Two second half goals saw Yeovil Town go down to defeat at the hands of Bristol Rovers in the ‘Match for Marcus’ pre-season friendly at Huish Park on Saturday.
A crowd of 2,236, including a healthy 512 from Bristol, turned out to recognise Marcus Stewart, the legendary striker who played for both sides. All gate receipts are being donated to raising money and awareness of Motor Neurone Disease, the condition which the forward was diagnosed with in 2022.
It was an impressive first half for the Glovers which saw them take the lead when Rovers’ goalkeeper Brad Young punched a Brett McGavin corner in to his own net after 21 minutes, but the League Two opposition moved up a gear after the break and goals from ex-Glovers’ loanee Kofi Shaw and Luke Thomas wrapped up the result.
First half
The Glovers lined up with trialist Bristol City Under-21s goalkeeper Josey Casa-Grande in goal with ex-Rovers’ striker Jevani Brown also named in the starting line-up alongside Birmingham City Under-21s defender Byron Pendleton, playing at right-back. Midfielders Teo Kurtaran and Luke McCormick, a former trialist and first-team player for The Gas, were the other trialists named on the substitutes’ bench for the match.
Pendleton is under contract at St Andrews until the summer of 2027 so would be a loan if he is the man Mark Cooper is looking to fill the boots of Michael Smith.
Before kick-off, there was a one-minute silence in memory of all those who were injured and affected by the coach crash which killed a ten-year-old boy near Minehead on Thursday.
The opening exchanges saw former Glovers’ loanee Kofi Shaw have a shot deflected away for a corner, but it was Yeovil who took the lead after 21 minutes. An in-swinging corner from Brett McGavin was punched in to his own net by Rovers’ keeper Brad Young. The goal was credit to Morgan Williams, but in reality is was an OWN GOAL from the keeper.
On 29 minutes, those in green-and-white thought Yeovil had doubled their lead when trialist Pendleton got away down the right with only Young to beat, but his shot went in to the side netting. The rippling of the net proved to be an illusion for those in the Main Stand and Thatcher’s End – but those away fans in the Screwfix Stand had a far better view of what had really happened.
At the other end, a quick move from Rovers saw Micah Anthony found in space on the left side of the box, he fired an effort in but it was well blocked by Williams after 32 minutes and the only other action in Yeovil’s favour saw Young have more problems with corners from McGavin. For the visitors Ollie Dewsbury almost took advantage of a lax header back to Casa-Grande, but put his header wide.
Overall, the first half offered many reasons to be impressed with for Yeovil. Pendleton looked a threat going forward down the right with McGavin impressing and Harvey Greenslade and Aaron Jarvis linking up well in the forward line.
Half-time: Yeovil Town 1 Bristol Rovers 0
Both sides made two changes at half-time with James Daly and Brett McGavin replacing by trialist Luke McCormick and Josh Sims for Yeovil.
The visitors found an equaliser just three minutes in to the second half as Kofi SHAW was awarded the freedom of Huish Park’s midfield to stride forward and smash a shot from outside the box past Casa-Grande. A fantastic strike and it appears the curse of the old boy exists in pre-season as well.
Bryant Bilongo had a great opportunity to put them ahead after 56 minutes after a one-two with substitute Luke Thomas saw him saunter in to the Yeovil penalty area and flash a shot past the far post.
The warning signs were there and on 62 minutes Rovers went ahead. This time Shaw was the provider as he picked out Luke THOMAS who had the easiest job of tapping home. A simple goal for Rovers who have stepped up a gear after the break and Yeovil are getting pulled out of position and cut apart.
There was the usual flurry of changes with trialist Teo Kurtaran appearing alongside Finn Cousin-Dawson, Kyle Ferguson, Lewys Twamley and Tahvon Campbell in the second half. On 75 minutes, Kurtaran forced a good save out of Jed Ward, who replaced Young at the break, with a free-kick from the edge of the box.
In the 82nd minute, we got a first look at the new rule of referees awarding a corner for a team holding on to the ball for too long, awarding Yeovil a corner kick. It has been a flat second half, so that could be among the highlights of this 45 minutes.
Williams’ flicked header was easily saved by Ward from a nice cross from Twamley as the game ticked in to injury time. A nice move from Yeovil, but Morgan did not get enough of a connection on it.
Reasons to be positive in the first half, but reasons to be negative in the second half.
Full time: Yeovil Town 1 Bristol Rovers 2
Teams:
Yeovil Town: Josey Casa-Grande (Trialist), Alex Whittle, Morgan Williams, Jake Wannell, Byron Pendleton (Trialist), Charlie Cooper, Brett McGavin, Jevani Brown (Trialist), Harvey Greenslade, Aaron Jarvis (for Tahvon Campbell, 69).
Substitutes: Luke McCormick (for James Daly, 46), Josh Sims (for Brett McGavin, 46), Teo Kurtaran, Trialist (for Charlie Cooper, 60), Finn Cousin-Dawson (for Alex Whittle, 64), Kyle Ferguson (for Jake Wannell, 64), Lewys Twamley (for Jevani Brown, Trialist, 64), Aidan Stone (not used), Matt Gould (not used).
Bristol Rovers: Brad Young (for Jed Ward, 46), Joel Senior, Taylor Moore, Isaac Hutchinson, Luke Thomas (for Jack Sparkes, 63), Dan Ellison, Josh McEarhran (for Ryan Howley, 46, for Kamil Conteh, 73), Micah Anthony (for Ruel Sotiriou, 63), Bryant Bilongo, Kofi Shaw, Ollie Dewsbury.
Substitutes (not used): Alfie Kilgour, Shaq Forde, Promise Omochere, Connor Taylor.
Scorers: Brad Young o.g. 21 (1-0), Kofi Shaw 48 (1-1), Luke Thomas 62 (1-2).
Attendance: 2,236 (512 away supporters)
Referee: James Durkin (Portland, W*ymouth)