Match Report: Exmouth Town 0 Yeovil Town 1

An early first half goal from summer signing striker Tahvon Campbell was the difference between Yeovil Town and Southern League Division One South side Exmouth Town in the opening pre-season friendly on Saturday.

The frontman, who returned to Huish Park following the expiry of his contract at Solihull Moors, turned home a cross from Alex Whittle after eight minutes to earn the victory and it could have been more but for the heroics of Exmouth keeper Aaron Dearing.

As ever in pre-season, the appearance of trialists and the inevitable guessing game as to their identities was a major feature of this fixture. In the starting XI, ex-Bristol Rovers players striker Jevani Brown and midfielder Luke McCormick were joined by young Bristol City full-back Joseph James, who all played the opening 45 minutes.

With a complete change of the XI, trialist strikers Abu Kanu (ex-Swindon Town), Kieren Edworthy (Plymouth Parkway) and midfielder Teo Kurtaran, who played in Poland last season, all took to the field in the second half.

You can find out more about these players in our Spot the Trialist special feature – here.

First half

With the travelling Yeovil fans still trying to figure out who the summer signings – both Tahvon Campbell and James Daly started – and trialists were, the Glovers opened the scoring when a left wing cross from Alex Whittle found Tahvon CAMPBELL who looped one over the keeper.

On 15 minutes, recent signing James Daly hit the crossbar before Mike Landricombe headed over a minute later before Campbell fired another effort wide on the half-hour mark.

On 32 minutes, a free-kick in prime Brett McGavin territory was denied by a stop from Exmouth goalkeeper Aaron Dearing who got down smartly to deny…..well, Brett McGavin. Who else?

With six minutes remaining of the first half, Campbell showed good ability to get past his defender but his touch let him down and the ball went straight to Dearing, then two minutes from time Daly headed one wide.

Half-time: Exmouth Town 0 Yeovil Town 1

The start of the second half saw the traditional full change of the starting XI from Yeovil Town and a number of changes from the home side as well. Winger Lewys Twamley found himself playing at right back from the kick-off.

It took until the hour mark for one of the new arrivals,  Twamley, to get an effort to test Dearing in the hosts’ goal before Harvey Greenslade was denied by two sharp stops from the keeper five minutes later.

There was another chance on 66 minutes when trialist midfielder Teo Kurtaran picked out Kieran Edworthy whose effort was saved by Dearing before Twamley had a tame effort from the edge of the box which was easily held by the keeper.

Aaron Jarvis and then Twamley saw efforts blocked by Dearing after 73 minutes and it felt like just a matter of time before another goal was coming for the visitors.

With ten minutes to go there was an unusual substitution as the referee was replaced by the fourth official. Presumably the Devon FA had seen enough from the first man in black. A minute later Greenslade curled an effort which looked like it was going in to the top corner, only for Dearing to get there to turn it wide. He is having quite an afternoon the Exmouth keeper.

Josh Sims had an opportunity to become the latest player to be denied by Dearing with four minutes remaining, but it was not really much to trouble him.

Full time: Exmouth Town 0 Yeovil Town 1

Teams:

First half – Yeovil Town: Aidan Stone, Joseph James (Trialist), Morgan Williams, Jake Wannell, Alex Whittle, Charlie Cooper, Brett McGavin, Luke McCormick (Trialist), Jevani Brown (Trialist), James Daly, Tahvon Campbell.

Second half – Yeovil Town: Matt Gould, Lewys Twamley, Kyle Ferguson, Finn Cousin-Dawson, Corey Koerner, Josh Sims, Harvey Greenslade, Teo Kurtaran (Trialist), Kieran Edworthy (Trialist), Abu Kanu (Trialist), Aaron Jarvis.

Exmouth Town: Aaron Dearing, Sam Morcom (for B Steer, 46) , Ollie Knowles, Mike Landricombe, Aaron Denny (for Slater, 46), Callum Shipton (for Cann, 46), Ben Griffith (for Kennell, 46), Jacob Shore (for Butcher, 46), Issac McCue (for Rowe, 46), Joe Belsten, Matt Wright.

Attendance: 676