More late heartbreak for Yeovil Town as Forest Green Rovers came from behind to secure all three points, a goal and a red card for Kofi Shaw meant the Bristol Rovers loanee will make the headlines.
Here’s how it panned out at the New Lawn on New Year’s Day.
First half
Manager Mark Cooper named two goalkeepers on the bench with Under-18s’ stopper Will Howard sitting alongside goalkeeping coach Matt Gould at the top of the hill in Gloucestershire. The only change to the starting XI saw ex-Forest Green defender Dom Bernard replace Finn Cousin-Dawson in the back line.
The first opportunity came from a familiar source as Tom Knowles broke away down the left wing, skipped past Dom Bernard, and fired in a shot which Ollie Wright did well to stop at his near post after seven minutes.
On 13 minutes, a good break led by Sean McGurk picked out Kofi Shaw on the right side of the box, but he lifted his shot (cross?) high over the bar.
There were opportunities at both ends with 24 minutes gone. First a good move forward involving McGurk and Jarvis found Shaw loose inside the box, but his effort did not have enough on it. From the immediate break, Kyle McAllister beat the offside trap but dragged his shot wide of the far post. A let off.
On the half-hour mark, a sumptuous pass from Brett McGavin found Josh Sims down the left, he laid it off to McGurk whose effort was tipped over bar by Jed Ward, before a long ball forward to Jarvis saw him have an effort blocked by Ryan Inniss.
The plan seemed to be to try and frustrate Forest Green’s expensively-assembled forward line whilst hitting them on the break using the pace and trickery of McGurk and Shaw. With the exception of the early chance from Knowles and McAllister’s shot wide, there was not much of a real threat on either goal.
That was until the 38th minute when Matt Worthington’s ball in from the right found its way across to Sims, he picked out Kofi SHAW inside the box and the teenager showed superb coolness to slot home the opening goal.
A scramble inside the box following a Brett McGavin free-kick with two minutes of the half remaining saw Shaw have an effort blocked.
Half time: Forest Green Rovers 0 Yeovil Town 1
Second half
With the wind now behind the Glovers’ backs, and a rocket up the backsides of the Forest Green players it’s perhaps no great surprise to see Rovers dominate the very early exchanges.
Good play down the left hand side led to former Glover Tom Knowles pouncing on a loose ball from Morgan Williams, Knowles had time to pick his spot from 25 yards, but his shot flew high and wide, an early warning sign.
The first time Yeovil found themselves in an attacking position saw Brett McGavin spray the ball wide to Worthington, his first time cross was just about snuffed out by Ryan Inniss, before Jarvis could pounce with the goal gaping.
It wasn’t long after that, Charlie Cooper did well in midfield to snatch the ball and send Kofi Shaw on his way, but the Rovers loanee could only force a corner. McGavin’s set piece was over everyone, but the official had already blown for a foul.
On 53 minutes, a fairly even coming together between Robson and Shaw, saw Robson go down and Shaw go in the book, the subsequent free kick was snuffed out by the visitors.
There was a hairy moment on 57 minutes as Jake Wannell let a ball bounce and Liam Sercombe beat him to the ball, the awkward bounce almost did for Ollie Wright on the edge of the box, the keeper needing every millimeter of his frame to pluck the ball out of the air.
As the clock approached an hour mark, back to back crosses from Worthington and Sims saw both McGurk and McGavin twist and turn to try and find space before the ex-Torquay midfielder just ran out of room in the 18-yard box.
McGurk was back in the mix shortly after as well, he and Shaw linked up well 20 yards from goal, but a second goal was still not coming as Shaw fired over.
As subs for both sides warmed up on the sidelines, Forest Green forced a corner, good play between Knowles and Long down the left side. Before the corner could be taken, a double change with Harry Cardwell and Joe Quigley (remember him!) coming on. The corner was taken and both Osadebe and Inniss had chances to force the ball home, but a combination of Ollie Wright and a whole host of Glovers’ bodies kept the sheet clean.
The substitutions saw the hosts go to a back three and match up the Glovers and it was immediately paying dividends with Cardwell and Quigley working well off one another. Ryan Inniss was again causing problems in the air, winning the first ball from a couple of set pieces meant that Wright was called into action on more than one occasion.
