Goals from strikers Rhys Murphy and loanee Olly Thomas was enough to help Yeovil Town to another pre-season friendly win at AFC Totton on Saturday.
It took less than two minutes for Murphy to open the scoring combining well with Frank Nouble and Jordan Maguire-Drew, a front three which repeatedly rotated positions as the game progress, and Bristol City forward Thomas added a second with his first touch after 66 minutes.
The hosts pulled one back through Matt Burrows on 71 minutes, however, despite not being a vintage performance in atrocious weather conditions on the South Coast, the Glovers did enough to hold on for the win.
Callum Hallett was once again in the stands to provide us with updates and here is how it went……
First half
How many times did we hear about Yeovil Town wanting to start ‘on the front foot’ last season? Well, this was the most front foot of front foot starts as the Glovers took the lead after less than two minutes.
The ball dropped to Frank Nouble who played a nice ball through to Jordan Maguire-Drew who who had a shot blocked and the ball dropped to Rhys MURPHY. He fired home the opener in to the top right-hand corner.
The match started with Murphy down the left of a front three with Nouble on the right and Maguire-Drew down the middle, albeit they constantly rotated during their time on the pitch. You’d fancy that trio to get some goals next season, wouldn’t you?
On eight minutes, Jake Scrimshaw, who had a fairly unfruitful spell at Huish Park last season, had an effort after a good move from the hosts down the right hand side, but Scrimshaw shot over. Sounds familiar.
Moments later JM-D and Murphy combined nicely and the latter saw his effort well saved by Lewis Noice in the Totton goal and then it was Will Buse who was in action on 12 minutes. He reacted well to get down to a header from Luke Hallett from an Ethan Taylor corner.
Picture courtesy of Marcus Duncomb.
In fairness to the home side, who play a level below Yeovil in Southern League Premier Division South, they did not allow the early goal impact them and caused the visitors problems.
Conditions were not that summery with driving rain making the pitch at the Snows Stadium somewhat heavy, so much so that both sets of players warmed up on a pitch outside the stadium. It made for a couple of ‘tasty’ tackles in the first half with Totton captain Mike Carter putting in a particularly heavy one in on Murphy leading to a talking to from the referee.
The hosts continued to have the better of the chances as the first half progressed and on 34 minutes hosts’ midfielder Adam Tomasso forced a routine stop out of Buse after a smart one-two from the Stags with a Taylor free-kick going over soon after.
On 43 minutes, good combination between Murphy and Maguire-Drew saw the latter go through only to be denied by a fine tackle from experienced hosts’ defender Sam Magri, who picked up an injury for his trouble and had to be substituted.
After a bright start it was not a vintage first half from Yeovil in conditions more akin to mid-November than mid-July, but equally we lead the match. So there’s that.
Half-time: AFC Totton 0 Yeovil Town 1
Second half
There were no changes at half-time and the second half began as the first ended with the home side having chances. With four minutes of the second half gone, Scrimshaw got through one-on-one with Buse and the keeper did well to save with his feet. You could call that a good save or a reason why we cancelled Scrimhsaw’s contract, we’ll leave that one up to you.
Two minutes later, on loan Bristol City wing-back Zac Bell won the ball back well, got past his man and got a shot in, but it was high and wide.
After a half-time ticking off from manager Mark Cooper, the visitors grew in to the game and just before the hour mark Maguire-Drew twisted and turned the Totton defence but his effort to the back post was just about cleared away.
A minute later good link-up between Maguire-Drew, Nouble and Alex Whittle saw Nouble beat his defender and smash in a shot-come-cross which was blocked.
The changes arrived soon after the hour mark with Olly Thomas, who joined on loan from Bristol City in the week, replacing Murphy and then trialist Sonny Blu Lo-Everton replaced Maguire-Drew on 63 minutes.
It took just three minutes for the new arrivals to combine for Yeovil’s second goal on 66 minutes. Lo-Everton showed great strength to win the ball back and fed THOMAS who had a great touch to set himself away and then hammered a fantastic effort off the post and in to the bottom corner.
But the home side pulled a goal back on 71 minutes after a mistake from Morgan Williams saw Totton break away down the left, a great ball across from Jordan Ragguette and Matt BURROWS beat Jamie Sendles-White to the ball and pulled one back.
Thomas was in again a minute later when substitute Jordan Young, who had replaced Nouble, set the striker away, but this time he dragged his effort wide. Matt Worthington followed suit pulling one past the post after a great ball through from Lo-Everton on 79 minutes.
Despite the horrendous weather which did not get any better as the match progressed, Lo-Everton continued to press his case for a deal with an impressive performance.
On 85 minutes, Charlie Davies seized on a mistake from Jake Wannell just outside the box, but put his effort over the bar.
Full time: AFC Totton 1 Yeovil Town 2
Yeovil Town: Will Buse (for Lewis Williams, 75), Morgan Williams, Jamie Sendles-White (for Josh Staunton, 75), Jake Wannell, Alex Whittle (for Will Dawes, 67), Zac Bell (for Jacob Shore, 80), Matt Worthington, Charlie Cooper (for Josh Owers, 75), Jordan Maguire-Drew (for Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, 63), Frank Nouble (for Jordan Young, 69), Rhys Murphy (for Olly Thomas, 60).
Attendance: 583
Great to see the results coming in during pre season, hopefully translate these performances in to the league come the start of the season. Good report, well done lads