Yeovil Town stepped over a potential banana skin to make it through to the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy with victory at AFC Telford United.
The Glovers took the lead when Harvey Greenslade’s ball was deflected in to the net by Telford defender Amaar Dyer after 27 minutes before striker Tahvon Campbell seized on a defensive lapse to double the advantage just after the hour mark.
Telford, who were unbeaten at home since November, applied some pressure in the closing stages but Yeovil stood firm to make it in to Monday’s draw for the competition’s last eight.
First half
The positive start continued with plenty of balls in to the box from the visitors with Sims in particular looking a threat down the right, but Mukena’s header in to the arms of Telford keeper Josh Gracey after 14 minutes was the nearest we came to another opening
Telford look like they are happy to sit behind the ball and hit their visitors on the break, whilst we played the ball around and looked for an opening. One almost came on 25 minutes when Sims got away down the right before finding Dakari Mafico just inside the area, but he lifted his effort over the bar. Telford’s first opening a minute later when Dylan Allen-Hadley found himself through on goal, only to scuff his effort allowing Jake Wannell to recover and clear the danger.
The breakthrough came on 27 minutes with another break from a wide position. This time it was Harvey Greenslade was released down the left and his ball in to the box found its way in to the goal via a deflection off Amaar Dyer. I’d love to give it to Harvey, but that has to go down as an OWN GOAL.
A couple of yellow cards for Josh Tobin and then Kyle Ferguson were about the only talking points for the final 15 minutes of the first half.
Half time: AFC Telford United 0 Yeovil Town 1
Second half
Tobin’s first half booking for an unnecessary challenge saw him withdrawn at the start of the second half with Finn Cousin-Dawson replacing him in a defensive midfield role.
Three minutes after the break, Mafico and Campbell linked up well but the Cardiff youngster’s effort was easily gathered by Gracey in the Telford goal.
With 55 minutes played, Telford striker Matt Stenson tumbled inside the box before getting straight up and pushing Ferguson to the ground. Stenson’s short temper and Ferguson’s reputation for sh*thousery combined for the inevitable yellow card for the striker.
Just before the hour mark, a moment of Yeovil dawdling in an attacking position was broken up by a solid Telford tackle on Cousin-Dawson to allow Allen-Hadley to break forward. He had Stenson available but his effort was deflected wide for a corner. Telford are making more of a game of this in the second half.
But, it was Yeovil who found the game’s next goal just after the hour mark. A moment of indecision by the Telford defence was pounced upon by Tahvon CAMPBELL who found himself one-on-one with Gracey inside the area and coolly finished. To be fair to the striker, he’s done little all game, but he’s turned up when it counts there.
Stenson had a great opportunity to reduce the arrears soon after good play by the dangerous Hadley found the in-form striker who lashed his effort over from an angle after 68 minutes. Telford were not giving up and with 77 minutes on the clock, a ball in to the box just evaded Hadley who would have had an easy opportunity.
Jacob Maddox replaced Joy Mukena with Cousin-Dawson dropping back in to the back line. Yeovil have looked controlled and handled the pressure which the home side have applied.
The final ten minutes saw Telford turn up the pressure with a number of balls in to the box, but the back line stood firm to book a place in the quarter finals.
There was a nice moment in second half stoppage time played as Under-18s’ players Jaydon Biss and Liam Nardiello replaced Campbell and Greenslade to make their Yeovil debuts.
Full time: AFC Telford United 0 Yeovil Town 2
Match Details
Venue: New Bucks’ Head
Date: Saturday 31st January, 3pm kick-off
Competition: FA Trophy, 5th Round
Scorers: Ammar Dyer o.g. 27, Tahvon Campbell 63
Pitch: A bit bare in places, but playable which is enough after the past couple of games.
Conditions: Dry but dull
Attendance: 2,162 (507 away supporters)
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Josh Tobin 32, Kyle Ferguson 37, Tahvon Campbell 78
AFC Telford United: Matt Stenson 55, Oliver Cawthorne 78.
Referee: Aaron Farmer
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Yeovil Town (3-4-1-2)
Substitutes: Finn Cousin-Dawson (for Josh Tobin, 46), Jacob Maddox (for Joy Mukena, 72), Jaydon Biss (for Tahvon Campbell, 90), Liam Nardiello (for Harvey Greenslade 90+2, Matt Gould (not used).
AFC Telford United: Josh Gracey, Amaar Dyer, Jordan Cranston (for Rhys Hilton, 81), Jordan Piggott, Oliver Cawthorne, Alex Fletcher, Khanaya Leshabela, Remi Walker (for Jimmy Armson, 71), Jamie Meddows, Matt Stenson (for Ricardo Dinanga, 71), Dylan Allen-Hadley.
A very good win when you consider the other FA Trophy results today.
A lovely gesture by the manager to put the two youth team lads on.
Very few previous Yeovil managers in my experience would have done that.
Well said! 👍