Venue: Hayes Lane
Saturday 14th January, 3pm kick-off
Conditions: Strong wind across the pitch
Pitch: Plastic
Attendance: 2,245 (149 away supporters)
Scorers: LouisDennis 9 (0-1), Besart Topalloj 32 (0-2), Louis Dennis 63 (0-3), Andrew Oluwabori 65 (1-3), Corey Whitely 87 (1-4).
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Max Hunt 11, Alex Fisher 51.
Referee: Wayne Cartmel
Yeovil Town (4-3-3)
Substitutes: Jordan Young (for Lawson D’Ath, 59), Malachi Linton (for Max Hunt, 70), Chiori Johnson (not used), Charlie Cooper (not used), Will Buse (not used).
Bromley: Charles-Cook, Reynolds, Coleman, Whitely, Dennis (for Alexander, 89), Cheek, Webster, Forster (for Krauhaus, 88), Vennings (for Bingham, 73), Topalloj, Fisher. Substitutes (not used): Bingham, Sowunmi, Arthurs.
Match Report
The wheels came off Yeovil Town’s unbeaten run of seven National League games in spectacular style as their defensive solidity abandoned them at Bromley.
Having fallen behind to a bizarre opener from the home side when striker Louis Dennis’ shot cannoned off a visiting defender to complete wrong-foot Grant Smith in the Yeovil goal, they preceded to gift a second to Besart Topalloj. But, there were also gilt-edged opportunities missed first by Jordan Maguire-Drew and then Andrew Oluwabori, the latter being clean through on goal.
A further defensive calamity gifted Dennis his second just after the hour and although Oluwabori pulled one with his first since arriving on loan soon after, Corey Whitely wrapped up a well-deserved win for Bromley – their first over the Glovers at Hayes Lane since September 1987.
Here’s Coatesie’s report from the wind-battered away end in that corner of Kent…..
First half
Within two minutes the start a sickening clash of heads with Yeovil skipper Josh Staunton saw Bromley’s Jamie Vennings go down for a lengthy period of treatment. The midfielder returned to action.
But seven minutes later a bizarre deflection gave Bromley a lead. A shot from the edge of the box from striker Louis DENNIS took a wicked deflection off Max Hunt and completely wrong-footed Grant Smith.
On 13 minutes, on-loan Millwall full-back Besart Topalloj’s header went just over from a corner for the home side who had totally dominated the opening exchanges with Yeovil struggling to cope with a strong wind behind them.
Andrew Oluwabori put a shot over the bar from distance, but the best chance of the half came on 27 minutes when Jordan Maguire-Drew’s free-kick in from the left found its way to Ben Richards-Everton. The centre half’s cross forced Bromley keeper Reice Charles-Cook in to action but no-one in Parma Violet could get an effort in on goal.
Oluwabori’s broke forward again on 23 minutes but unfortunately his touch evaded him and the attack broke down, and soon after Maguire-Drew jinked his way in from the right but his effort could not get past Charles-Cook.
Bromley had no such issues from a well-worked corner – ably assisted by some uncharacteristic sloppy defending – saw them a second on 32 minutes. TOPALLOJ slammed home from just inside the box to double the advantage.
If anyone needed any explanation why Yeovil are the lowest scorers in the division, the answer arrived when Oluwabori was clean through on 36 minutes. The Peterborough United loanee put his effort high and wide with only the keeper to beat.
The opportunities to score for the visitors were there. It was the ability to take them that was the problem.
Half time: Bromley 2 Yeovil Town 0
Second half
Yeovil thought they had pulled one back ten minutes after the restart when Matt Worthington headed home a cross from Oluwabori – only for it to be ruled out by an offside flag.
Smith had to be a his best soon after, making a superb finger tip save to turn an effort from Kellen Fisher.
A strong run forward by Harry Forster left the visitors’ defence at sixes and sevens and the ball broke to DENNIS who turned home from close range to make it 3-0. Hint of offside? Perhaps I am clutching at straws here, but given how far behind play the assistant referee was, I suspect my guess is as good as his.
The response was almost immediate. Alex Fisher got away down the right flank and laid across the face of goal to OLUWABORI who side-footed it home. Too little, too late?
Even with Malachi Linton and new signing Jordan Young on to add to the three forwards they started with, there was no shape to the Yeovil attack. The tactic seemed to be lump it forward and hope for the best – but the best never came.
Then three minutes from the end another defensive horror show served up Bromley’s fourth. Forster’s effort from right was turned on to the post by Smith, the keeper then made a great reaction save to deny Dennis before Corey WHITELY tucked home.
Cooper has to go, what next.? Grant Smith up front, the manager is a joke