Yeovil Town broke their goal-scoring duck but were held to a draw by Aldershot Town in a closely-contested match at Huish Park.
The visitors took the lead after just seven minutes when Josh Barrett’s neat finish over Ollie Wright stunned Huish Park in to silence. Throughout the first half, the Glovers were indebted to the on-loan Southampton goalkeeper for keeping them in it with the visitors on top.
Yeovil rallied after the break and it was a fine finish from on-loan Rotherham United striker Ciaran McGuckin who smashed an angled shot across visiting keeper Marcus Dewhurst on 58 minutes which drew them level. The first goal we have scored in more than 400 minutes of football.
The rest of the half was a fairly frantic affair which (again) referee Robert Massey-Ellis did little to control and both sides were forced to settle for a point.
First half
Dylan Morgan, back in the starting line-up having been recalled from his loan spell at Weston-super-Mare early, started the match on the left wing with Jordan Young on the other front, behind on-loan Rotherham United striker Ciaran McGuckin.
The first clear-cut chance fell to Young with six minutes gone. A great ball from Morgan picked out Brett McGavin who fed Young who bore down on Marcus Dewhurst but tried to dink it over the keeper rather than putting his laces through it and the keeper turned it aside from the corner.
But, the opening goal came on seven minutes as the visitors broke quickly from the resulting corner. The experienced James Henry got away quickly and the Yeovil defence did not, leaving the Glovers outnumbered as the ball found its way to Josh BARRETT who deftly lobbed it over Ollie Wright to open the scoring in front of a stunned Thatcher’s Stand.
It was a superb finish but the defending was a worry for the home side who had already been carved open before Young had his chance. That said, an opportunity spurned by the home side and one taken by the visitors. Those are the margins which cost you at this level, you’re not in National League South any more, boys.
Aldershot had two glorious opportunities to double their advantage not long after. First Hady Ghandour was twice denied by Wright during a moment of penalty area pinball, and from the resulting corner former Yeovil loanee Christian Maghoma smashed a thumping header against the crossbar. Huish Park is sounding nervous.
At the other end, McGavin hit a low free-kick under the defensive wall and Dewhurst did well to get a strong hand to it and turn it away on 20 minutes. Two minutes later good work from Morgan saw him put a low ball in to the box, Young stepped over it, and Charlie Cooper leathered it towards goal – but Dewhurst was there again to deny Yeovil. The midfielder could not have struck it any cleaner, but too close to the keeper.
We are winning so little in the top half of the pitch and there seems to be acres of space for Aldershot which Ghandour, Barrett and Henry exploiting. Ghandour has not stopped running all half and Barrett has us on strings.
On 30 minutes, Barrett tried to repeat his goal as he chipped an effort over Wright who was able to get a hand to it and turn it wide of goal. From the corner Henry had a close-range effort blocked and the ball looped up to Dan Ellison who inexplicably headed wide and clattered Wright in the process.
It is only thanks to Wright that this game is not at least 2-0 to the visitors. Mark Cooper has called his players over to the touchline as the on-loan Southampton ‘keeper got some treatment. We need a talking too.
A terrible pass from Nouble on 32 minutes gifted the ball to Ghandour who cut it back just behind Henry and Dejan Tetke was able to sneak in, just a fraction too slow allowing Wright to claim it. Lots of fingers being pointed at each other by Yeovil here, someone needs to take ownership of this.
McGuckin’s header from Dom Bernard’s cross with a minute of normal time remaining was at best a half-chance, but at least it was a half-chance in our favour. Then, the final chance of the half came after a good bit of controlled possession from Yeovil, Young found some space and his shot was turned over by Dewhurst once again. Better from us.
Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Aldershot Town 1
Second half
A change at the break and it was James Plant, signed on loan from League Two Port Vale on Friday, who replaced Alex Whittle. He’s come on at left wing-back with what appears to be a back three of Bernard, Williams and Wannell.
The second half started in equally worrying fashion for the Yeovil backline and Barrett had the ball in the net within three minutes of the restart. Another neat move cut through the Glovers and luckily for then the linesman adjudged Ghandour was offside in the build-up.
On 50 minutes, Young’s corner found the rising Nouble inside the box but the ball seemed to go past every other player in green-and-white and a couple of minutes later Nouble picked the ball up and ran with it. Huish Park has responded and there’s a noise coming from the Thatcher’s End. The crowd trying to lift the team here.
Seven minutes later and we are level. A great break saw Young burst forward and played a superbly weighted pass through to Ciaran McGUCKIN who finished well across Dewhurst. Our first goal in 422 minutes of football since Dom Bernard’s late winner at AFC Fylde back at the start of September.
Nouble got himself a booking for a McGuckin’s reward for his goal? He was replaced by Aaron Jarvis with 61 minutes gone.
Matt Worthington came on in place of McGavin on 75 minutes and moments later Young picked the ball up on the right side and fired in a shot which Dewhurst did well to turn aside. This is undoubtedly the best we have seen from Young so far this season, showing what he can do. Keep at it, Jordan, keep at it.
He didn’t get a chance to keep at it too much as he was replaced by Sam Pearson with ten minutes remaining. Neither side are settling for a point here, there’s a a big hole in the middle of the pitch where you would expect to the midfield to be.
As the game ticked in to injury time, Maghoma’s foot connected with the head of Pearson. You can tell from the height difference between the two players that the defender’s foot was very high. Maghoma is 6’3″, Pearson is 5’9″. Referee Robert Massey-Ellis thinks it is neither a foul or a booking. “You don’t know what you’re doing,” says Huish Park, followed by less polite things.
Deep in injury time, Worthington pulled something from nothing to force a save out of Dewhurst. From the resulting long throw, the home side tried to get the ball back in the box and Charlie Cooper went down to roars for a spot-kick from the home crowd.
Overall, a much improved performance in the second half after a shaky first half, but plenty of chances being created. Those fine margins which are costing us though and that is something we have to improve on.
Still, a goal (hurrah!), another point and we’re 12th in the National League Premier table having only just come back up in to the division. Offer me that come May and I’ll snap your hand off.
Full time: Yeovil Town 1 Aldershot Town 1
Match Details
Venue: Huish Park
Date: Saturday 28th September – 3pm kick-off
Competition: National League Premier
Scorers: Josh Barett 7 (0-1), Ciaran McGuckin 58 (1-1)
Pitch: In great condition considering the wet weather in Somerset this week
Conditions: A warm and sunny day
Attendance: 3,408 (403 away supporters)
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Frank Nouble 58, Aaron Jarvis 77, Dom Bernard 90+10
Aldershot Town: Ryan Jones 18, Lachlan Byrd 58, James Henry 59
Referee: Robert Massey-Ellis
Yeovil Town (4-2-3-1)
Substitutes: James Plant (for Alex Whittle, 46), Aaron Jarvis (for Ciaran McGuckin, 61), Matt Worthington (for Brett McGavin, 75), Sam Pearson (for Jordan Young, 80), Finn Cousin-Dawson (not used), Sonny Blu Lo-Everton (not used), Matt Gould (not used).
Aldershot Town: Marcus Dewhurst, Lachlan Byrd, Christian Maghoma, Dan Ellison (for Rollin Menayese, 88), Cameron Hargreaves, Josh Barrett, Ryan Jones (for Max Mullins, 90+2), Ashley Akpan, Hady Ghandour (for Kai Corbett, 84), James Henry (for Olly Scott, 67), Dejan Tetek (for Tyler Frost, 61).
Substitutes (not used): Jordi Van Stappershoef.