For the fourth match running Yeovil Town threw away a lead to leave a winning position with less than full points.

A Sean McGurk wonderstrike was cancelled out by Aaron Cosgrave in the second half.

Ebbsfleet played almost 40 minutes with ten men and Yeovil could not break them down.

A thoroughly disappointing showing from the Glovers, who have to settle for nothing more than a point.


First half

The starting XI saw two changes from the 1-1 draw at home to Woking on Saturday with Kofi Shaw straight back in to the line-up following his suspension, and Morgan Williams returning having missed the weekend through injury.
 
A Charlie Cooper shot past the post after nine minutes and Shaw’s ball in to the box were as close as either side came to breaking the deadlock in the opening ten minutes.
 
There was little to write home (or even to you good people) about for the 15 minutes which followed that with another Cooper effort from the edge of the box on 24 minutes which was deflected wide the closest effort either side came. 
There was a substitution for Ebbsfleet (that feels something concrete) with Jez Davies replaced by Todd Kane after 26 minutes, and Finn Cousin-Dawson having to temporarily go off with a blooded nose.
 
Not to sound too ‘Gerrit Forward, Cooper’, but the first shot on target came from a long ball forward which sat up nicely for Shaw to hit the game’s first effort on target. There are 35 minutes played, that is the first effort on target, although McGurk did have another within about 30 seconds of the first one landing. As low blocks go, Ebbsfleet’s is one of the lowest I have ever seen.
It was going to take something special to wake this one up and fortunately there was something in the boots of Sean MCGURK. The Swindon Town loanee produced a beautiful bit of skill to get past a defender, turned towards goal, beat another defender and lash one in off the post in from 20 yards out.

Half time: Ebbsfleet United 0 Yeovil Town 1


Second half

The second half began with no changes for either team, the opening exchanges were understandably scrappy; nothing more than a mis-timed Aaron Jarvis through ball and an Aaron Cosgrave wild shot at goal for the first few moments of the game.
 
Ebbsfleet had to try and take more control of the second half and with five minutes on the clock in the second period, they had taken more control of the ball.
The Glovers’ first foray forward came through Kofi Shaw, who broke down the left hand side and held off his man, but the loanee was quickly snuffed out of the attack and despite having the ball in a good area, nothing more than a calm cross collection from the home ‘keeper is all Yeovil had to show for it.
 
The game was doing much of nothing, until it sparked into life.
 
Jake Wannell was outpaced down the left hand side, the first half sub Jez Davies, had all the time to find a through ball to Cosgrave who nudged Morgan Williams off the ball and found a cute dink over the on rushing Ollie Wright. 
 
Salt poured into the wounds a few moments later as Jarvis spun Tyler Cordner and immediately grabbed the back of his hamstring. Oh.
 
The former Torquay man had to be helped from the pitch, Josh Sims coming on for him. 
 
61 minutes on the clock and medically, things went from bad to worse. Morgan Williams hit the deck and needed assistance.
 
With the Glovers down to ten men albeit temporarily, Ebbsfleet wasted their opportunity with an overhit free kick.
 
After the restart, the Yeovil team maintained possession and Dom Bernard found a lovely ball over the top only for Mustapha Olagunju to haul Ciaran McGuckin to the floor. Foul, Free Kick. DOGSO. Red Card.
 
Yeovil would face ten men for the best part of half an hour.
 
McGavin stood over the resulting free kick, his set piece hit the wall and McGurk’s follow up shot was turned behind for a corner.
 
Charlie Cooper shot, Morgan Williams headed towards goal, if the previous 30 seconds were a sign of what’s to come, the Glovers would be in the ascendancy.
 
Brett McGavin played a lovely through ball on 68 minutes, a perfect side ways pass was blazed over from 12 yards. Not one that McGurk will want to see again.
 
There was a significant delay off the back of that chance, Tyler Cordner needed to be stretchered from the pitch after twisting awkwardly. We hope he’ll be ok, no-one likes to see that.
 
 
On came Anthony Stewart to replace the former W*ymouth man.
 
