💚
Probably right there David, but I wonder if the prospect of some Birthday Cake at half time might have helped. I never missed the Christmas game when Santa showered the terraces with toffees.
At my age, I’ve got to watch my blood sugar levels, Derek!🤣
I thought the keeper and No. 3 played really well, it was a pity that we didn’t get that 2nd goal would have made the difference, they hung on really well to keep that 1-0, the referee did not pay alot of attention to Yeovil players being fouled on left right and centre, but I notice Carlisle players did alot of pulling, shuffing, they got competley ignored, fair play to the lines woman she was on form, and to let that goal in at 15 seconds before full time was anyone’s worse nightmare..
Well done the Glovers…
But we are still lacking strikers tbh…