Match Report: Tamworth 1 Yeovil Town 0

Danny Webb’s start as Yeovil Town manager ended with a scrappy defeat at Tamworth on Saturday.

The Glovers struggled to cope against a physical opponent on an unstable artificial surface in the first half and had to ride the storm with a barrage from their hosts who won the physical battle.

The introduction of new loan signing Andrew Oluwabori and striker Junior Morias brought some added impetus, but in the 75th minute Tamworth found a breakthrough when defender Kennedy Digie bundled home the winner.

Oluwabori had a great opportunity to get a leveller in second half injury time after a fantastic run, but his shot was wide.

First half

There was no midfielder Brett McGavin in the Glovers’ squad having jarred his back in training. Finn Cousin-Dawson replaced him in the middle of the park with Aaron Jarvis brought in to provide a physical presence up front alongside Harvey Greenslade.

The first chance of the game fell to the home side after nine minutes when Yeovil switched off from a Tom Tonks’ quick throw-in towards Tyler Roberts before the winger crosses the ball for Kennedy Digie whose effort was denied by a smart save from Jed Ward.

Five minutes later, Beck-Ray Enoru volleyed just wide before firing in a cross after doing superbly to beat Byron Pendleton. All the pressure was coming room the home side, but the Yeovil defence was standing firm against a barrage of attacks and several cannon ball throw-ins from the human rocket launcher in Tonks.

The first meaningful chance of goal for Yeovil did not come until half-an-hour in when Tonks fouled McCormick on the edge of the box. In the absence of Brett McGavin, the former Bristol Rovers man lifted the resulting free-kick just over the bar.

With three minutes of the half remaining, Yeovil were indebted to Ward once again after the dangerous Tyler Roberts caused issues down the right side before feeding Kwaku Donkor who effort was well saved by the feet of the keeper.

There was dogged defending from the visitors, but also a lack of creativity going forwards with nothing for hosts’ goalkeeper Jas Singh to deal with.

Half time: Tamworth 0 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

The start of the second half saw Andrew Oluwabori replace James Plant and within seconds of the restart Finn Cousin-Dawson was in referees’ book for an aerial tussle with Manny Duku.

Josh Sims had a shot off target in the 55th minute before Junior Morias came on around the hour mark replacing Greenslade. The arrival of Oluwabori and Morias certainly gave the Glovers’ more cutting edge, but the quality going forwards which was lacking in the first half was still absent after the break.

On 65 minutes, a big chance came when McCormick’s free kick met by Morgan Williams at the back post but he was superbly stopped by Singh. That was the first action the Tamworth keeper was called in to.

The home side had a very loud shout for a penalty on 67 minutes for what looked like a hand ball before substitute Oliver Lynch had a shot which was deflected on to Jed Ward’s crossbar.

You just got the feeling a breakthrough was coming for Tamworth and in the 75th minute it arrived. Having not dealt with a corner, Ben Milnes was able to put a ball in to the box and Kennedy DIGIE bundled it home.

It seemed that it was not until the fourth official put his board up for seven minutes of stoppage time that Yeovil’s attackers snapped in to gear. The best chance came from Oluwabori who picked the ball up inside his own half four minutes in to stoppage time and drove forwards but pulled his shot wide.

Substitutes: Andrew Oluwabori (for James Plant, 46), Junior Morias (for Harvey Greenslade, 61), Tahvon Campbell (for Aaron Jarvis, 79), Alex Whittle (not used), Ben Wodskou (not used), Ollie Hughes (not used), Matt Gould (not used).