We’ve only gone and done it – again! Yes, after 19 years of waiting, Yeovil Town are champions again (ole, ole).
It was a goal in each half from strikers Rhys Murphy and Alex Fisher which secured the three points against Truro City which ensured the title and promotion from the National League South at the first time of asking.
There were 1,103 Glovers in Gloucester (yes, that is where Truro play these days) from a crowd of 1,238 to see the title secured.
First half
After some uneventful if totally dominant opening few exchanges, it took Frank Nouble directness with eight minutes played to create anything like a threat in to the home side’s box. His run and cross was cleared away.
Then just a minute later came the first frustrating moment of the game as Jordan Stevens pulled up holding that hamstring again. He had to go off and was replaced by Jordan Young.
But,two minutes later Rhys Murphy was the man on the spot to put the visitors ahead, showing the predatory instincts which have made him such a deadly marksman. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton picked out Charlie Cooper on the right side and he delivered an excellent cross to find the rising MURPHY on the edge of the box to flick a header in to the net.
HUGE goal from Rhys Murphy 🧤#TheVanarama | @YTFC pic.twitter.com/JwmxdxvVCS
— The National League (@TheVanaramaNL) April 11, 2024
Sadly, that proved to be his last action as he went down in the middle of the pitch. Of the three changes made from Saturday’s starting XI against Worthing, two of them were now back in changing rooms. Someone protect Michael Smith!
On 20 minutes, it was only goalkeeper James Hamon stood between Yeovil and a 2-0 lead pulling off a point blank save as Alex Fisher’s header from Cooper’s cross. Nouble blazed over the rebound.
Point-blank save from James Hamon ⛔️😲#TheVanarama | @TCFC_Official pic.twitter.com/Qtl9YDPnpu
— The National League (@TheVanaramaNL) April 11, 2024
Matt Worthington fizzed one wide from the edge of the box with 28 minutes gone, before another nervy injury moment when Smith went down holding his hamstring. He was fine, don’t worry.
That was about as exciting as it got until we got in to first half injury time. Charlie Cooper’s blasted a free-kick in to the wall before Jake Wannell’s far post header from the resulting corner was blocked.
1-0 up at the interval and the job was half done.
Half time: Truro City 0 Yeovil Town 1
Second half
Shooting towards a packed away end in the second half, the Glovers continued to dominate the game without creating too much to test Hamon in the Truro goal.
But, with ten minutes of the second half gone the second goal came from a source we have not seen recently (and I don’t mean the scorer), it was Smith who delivered a sumptuous ball from the left and Alex FISHER rose to head home. The keeper got a fingertip to it, but it was not enough to stop the ball trickling over the line.
Is that the goal that seals it? 🏆#TheVanarama | @YTFC pic.twitter.com/pnFgovixMh
— The National League (@TheVanaramaNL) April 11, 2024
From then on it was just a party in Gloucestershire as the sound of “champions again, ole, oleeee” rang around the Tigerturf Stadium. Yes, the last time was 2005, but champions is champions.
On 67 minutes, Smith had a great opportunity to go from goal creator to goal scorer. A lovely cross from Young fell to the full-back inside the box, just begging to be hit. The Northern Irishman definitely hit it, but over the bar.
Dylan Morgan replaced (title-winning) captain Matt Worthington with eight minutes remaining and Charlie Cooper lifted a free kick over the back two minutes after that, but all the masses from Somerset wanted was the final whistle.
When it sounded, fans spilled on to the pitch – we’d done it, folks, we finally, finally done it!
Full time: Truro City 0 Yeovil Town 2
Match Details
Venue: TigerTurf Stadium, Gloucester
Date: Thursday 11th April, 7.45pm
Competition: National League South
Pitch: Plastic. Not bad for plastic, but plastic.
Conditions: Dry and relatively warm
Attendance: 1,238 (1,103 away supporters)
Scorers: Rhys Murphy 12 (1-0), Alex Fisher 50 (2-0)
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Jordan Young 32, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton 68
Truro City:
Referee: Ayrton Hursey
Yeovil Town: Joe Day, Michael Smith, Jay Foulston, Jake Wannell, Morgan Williams, Charlie Cooper, Matt Worthington, Jordan Stevens, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Rhys Murphy (for Alex Fisher, 16), Frank Nouble.
Substitutes: Jordan Young (for Jordan Stevens, 9), Alex Fisher (for Rhys Murphy, 16), Dylan Morgan (for Matt Worthington, 82) Brooklyn Genesini (not used), Sam Pearson (not used).
Truro City: Hamon, Melhado, Sanniola, Sanders (for Munakandafa, 62), Hinds, Kavanagh, Brett, Palfrey, Johnson-Fisher (for Yetton, 83), Buse, Law.
Substitutes (not used): Horton, Jones, Fabby.