After a pause of almost 10 minutes, the game resumed and shortly after, Frank Nouble replaced Kofi Shaw and Jacob Maddox came on for McGurk.
 
With 12 minutes of the normal 90 left, McGuckin committed a foul which invited some rare Ebbsfleet pressure.
 
More subs broke up the rhythm some more, and the hosts were in no hurry.
 
When they did come forward the hosts were able to create crossing opportunities, particularly down Yeovil’s left hand side,
 
McGavin was pulling the strings in the Glovers midfield. He found some room to force the ball into the danger area, the ball found it’s way back out to the former Torquay man, but a wall of red deflected it wide.
 
The corner was followed by an intense spell of Green and White pressure, but Ebbsfleet were happy to camp in and hold on to what they had.
 
The hosts were in their two clear banks of defence, and the Glovers were struggling to pierce through the ranks.
 
Another sub for the hosts, another chance to slow the game down. Only four minutes of normal time left and Harvey Greenslade was thrown into the mix in place of McGavin.
 
Could the visitors put a sustained spell of possession? Could they find a way through? 
 
Frank Nouble did, but Josh Sims opted to pass sideways when it looked more inviting to shoot. 
 
It was pretty much just FC-D in defence for the away side as the clock ticked to 89 minutes.
 
Everyone else was in attacking areas.
 
14 Minutes added on, much to the surprise of those in red and white.
 
The sideways passes continued from the Glovers, trying to find a way through.
 
But the best chance actually fell the way of Ebbsfleet, a long hopeful ball saw Bernard muscled off the ball and Ollie Wright had to be down smart to save.
 
McGuckin had a shot drift wide – there were still more than ten minutes left to go.
 
Cooper found Bernard in the box, he was closed down by exhausted Ebbsfleet defenders. Another attempt to thread the needle was headed away.
Another shot – this time from Maddox – was blocked away.
Another cross, another block, another corner.
 
Time was still on Yeovil’s side, and Jake Wannell was now a permanent member of the attacking unit.
 
But time after time, wave after wave, Yeovil found one Ebbsfleet defender too many in the way.
 
Cooper saw a volley skew wide, the Ebbsfleet gaffer saw Yellow. 
Cooper saw a shot fly high and wide – the Glovers had failed to register a single shot on target in the second half.
 
30 seconds remained when Nouble was muscled off the ball, the front man gave away a foul and that was that.
 

Full time: Ebbsfleet United 1 Yeovil Town 1


Match Details

Venue: Stonebridge Road
Date: Tuesday 14th January- 7.45pm kick-off 

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: McGurk ’38 (0-1) Cosgrave ’57 (1-1),

Pitch: Like running on a non-Newtonian fluid
Conditions: Text

Attendance: 1125 (XXX away fans)

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: N/A
Ebbsfleet United:  
Aoraha

Sending Off:
Yeovil Town: N/A
Ebbsfleet United:  
Olagunju ’66

Referee: Rob Massey-Ellis

Yeovil Town (3-4-2-1)

Substitutes: Gould (GK), Greenslade, Maddox, Nouble, Sims (for Jarvis ’59), Whittle, Worthington.

Ebbsfleet United: Cousins, Aoraha, Chapman, Cordner (For Stewart), Cosgrave, Dallison, Edser, Kane (for Davies ’26), Moncur (for Samuels), Olagunju, Thomas

Substitutes (not used):  Bingham, Goddard(GK), Manktelow, Odokonyero, 

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Benji
1 month ago

That’s just not good enough. Thanks for last season Mr Cooper, but it’s time a change.

Ben
1 month ago

Abysmal stuff. Bottom of the league who have shipped nearly 70 goals this season and they’re a man down, it’s got to be easy pickings. Players have potential but Cooper is holding them back

Chris
1 month ago

Dreadful tactics especially after sending off. Cooper lacks a plan B. Boring style of football and not a joy to watch. No wonder home crowds are poor. Especially the season after winning the league.

Martin James Wilson
1 month ago

you were the better team but totally wayward in front of goal. One of the few matches where we (Ebbsfleet) actually played for 90 \(well 104) minutes