The traffic (and presumably, electrically charged) could now be described as one-way in favour of Forest Green, with 70 minutes on the clock – Ollie Wright took advantage of a stoppage in play to get some treatment – spoiler, he was fine.
Yeovil were having trouble breaking away from defensive positions, both Kofi Shaw and Matt Worthington made runs forward but found support hard to come by and possession was quickly back at the feet of the home side.
With 75 minutes on the clock, a flash point right on the edge of the box, Kofi Shaw’s boot was once again too high for the referee’s liking, his boot met the head of Tom Knowles (#DFILWF). Penalty. Red Card. Nightmare.
Dom Bernard was booked before the spot kick would be taken and Kyle MCALLISTER slotted the spot kick home, hard and low to Ollie Wright’s left.
Momentum was now well and truly with the hosts, the Glovers were sitting deeper and deeper and chances were starting to come, Liam Sercombe had a shot from distance, Joe Quigley narrowly missed a vital contact on a fierce cross and Tom Knowled had a shot blocked.
Finn Cousin-Dawson was brought on to bolster the back line, replacing Sean McGurk and going straight into a right-back position.
With more than 10 minutes still to play, Tom Knowles continued to cause problems down the left, his cross was only half cleared before Adam May’s long range effort tipped over by Ollie Wright.
The Glovers’ clearances were getting more wild by the minute, possession would have favoured the home side in serious numbers since the red card. Another corner for the hosts, found it’s way onto the head of Harry Cardwell, but the sub couldn’t control the effort and it sailed over.
It was starting to feel like an attack vs defence session, another good run by Knowles, another effort sailing high over the bar. Jake Wannell was then sprawled out on the deck, with plenty of attention being paid to his ‘grown up areas’. Both Quigley and Wannell were booked in the fracas.
When play resumed, so did the barrage of attacks, Robson ghosted into the box and forced Ollie Wright into a fantastic save down to his right. The following corner came to nothing.
We’re clock watching now, 88 minutes came and went, another dangerous move involving Knowles and Quigley, another effort high and wide. Josh Sims was replaced by Michael Smith. Shutting up shop was well and truly underway.
As the clock ticked over the 90, Forest Green attacked again, Knowles set up Sercombe and a vital block got in the way for the Glovers. The Vegans’ sixth corner was high over the heads of everyone.
Knowles’ race was run, he was taken off for new signing Jordan Garrick. Garrick was immediately involved, drawing a foul from FC-D. Adam May stood over the ball, 18.2 yards from goal, his right footed free kick wasted.
With 93 minutes gone, a short free kick found the head of Harry Cardwell, a great save from Wright could only put the ball at the feet of Ryan INNISS, he bundled home to break Glovers’ hearts. It’s fair to say, the pressure had been mounting.
It was Forest Green’s turn to time waste now with a minute left and as time ticked down, the result was confirmed. A spirited performance from the Glovers, but the travelling 703 supporters were sent home empty handed.
Full time: Forest Green Rovers 2 Yeovil Town 1
Match Details
Venue: The New Lawn
Date: Wednesday 1st January 2025 – 3pm kick-off
Competition: National League Premier Division
Scorers: Kofi Shaw 38 (1-0), Kyle McAllister pen 75 (1-1), Ryan Inniss 90+4 (1-2)
Pitch: Look exceptional given the wet conditions in the build up
Conditions: Dry but blustery
Attendance: 3002 (703 away supporters)
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Kofi Shaw 54, 75, Dom Bernard 76, Jake Wannell 87
Forest Green: Joe Quigley 85
Referee: James Oldham
Yeovil Town (3-4-2-1)
Substitutes: Finn Cousin-Dawson (for Sean McGurk, 79), Michael Smith (for Josh Sims, 88), Pedro Borges (not used), Ollie Hughes (not used), Frank Nouble (not used), Matt Gould (not used), Will Howard (not used).
Forest Green Rovers: Jed Ward, Sean Long (for Joe Quigley, 63), Ryan Inniss, Emmanuel Odsadebe, Kyle McAllister, Christian Doidge (for Harry Cardwell, 63), Liam Sercombe, Tom Knowles (for Jordan Garrick, 90+2), Jordan Moore-Taylor, Jamie Robson, Adam May.
Substitutes (not used): Jamie Searle, Marcel Lavinier, Ben Tozer, Harvey Bunker.