Match Report: Yeovil Town 1 Carlisle United 1

Yeovil Town shared the points against a Carlisle United side who arrived in Somerset in menacing form after an entertaining match at Huish Park on Saturday.

The Glovers took the lead after just 15 minutes when a George Nurse corner ended up in the net, take your pick who got the final touch with the stadium announcer credit Tahvon Campbell and some scores’ apps giving it as an own goal from visiting defender, Morgan Feeney.

Either way, the hosts were well worth their advantage at the break and continued to frustrate Carlisle until the 68th minute when a moment of quality involving the division’s top scorer Regan Linney set up substitute Harvey McAdam who coolly levelled.

A much improved performance from Yeovil after some difficult weeks and they were well worth their point.

First half

Manager Richard Dryden made four changes from the 3-0 defeat at Rochdale last weekend with new signing midfielder Max Jolliffe coming in for Finn Cousin-Dawson in midfield, Michee Efete replacing the injured Josh Sims and Harvey Greenslade and Tahvon Campbell coming in up front. There was no place in the squad for Brett McGavin and Junior Morias, but there 

There was no repeat of the horror start of seven days earlier with a composed opening ten minutes for Yeovil, but it was the visitors who had the first attempts on target coming from the talented Chris Conn-Clarke. The Peterborough United loanee was picking up pockets of space in the middle of the park and had two sighters on goal early on, neither of which particularly troubled Jed Ward in goal.

Then on 15 minutes, a strange thing happened – we took the lead! A great corner from on loan defender George Nurse went straight in to a dangerous area and ended up in the next, Tahvon CAMPBELL was awarded the goal but it is difficult to figure out who got the final touch. Campbell appeared to get a head to it but possibly Carlisle defender Morgan Feeney got a touch on it as well. Let’s be honest, who cares?!

Conn Clarke had a 23rd minute free kick punched away by Ward, but the goal lifted Huish Park and the Yeovil players responded. Two minutes later, Efete put a cross in which Feeney had to be quick on his toes to deal with, before Aaron Jarvis had a penalty shout turned away by referee William Davies after he was pulled to the ground by Feeney. Jarvis manhandled by a defender, we’re as (not) shocked as you!

The attacking intent continued from Yeovil with Andrew Oluwabori coming closest with a shot wide four minutes before the break whilst at the other end Ward was equal to another effort from Conn-Clarke.

As poor as the first half at Rochdale seven days earlier was, this was impressive for the Glovers. They frustrated their in-form visitors and showed intent going forwards with the new arrivals, in particular Nurse and Efete, impressing.

Half time: Yeovil Town 1 Carlisle United 0

Second half

Carlisle’s towering frontman Georgie Kelly got on the end of a Conn-Clarke free-kick three minutes after the restart which Ward was again equal to. There’s some big units in this visiting side, none bigger than Kelly, but Yeovil are matching it. Great to hear Huish Park in full voice backing the boys.

Regan Linney bent an effort wide on 54 minutes and the division’s top scorer had another sight of goal before the hour mark and Carlisle responded to the frustration with two changes in the 61st minute. Harvey Mcadam and Junior Luamba replacing Alex Gilliead and Josh Williams.

On 65 minutes, the ball dropped to Glovers’ captain Jake Wannell on the edge of the box and visiting keeper Gabriel Breeze did well to deny him and then bravely dive in at the feet of Morgan Williams to deny him getting to the rebound.

But, on 68 minutes, Carlisle equalised. Linney was at the heart of it turning past Efete and picking out substitute Harvey McADAM who curled a superb effort in to the top corner. Probably the only real chance the visitors have created this half, but they have taken it.

Linney had another effort straight at Ward after 72 minutes and then came agonosingly close of what would have been one of the sweetest strikes Huish Park has ever seen two minutes later. His shot just needed the slightest bit of bend of it, there’s nothing the striker could have done to hit that any better. He’s some player, Linney.

Another positive moment after 76 minutes with the Huish Park return if summer signing James Daly, not seen in league action since the second game of the season, and a minute later he almost served up a goal. His ball in from the left looked like it took a nick off the head of Jarvis and landed to Campbell at the back post. The striker had Aaron Hayden in close attendance and could not get a touch. Great opportunity there. Moments later, Jarvis came close as well. Neither side are giving this one up.

Nine minutes from time, Richard Dryden made further changes with Finn Cousin-Dawson and Byron Pendleton replacing Aaron Jarvis and Harvey Greenslade. Moments later, Nurse had a shot from distance which took a nick on its way through and went out for a corner. Shades of Jordan Barnett against Torquay there.

The closing stages saw Campbell denied by Breeze before Cousin-Dawson picked up his long-awaited fifth booking of the season deep in to seven minutes of injury time before the points were shared.

In truth, Yeovil had the better chances of the second half and were well worth a draw, Carlisle had one moment of real quality and they took it to earn theirs.

After a difficult few weeks, the Glovers showed they can mix it with the division’s big boys and they can take some reassurance from the performance. The changes – both in formation and personnel – clearly made a difference. Time to get some consistency.

Substitutes: James Daley (for Andrew Oluwabori, 76), Byron Pendleton (for Harvey Greenslade, 81), Finn Cousin-Dawson (for Aaron Jarvis, 81), Alex Whittle (for Max Jolliffe, 90+4), Dan Ellison (not used), Kyle Ferguson (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Carlisle United: Gabriel Breeze, Archie Davies (for Jordan Jones, 81),  Cameron Harper, Morgan Feeney, Aaron Hayden, George Kelly, Reagen Linney, Alex Gilliead (for Harvey Mcadam, 61), Josh Williams (for Junior Luamba, 61), Josh Grant, Chris Conn-Clarke.

Substitutes (not used): Harry Lewis, Callum Whelan, Stephen Wearne, Luke Armstrong.