Match Report: Slough Town 0 Yeovil Town 0

A balanced game saw both Slough and Yeovil share the points on a dark and grey Saturday afternoon.

A fairly even first half, with no real chances for either side. Yeovil looked solid, if unspectacular, and the same could be said for Slough, who defended vigilantly.

The second half had a few real chances, but neither side could find a breakthrough as Yeovil ended their two game losing run.

First half

With big games on the horizon, and perhaps looking to spark a response from his side, Mark Cooper shuffled the pack with four changes to the lineup. Brooklyn Genesini, Jay Foulston, Jordan Stevens and Frank Nouble come into the starting XI, with Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Jordan Young and Sam Pearson dropping to the bench, and Olly Thomas missing out entirely.

The first chance of the game came for Yeovil just a couple of minutes into the game, as Stevens knocked a ball forward in the middle of the park, with Alex Fisher finding himself on the edge of the box, his audacious lob just bouncing wide of the post.

Shortly after, Slough got them in and around the Yeovil box, before Nathan Minhas found his way into the official’s book after just four minutes for a heavy challenge on Jordan Stevens.

Ten minutes in, and Yeovil had their next chance, as Jake Wannell played a great ball downfield under pressure from the Slough attack. He found Frank Nouble, who dominated Temi Eweka physically before some fancy footwork got him out of further trouble. He found Jordan Stevens in space who attempted a shot from distance, winning Yeovil a corner, resulting in a Williams header that landed comfortably in the hands of Dan Lincoln.

Both sides continued to feel each other out, with both defences doing a good job of snuffing out any chances at goal. The first corner of the game came on the 20 minute mark, with Nouble clearing initially before a good cross from Matt Lench forced an important defensive header for another corner.

There were calls for a penalty just a minute later, as a ball forward clipped Charlie Cooper’s shoulder, but his arms were down and the referee promptly gave the visitors a free kick for a foul on the aforementioned.

A cagey few minutes followed, and it wasn’t until the 27th minute where we saw the first proper Yeovil chance, a backheel from Jordan Stevens feeding Alex Whittle on the wing, his cross being blocked by player-manager Scott Davies and cleared for a throw. Yeovil began to stamp their authority on the game, as a ball forward for Alex Fisher allowed him into the box, his shot being blocked for a corner.

Yeovil found themselves on the attack once again, as Nouble started a counter-attack following a successful press in midfield, his ball failing to find Fisher, before Stevens picked up the loose ball and tried to find Fisher once again – unfortunately he was off balance and the ball petered out for a goal kick.

David Ogbonna showed off his frightening pace against Alex Whittle, forcing a free kick just a few yards outside the box, Matt Lench only able to find the head of Morgan Williams, before the follow-up shot was blocked by Cooper’s chest. Slough continued to apply pressure on the Yeovil defence, but to no avail.

A counter-attack from Slough was swiftly cut out by the debutant Genesini, the ball then falling to Matt Worthington who had a shot from distance, however he could only find the hands of Dan Lincoln, following a deflection.

A wonderful flick-on from Alex Fisher fed through Matt Worthington in the 41st minute, he was brought to ground inside the box by a Slough defender but the referee wanted none of it. Yeovil continued to press, earning a corner shortly afterwards; it was a dangerous ball from Charlie Cooper but it was well cleared by Bayliss. The resulting throw-in had bodies scrambling, the bouncy artificial surface causing issues for both teams, before Jay Foulston found himself with the ball, his shot bouncing wide.

A weak foul from Genesini resulted in a free-kick for Slough just before half-time, but Slough couldn’t capitalise, leading to a Yeovil Town counter. Jordan Stevens charged downfield, but a heavy touch meant the ball trickled out of play, and the half-time whistle brought an end to the first half.

Half time: Slough Town 0 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

There were no changes at half time as things got underway, with the first meaningful action coming a few minutes in. A free kick to Yeovil by the edge of the pitch on the line of the 18 yard box was whipped in by Charlie Cooper, but Scott Davies got to it first and put it out for a corner.

Slough’s first chance of the half came in the 52nd minute, as Scott Davies stood over a free kick from about 25 yards, however it cannoned over the bar and out of the stadium. Not one for the highlight reel Scott…

Yeovil followed up with their first proper chance of the half, as Worthington took a ball into midfield, layed it off for Genesini. He danced past his man and found Stevens in a gap between the midfield and defence, he then surged forward before arrowing a shot just over the bar.

