Yeovil Town fell to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of League One side Bristol Rovers in their first pre-season friendly at Huish Park in front of a crowd of 1,715 on Tuesday evening.
The visitors took the lead through an impressive finish from veteran Scott Sinclair before defensive sloppiness and some friendly refereeing from W*ymouth resident James Durkin gifted substitute Kofi Shaw a second right before half-time.
Another defensive mistake – a rare one from Morgan Williams – allowed Luke McCormick in to make it 3-0 just before the hour mark and that signalled the traditional flurry of substitutions we expect from pre-season, including the arrival of trialist Jacob Roddy and another appearance of Jordan Stevens.
One of the changes, last season’s top-scorer Jordan Young, put in a lively performance in his 30-minute run-out but in fairness Rovers looked every inch their status two divisions above Yeovil.
First half
The opening 15 minutes was a fairly tame affair with some good spells of possession from Yeovil and Dylan Morgan looking to be creative from his wide position.
The first shooting opportunity fell to Glovers’ captain Matt Worthington who dragged shot wide after 20 minutes. That was probably about it for somewhere near the goal mouth action in the opening exchanges.
But, it was the visitors who took the lead on 28 minutes through a moment of magic from Scott SINCLAIR, whose CV includes Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester City. A good move down the right involving Joel Senior saw him lay a ball back to the 35-year-old who put his shot in to the top corner in front of the Thatcher’s Gold Stand.
Immediately after taking the lead, Rovers made a change with experienced striker Chris Martin replaced by youngster Kofi Shaw.
On 32 minutes, a loose bit of play by Jake Wannell gifted the ball to Issac Hutchinson and good defending by Morgan Williams who did well to see it out for a corner. The resulting flag-kick from Hutchinson was fizzed in with venom but no-one in a grey shirt (yes, Rovers are in grey) could get a touch.
The goal saw the visitors step up a gear and with ten minutes of the half remaining Bilongo released Luke McCormick whose impressive ball was aimed at Senior but was just too high.
Aaron Jarvis had a header in to the hands of Rovers’ keeper Griffiths on 38 minutes, but a minute before half-time Rovers doubled their advantage. Following sloppy defending from the Yeovil defence, Michael Smith got caught on the ball but appeared to be fouled before substitute Kofi SHAW broke away and fired home from a tight angle.
Ever been to a pre-season friendly where the referee is booed off at half-time? If you were at Huish Park tonight, you have. Referee is James Durkin…….from Portland…….that’s near W*ymouth, by the way. Just putting that out there.
Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Bristol Rovers 2
Second half
There were no changes at the break and it was the visitors who had the first opportunity as Senior got his head on to a Bilongo cross, but it was straight at Ollie Wright.
Shaw fired one over on 57 minutes and then Yeovil proved the architects of their own downfall, Morgan Williams gave possession away cheaply to Luke McCORMICK and he fired in a third.
The first meaningful action from Rovers’ keeper Griffiths came on the hour mark. Smith and Jarvis linked up to play the ball through to Worthington whose effort was saved by the boot of the visiting stopper.
That led to a flurry of changes for both sides with the Yeovil changes being the departures of Alex Whittle, Morgan Williams, Matt Worthington, Aaron Jarvis, Dylan Morgan and Charlie Cooper, who were replaced by Finn Cousin-Dawson, Sam Pearson (who was ‘welcomed’ as an ex-Bristol City player by the visiting fans), Frank Nouble, Jordan Young, Jordan Stevens, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and trialist Jacob Roddy.
There were changes for Rovers as well. Lots of them.
The changes had an immediate impact with Young and Nouble combining, but the big striker’s ball in to the box was easily cleared after 64 minutes before Wright did well to get down to well to pull off a smart save from one of the visitors’ substitutes Ollie Dewsbury.
Five minutes later good harrying from Young, who has looked lively since coming on, who then picked out Greenslade who was fouled. Set piece specialists Young and Brett McGavin stood over it, but it was Young who took it straight in to the defensive wall.
Jordan Stevens showed some of the blistering pace we know he has shortly after and, whilst his efforts did not lead to anything meaningful, it showed what we all know he is capable of.
With ten minutes later, Under-18s full-back Corey Koerner replaced Brett McGavin.
With a minute of normal time remaining, Rovers had a good opportunity to make it four. Finn Cousin-Dawson gave away possession to Dewsbury and Lo-Everton busted a lung to get back and help out Wright to get it away for a corner. Sloppy again from Yeovil at the back and they have been punished by a side two divisions higher than them.
Next up it is more League One opposition in the form of Exeter City who visit Huish Park on Friday night.
Full time: Yeovil Town 0 Bristol Rovers 3
Yeovil Town (4-2-3-1): Ollie Wright, Michael Smith (for Jordan Stevens, 61), Alex Whittle (for Jacob Roddy, 61), Jake Wannell, Morgan Williams (for Finn Cousin-Dawson, 61), Charlie Cooper (for Jordan Young, 61), Brett McGavin (for Corey Koerner, 80), Dylan Morgan (for Sam Pearson, 61), Matt Worthington (for Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, 61), Harvey Greenslade, Aaron Jarvis (for Frank Nouble, 61).
Substitutes (not used): Matt Gould..
Bristol Rovers (3-4-3): Josh Griffiths, Taylor Moore, Mola, Michael Forbes, Joel Senior, Isaac Hutchinson, Kamil Conteh, Bryant Bilongo, Scott Sinclair, Chris Martin, Luke McCormick.
Substitutes: Jed Ward, Jack Hunt, James Wilson, Dan Ellison, Brooklyn Leipus, Kofi Shaw, Jerry Lawrence, Luke Thomas, Jevan Brown, Ollie Dewsbury, Trialist.
Goals: Scott Sinclair 28 (0-1), Kofi Shaw 44 (0-2), Luke McCormick 57 (0-3)
Attendance: 1,715 (222 away supporters)
Referee: James Durkin (Portland, Dorset)