Yeovil Town and Hartlepool United played out the only goalless draw of the National League Premier Division’s opening day at Huish Park.
But it was familiar story of the Glovers not taking the chances which came there way with a glorious opportunity for young loan striker Ben Wodskou with just seven minutes remaining.
The first half belonged to Hartlepool with the home side indebted to new goalkeeper Jed Ward on a couple of occasions, they showed more attacking intent after the break, but could not find the goal.
First half
Yeovil lined up with three central defenders in the shape of captain Jake Wannell, Morgan Williams and Alex Whittle with summer signings James Daly and Byron Pendleton, signed on a season-long loan from Birmingham City, playing as wing backs. New owner Prabhu Srinivasan was in the Thatcher’s End with the home supporters at kick-off and the National League season was underway.
The opening ten minutes did not muster a clear opportunity for either side with Charlie Cooper’s free-kick in to a defensive wall the closest Yeovil got troubling visiting keeper Harvey Cartwright.
Hartlepool were definitely the more attacking and physical in the opening exchanges with Yeovil preferring to sit behind the ball and let the visitors come on to them. The more things change, the more they stay the same. The rapidity of James Daly and Byron Pendleton, the ‘wingers’ or ‘wing backs’ in the Glovers’ line-up depending on your definition, did not seem to cross the halfway line in the opening 25 minutes.
The biggest cheer of the opening 25 minutes came when the visitors’ Jamie Miley booked for a foul on Finn Cousin-Dawson after 26 minutes.
On 29 minutes, a long ball forward from Jed Ward was flicked on by Aaron Jarvis and a slip by the visitors’ Cameron John gave Josh Sims an opportunity to race towards goal, but Cartwright raced out of his area to get to the ball first. Moments later, Alex Reid flashed one wide for Pools at the other end.
Reid got himself in to a good position with seven minutes of the first half remaining as he broke in to the box, but shot wide of goal with Wannell sliding in to provide enough of a distraction and a minute later Yeovil were indebted to Whittle as Danny Johnson found himself with a clear sight of goal. The defender put his body in front of the shot.
At the other end there was the occasional break forward and Yeovil got the ball in to the box on a few occasions, but mostly it was Jarvis ploughing a lone furrow with little support up front. Can’t recall Cartwright having a save to make in the opening 45 minutes.
If you watched us at Huish Park last season, it was like that.
Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Hartlepool United 0
Second half
Within the opening two minutes of the second half, Yeovil forced Cartwright in to two impressive stops. On 47 minutes, a high ball in to the box from Cousin-Dawson picked out Daly on the far post, but his header was pushed away by the Pools’ keeper. Moments later the on loan Hull City keeper did superbly to tip another effort over the bar.
More attacking intent in the opening five minutes of the second half than in the first 45 minutes for Yeovil.
On 53 minutes, Ward was called in to action at the other end when Johnson got another sight of goal, but the Bristol Rovers loanee dealt with it comfortably.
He had a far harder task two minutes later when a surging attack from Pools ended up with Reid whose shot was turned around the post by Ward.
Reid had another opportunity when he was gifted the ball by Charlie Cooper, sped towards goal as the Yeovil defence tried to get back before Ward dropped on the ball. After a bright start from the home side, it is the visitors who are taking control again and our mistakes are giving them the opportunity.
In the 63rd minute, Yeovil made their first substitution with Tahvon Campbell replacing Luke McCormick. With his opening two touches, the striker almost got behind the visitors’ defence, denied by a last ditch header from Miley to concede a corner, and then almost got on the end of a Pendleton cross moments later.
On 70 minutes, the attack was bolstered further by the arrival of Junior Morias, replacing Daly. The two substitutes took up the positions vacated by Daly and McCormick with Sims moving to left wing-back/wing.
There was a bit more attacking intent being shown by the home side and after 79 minutes Morgan Williams tried an acrobatic effort which went over before two further changes for the Glovers saw Ben Wodskou and Brett McGavin replace Jarvis and Whittle. Cousin-Dawson dropped in to defence.
The best chance of the game fell to Wodskou after 83 minutes. Sims got past his defender down the left and slid a perfect ball through to the substitute, but his shot was straight at Cartwright who was able to parry it away. Great move, great ball, great position from the Birmingham City youngster, just the finish was missing.
There were some good signs in the closing stages as Yeovil pressed for a goal with Morias showing a hunger to get forward and down the left side, but the points were shared when the final whistle sounded. No-one is getting that bag of potatoes just yet.
Full time: Yeovil Town 0 Hartlepool United 0
Match Details
Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 9th May, 3pm kick-off
Competition: National League Premier Division
Scorers: None
Pitch: Perfect as you would expect on the opening day of the season
Conditions: Dry and bright
Attendance: 3,438 (199 away supporters)
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: James Daly 60, Jake Wannell 67, Charlie Cooper 86
Hartlepool United: Jamie Miley 27, Jermaine Francis 45+2
Referee: Rob Massey-Ellis
Yeovil Town (4-2-3-1)
Substitutes: Tahvon Campbell (for Luke McCormick, 63), Junior Morias (for James Daly, 70), Ben Wodskou (for Aaron Jarvis, 79), Brett McGavin (for Alex Whittle, 79), Kyle Ferguson (not used), Harvey Greenslade (not used), Matt Gould (not used).
Hartlepool United: Harvey Cartwright, Jay Benn, Tom Parkes, Cameron John, McNally, Besart Topallaj (for Maxim Pierre Kouogun, 72), Nathan Sheron, Jamie Miley, Jermaine Francis (for Luke Charman, 87), Danny Johnson (for Matt Daly, 72), Alex Reid. Substitutes (not used): Jack Hunter, Nicky Featherstone, Brad Walker, Adam Smith.
First half was like watching paint dry, better in the second half, but still couldn’t shoot fish in a barrel. Can’t understand why cooper signed so many forwards, just to start Jarvis upfront on his own, lumping balls towards him to knock down to no one. It’s going to be a long, long season with him in charge.
Because they joined last week and made sense to start those who had been training for longer. Fitness issues.
Give Cooper a chance, the last few seasons have been horrendous behind the scenes. Who do you want instead?
Fantastic signings. Be patient.
Who are the fantastic signings?
“Be patient.” He’s been here for two & a half seasons. How much more time do we give him?
As he’s playing a front five, we should surely be scoring goals for fun.
Give him a chance? He had an entire chance last season, and look where that led us. I’m not buying the off the field issues having that much of an impact on the field, look at reading last season for example. Who do I want instead? Steve Cotterill for a start, not sure what planet Dale Vince was on when he booted him for savage, probably the same one as you. Some decent signings, but definitely not ‘fantastic’, enjoy your prawn sandwiches from the comfy seats for the rest of season.
I have long been critical of Mark Cooper. However the football in the second half was much improved from the first, especially after the subs we’re introduced. I also agree with the comment about us losing that game last season. So maybe some positives to get behind. I just wish Mark would do a bit more to endear himself to the fanbase.