Match Report: Yeovil Town 0 Scunthorpe United 3

A spirited first half performance was cancelled out by a professional opposition on Saturday, as Yeovil Town were defeated at home by Scunthorpe United. The Glovers had the better performance going into half-time, with chances for Aaron Jarvis and James Daly going amiss.

The second half saw Scunthorpe step their game up, with a fortunate penalty being tucked home by Danny Whitehall, before a double from his replacement Leo Farrell put the game out of reach for Yeovil. The defeat leaves Yeovil 17th in the table, still eight points above the bottom four.

First half

Billy Rowley named an unchanged lineup from Tuesday night’s win over Tamworth, with youth product Ollie Hughes once again making the bench.

The opening stages of the game saw Yeovil with more of the possession, forcing the visiting Scunthorpe into a series of fouls in the midfield, allowing the Glovers to further assert themselves on the game. Scunthorpe had the first real opportunity to score though, as a good run from Joe Rowley broke through the Yeovil defence, forcing a save from Jed Ward.

Just before the ten minute mark, Yeovil fired back though, as a tantalising cross from Josh Sims was missed by James Daly and Aaron Jarvis – the ball was recovered on the other end of the box by Troy Perrett, and after some pinball in the box, Jarvis couldn’t sneak a backheel past Scunthorpe ‘keeper Lewis Jones.

Another chance followed for Yeovil soon after, as they beat Scunthorpe’s press and attacked down the right hand side once again; Sims got the ball to Dakarai Mafico but his shot ballooned over from all of 30 yards out.

Scunthorpe then forced the Glovers into a mistake, as a mixup between Brett McGavin and Jake Wannell allowed attacker Callum Roberts to pounce; his shot was blocked, almost wrong-footing Jed Ward, but the Bristol Rovers loanee scrambled across his net to recover.

22 minutes in, and a pause in play was called for an “injury” to Danny Whitehall, who seemed to feel that Jed Ward had kneed him in the back as he moved past him following a Scunthorpe chance… after his treatment (and a yellow card to Jed Ward), play got back underway.

Neither side looked to threaten for a spell, with pantomime villain Danny Whitehall earning himself a spot in the referee’s book the only noteworthy moment. A few minutes later, Aaron Jarvis stormed down the left hand side for Yeovil, putting a lovely cross in for James Daly, but the in-form number 11 scooped his shot over the bar.

A few half-chances for Yeovil were the remaining events for the final ten minutes of the first half, but both sides went into half-time goalless. A positive first half performance from the Glovers, who went into the half-time break the better of the two sides.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Scunthorpe United 0

Second half

The Glovers took kickoff for the second half, kicking towards the Thatchers Terrace, and it was in front of the terrace where the first chance of the half came. A patient passage of play allowed Josh Sims to put a good ball in for Aaron Jarvis; his flick on was found by Troy Perrett, but the Cardiff youngster couldn’t control the ball and the move fell apart.

Scunthorpe went down the other end, and following a challenge from Joy Mukena, the Iron won themselves a penalty. Up stepped the pantomime villain, as Danny Whitehall sent Super Jed Ward the wrong way to give the visitors an arguably undeserved lead.

Not long after, the visitors were on the attack again, a stray boot following a shot from Whitehall left Brett McGavin on the floor needing treatment. Scunthorpe continued to push forward following the restart, with two chances being blocked, then sent over the bar.

Yeovil looked to respond, building momentum and introducing a fresh face in the shape of Tahvon Campbell. More chances came and went for Yeovil, with the biggest of the lot coming from a low-driven Ryan Jones cross; it was blocked and sent into the path of Tahvon Campbell, but his shot from five yards was saved by the ‘keeper.

Just before the 70 minute mark, Scunthorpe’s defence was scrambling once again, as another Campbell shot was blocked, forcing a corner, before a raft of subs were introduced, three for the visitors and one for Yeovil.

Soon after, Scunthorpe doubled their lead following a very tidy passage of passing, unlocking the Yeovil defence and leaving recently-introduced Leo Farrell with acres of space and an easy tap-in.

Yeovil huffed and puffed, but aside from a handful of hopeful forays into the opposition third, nothing of any quality was produced. It took until one of the nine (yes, nine) added minutes for Yeovil’s next chance to come, as Harvey Greenslade’s shot hit the side netting.

From the goal kick, Scunthorpe went down the other end and breezed through the Yeovil defence – there were calls for offside, but the flag stayed down as Leo Farrell tucked home his second, and Scunthorpe’s third. The visitors comfortably saw out the remainder of the game, heading home as 3-0 winners.