Yeovil Town began their return to the National League Premier Division with a defeat at the hands of Hartlepool United at Huish Park.
The visitors, managed by ex-Glovers’ boss Darren Sarll, struck on 65 minutes when Jack Hunter found space on the edge of the box to fire home.
It was a performance from the away side which was in the image of their manager – direct, organised and with all the ‘dark arts’ Glovers fans will remember from Sarll’s time in charge.
But, with the final chance of the game, there was a glorious opportunity for an equaliser as a mistake from Pools’ keeper Joel Dixon fell to substitute Harvey Greenslade, who lifted his effort over an unguarded net.
It was Yeovil’s lack of potency in the final third and a piece of quality from Hunter that settled it and it was a harsh reminder of how fine the margins are at the highest level of non-League football.
Here’s how Dave saw it from his spot on the Thatcher’s End…..
First half
Within 30 seconds of the kick-off, midfielder Brett McGavin needed to make a superb interception to deny Sheron a shooting opportunity.
There were attacking moments (probably not bordering on opportunities) from both sides in the opening exchanges and then on seven minutes Hartlepool centre-half Tom Parkes put in a crunching tackle on Jordan Young. He earned himself a yellow card and, had it been later in the game, could well have seen that turn to a red.
There was a bit more ‘rough justice’ handed out by Pools’ striker Emmanuel Dieseruvwe on Brett McGavin. The big frontman was exactly the kind of handful you would imagine him to be and the visitors were showing they are built in the image of their manager, Darren Sarll. That said, Aaron Jarvis was giving as he got from the robust Luke Waterfall and Parkes in the centre of the visitors’ defence.
On 15 minutes, Morgan Williams had to be inch perfect to clear a dangerous ball from the right side with Dieseruvwe arriving at the far post.
On 27 minutes, the visitors’ Joe Grey was the next in to the referee’s book after a foul on Dylan Morgan. The resulting did not muster a meaningful effort on goal, but Yeovil definitely look a threat from wide positions. Unsurprisingly, the press was the Sarll style adopted by Hartlepool.
Without ever carving out a meaningful chance to test Joel Dixon in the visitors’ goal, Yeovil seemed controlled and looked like they could cause problems from wide positions. Hartlepool were typically direct and certainly had the better chances but at no point in the first half was goalkeeper Ollie Wright extended.
A ‘1-0 scrapper’ was how the game was predicted to go on Friday’s podcast and there was nothing in the opening 45 minutes to suggest that was not going to be the case.
Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Hartlepool United 0
Second half
It was another direct attack from Hartlepool which created the first opening of the second half. Adam Campbell, who turned down the opportunity to join Crawley Town in League One to return to his native North East in the summer, found himself in space in the middle and played it out wide to Grey whose shot was blocked by a fine block from Alex Whittle.
Yeovil boss Mark Cooper had spoken pre-match about how substitutions would be crucial this season. With seven players on the bench, he made the game’s first change came after 56 minutes with Harvey Greenslade replacing Morgan, who never really got to show what he was capable of.
Wright had to be alert a minute later, a high ball in to the box to Dieseruvwe saw him hold off/manhandle Whittle and nod it down to Sheron whose header was in to the hands of the keeper, who two minutes later had to get down to keep out a stinging effort from Campbell.
It was Hartlepool who were looking the more dangerous and on 65 minutes they opened the scoring. Campbell once again involved rolling the ball to Jack HUNTER himself in space on the edge of the box and curled home a tidy finish. It had been coming.
Jordan Thomas replaced Michael Smith and the goal seemed to spark greater attacking intent from home side. Probably the best effort came on 75 minutes when Jordan Young cut in from the right and his effort was deflected wide for a corner.
With time running out the Sarll gamesmanship we know and (used to) love came in to play. Keeper Dixon going down ‘injured’ and whilst Dieseruvwe was off the pitch changing his boots.
Meanwhile Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and Sam Pearson both arrived off the bench, and five minutes from but inside the box Yeovil’s attacking intent was not being rewarded with any luck in front of goal. The visitors were quite happy to stay solid and organised let their hosts and try their luck.
On 86 minutes, hosts’ captain Matt Worthington tried a shot from distance which was comfortably held by Dixon. By my count that is our first shot on target.
Moments later came arguably our best chance. Determined play by Young kept the ball alive on the left side of the box and he found Pearson who clipped a ball in to Greenslade by Dixon was there to deny him.
The sight of seven minutes of injury time seemed to lift the Huish Park crowd as Yeovil continued to try to find a way through a wall of light blue shirts.
Then, literally with the last effort of the match, Lo-Everton’s ball in to the saw Dixon collide with his own player and spill the which dropped to Greenslade who lifted it over an unguarded net. Agonising, we have been well and truly Sarll’d.
Not far off, but those are the fine margins at this level.
Full time: Yeovil Town 0 Hartlepool United 1
Match Details
Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 10th August, 3pm
Competition: National League Premier
Pitch: In good nick, as you would hope on Game 1
Conditions: Dull and muggy
Attendance: 3,646 (238 away supporters)
Scorers: Jack Hunter 65 (0-1)
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Harvey Greenslade 80, Jake Wannell 90+4.
Hartlepool United: Tom Parkes 7, Joe Grey 27, Adam Campbell 71, Emmanuel Dieseruvwe 90+7.
Referee: David Rock
Yeovil Town (4-2-3-1)
Substitutes: Harvey Greenslade (for Dylan Morgan 56), Jordan Thomas (for Michael Smith, 68), Sonny Blu Lo-Everton (for Brett McGavin, 75), Sam Pearson (for Frank Nouble, 84), Matt Gould (not used), Finn Cousin-Dawson (not used), Raphael Araoye (not used).
Hartlepool United: Joel Dixon, David Ferguson, Daniel Dodds (for Manny Onariase, 90+4), Tom Parkes, Luke Waterfall (for Billy Sass-Davies, 70), Joe Grey, Jack Hunter, Luke Charman (for Anthony Gomez Mancini, 79), Nathan Sheron, Adam Campbell (for Louis Stephenson, 90), Emmanuel Dieseruvwe.
Substitutes (not used): Adam Smith, Nicky Featherstone, Alfie Steel.