A sequence of free-kicks followed for Slough, with a great ball from Gabe George finding the head of Temi Eweka, but his header was tame and landed straight in the hands of Joe Day.

Minute 59 ticked over, and the first substitution of the game was made by Yeovil, with Jahmari Clarke replacing Jordan Stevens, who had a good showing when he did get himself on the ball.

Slough earned their second yellow of the game when Jeanmal Prosper made a cynical foul on Charlie Cooper on the 61st minute. Yeovil continued to demonstrate their impressive ball-playing abilities, drawing the press from Slough and making their way into the opposition half, before Alex Whittle went down requiring treatment. He was helped off the field, and was replaced by Jordan Young in the 65th minute.

Clarke’s first involvement in the game came just a couple of minutes later, as he beat the offside trap and his cross was blocked for a corner. From the resulting corner, Jordan Young found the head of Wannell, but his header was scuffed and it floated over the bar.

Slough’s first substitution came on the 70 minute mark, as David Ogbonna was replaced by Slavi Spasov. A couple of minutes later, Yeovil found themselves on the attack once again, a great bit of linkup between Worthington and Genesini creating space for Jahmari Clarke, who battled past two Slough players, his dangerous cross being cleared for a throw.

Shortly afterwards, Jake Wannell found himself in the book for stopping a counter-attack inside Slough’s half. Slough’s second substitution came on 74 minutes, as Nathan Minhas was replaced by Trae Cook-Appiah, as they looked to take something from the game. Another dangerous attack came for Yeovil when play got underway, in similar fashion to the previous, this time Nouble leading the charge.

Alex Fisher became the second player to be booked for Yeovil for remonstrating with the referee following an elbow to the head after the whistle had been blown for a free kick, it didn’t make any impact as he was substituted immediately afterwards for Sam Pearson.

Slough took the opportunity to grab a couple of chances on goal, including a cannon of a shot from Scott Davies forcing a good save from Joe Day. A bitty few minutes followed, with some offisde calls and sloppy long balls from both sides bringing us to the 83rd minute where Sam Pearson danced around a couple of Slough players, feeding it to Young but the attack died out.

Slough had the next chance a couple of minutes later, as a shot from Josh Jackman whizzed past the post.

The artificial turf caused some issues for both sides once again on the 89th minute, as a long kick forward from Joe Day bounced over the midfield, and the two banks of Yeovil attackers and Slough defenders. Sam Pearson nearly got on the end of it but Dan Lincoln beat him to it, not that it would’ve mattered as Temi Eweka was down nursing an injury anyways.

A probing long ball from Charlie Cooper forced a corner for Yeovil as the game entered extra time, but Yeovil couldn’t capitalise. Cooper then found himself in the book, assumedly for some not-so-nice words to the referee, before Slough made their final substitution, with Matt Lench being replaced by Christie Ward.

For all their huff and puff, neither side could find a breakthrough as the final whistle blew.

Full time: Slough Town 0 Yeovil Town 0

Match Details

Venue: Arbour Park
Date: Saturday 16th March

Competition: National League South

Pitch: Bouncy and plastic
Conditions: Mild, breezy at times

Attendance: 1,533 (469 away)

Scorers: None.

Bookings:
Yeovil Town:  Jake Wannell 72, Alex Fisher 77, Charlie Cooper 90+1
Slough Town: Nathan Minhas 4, Jeanmal Propser 61

Referee: Rob Ablitt

Yeovil Town (5-2-1-2)

Substitutes: Jahmari Clarke (for Jordan Stevens, 59), Sonny Blu Lo-Everton (not used), Jordan Young (for Alex Whittle, 65), Sam Pearson (for Alex Fisher 77), Dylan Morgan (not used).

Slough Town: Dan Lincoln, Josh Jackman, Gabe George, Dan Bayliss, Jeanmal Prosper, Matt Lench, Nathan Minhas, Johnny Goddard, Scott Davies, Temi Eweka, David Ogbonna.
Substitutes: Joe Dandy, Christie Ward (for Matt Lench, 90+2), Leon Chambers-Parillon, Trae Cook-Appiah (for Nathan Minhas, 74), Slavi Spasov (for David Ogbonna, 70).