Match Report: Weston-super-Mare 1 Yeovil Town 0

A second half penalty saw Yeovil Town go down to defeat in their final pre-season friendly of the campaign in a feisty all-Somerset affair at Weston-super-Mare.

Seagulls’ midfielder Luke Coulson sent new loan goalkeeper Jed Ward the wrong way from the spot in the 67th minute after Jake Wannell fouled former Glovers’ striker Louis Britton inside the box.

In a game marked by a few feisty challenges by both sides, there was the worrying sight of full-back Alex Whittle going off in what appeared to be a precautionary move with a groin injury early in the first half and little else to write home about for the visitors.

Yeovil were largely nullified by the National League South side who took their opportunity from the spot when it came. Not a great way to sign off pre-season.

First half

Early chance for Yeovil saw Finn Cousin-Dawson plant a header straight in to the midriff of Weston keeper Max Harris after three minutes, and the keeper did well to punch clear after Charlie Cooper’s good free-kick in to the box.

The next action was more worrying for the visitors with Alex Whittle going down with an injury after 15 minutes. The left-back received treatment but played on for further five minutes before he was replaced by Brett McGavin. One assumes the substitution was precautionary just seven days before the opening National League fixture and Whittle appeared to be moving okay as he departed for the dressing room, albeit clutching an ice pack. Tight groin, apparently.

On the pitch, Wannell moved to the left side of defence with Cousin-Dawson shifting back in to defence from a deep lying midfield role which was filled by McGavin. On 22 minutes, James Daly had the ball in the net with a beautiful curling shot only denied by an offside flag before a great flick on from Aaron Jarvis  landed to the feet of trialist Luke McCormick who took his shot early but pulled it wide.

On the trialist front, former Bristol Rovers’ striker Jevani Brown was named on the bench continuing his seemingly endless role as a trialist, but there was a new face in the form of Birmingham Under-21s striker, Ben Wodskou. The St Andrews’ team-mate of signed loanee Byron Pendleton came through the Blues’ academy and had a spell on loan at Northern Premier League side Rushall Athletic last season. The 18-year-old signed his first professional contract, a two-year deal, in the summer of 2024.

New goalkeeper Jed Ward, signed on a season-long loan from Bristol Rovers during the week, was called in to his first action in a Yeovil shirt to collect a header from James Dodd before two former Glovers, Sam Pearson and Louis Britton (remember him?), combined with the former crossing for the latter to head over the bar.

There was another slightly worrying moment when Morgan Williams ran in to a barrier at the side of the pitch, he seems okay to continue. Pearson’s deflected effort, tipped over the bar by Ward, in the 43rd minute was the final action of the half.

Half-time:  Weston-super-Mare 0 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

The half-time break saw a change for Yeovil with Kyle Ferguson replacing Charlie Cooper and six minutes after the restart a McGavin corner was headed away by Wood with a number of green-and-white shirts queuing up to turn home the looping ball.

With an hour gone and Yeovil seemingly out of ideas, strikers Tahvon Campbell and trialist Wodskou replaced Josh Sims and Aaron Jarvis before Ward had to be quick off his line to prevent Britton getting on the end of a good ball from Pearson.

On 67 minutes, Weston were awarded a penalty for a foul on Britton on the edge of the area. Luke COULSON stepped up and sent Ward the wrong way. The goal sparked a further Yeovil change with Harvey Greenslade coming on for trialist McCormick. There were four changes for the home side including another former Glover, Will Dawes, replacing Britton.

Trialist Jevani Brown replaced Byron Pendleton after 77 minutes before Tahvon Campbell got involved in an off-the-ball fracas after a shirt pull from Weston’s Emlyn Lewis. The majority of the on-the-field personnel from both sides got involved in the ‘afters’. Still not sure we can call this a ‘derby’, an all-Somerset match at best, but that was definitely not friendly.

There were a few other snaps by both sides between that major melee and the final whistle but, with just seven days remaining until Hartlepool United visit Huish Park for the opening National League fixture, it ended with a poor performance and poor result.

At the final whistle, manager Mark Cooper gathered his players on the pitch for a ‘talking to’ and you have to wonder what was said by all those involved. Whatever it was, it needs to lift the level considerably in the next week.

Full time: Weston-super-Mare 1 Yeovil Town 0

Teams:

Yeovil Town: Jed Ward, Byron Pendleton (for Byron Pendleton, 77), Alex Whittle (for Brett McGavin, 20), Morgan Williams, Jake Wannell, Finn Cousin-Dawson, Charlie Cooper (for Kyle Ferguson, 46), Luke McCormick (Trialist) (for Harvey Greenslade, 69), Josh Sims (for Ben Wodskou, 60), James Daly, Aaron Jarvis (for Tahvon Campbell, 60).

Substitutes (not used): Matt Gould.

Weston-super-Mare: Max Harris, Michael Smith, Dylan Mitchell, Callum Wood, Sam Avery, Luke Coulson, James Dodd, Louis Britton, James Waite, Sam Pearson, Emlyn Lewis.

Substitutes: Jacob Jagger-Cane, Jakob Glover, Jason Pope, Jake Hicks, Josh Salmon, Oliver Jenkins, Daniel Martin.

Scorers: Luke Coulson 67 pen (0-1),