Match Report: Yeovil Town 1 Worthing 1

Yeovil Town had to settle for point as they came from behind against newly-promoted Worthing at Huish Park on Tuesday night.

The Glovers created a number of inviting openings before going behind when goalkeeper Jos Barker allowed a tame shot from the edge of the box from the visitors’ Razzaq Coleman De Graft trickle past him just before the half-hour mark.

The home side pulled level just two minutes in to the second half when a free-kick from Brett McGavin fizzed through a crowded penalty area and came off Worthing defender Joe Cook on its way in to the net. After that both sides had opportunities to take the three points, but neither could find the killer final touch.

First half

Yeovil Town boss Billy Rowley said he had given his side instructions to go out and make a fast start, but it was Worthing who did that. With just over 30 seconds on the clock, a ball in from the right found Ricky Aguiar free inside the box with a glorious chance which was superbly stopped by Jos Barker in the Yeovil goal.

With eight minutes on the clock, Johl Powell had a great chance to add to his fine scoring form after Ryan Jones picked him out inside the box but his effort was blocked. The Welsh winger was at it again after 20 minutes, making a burst down the right side and fired a ball in to a crowded penalty but it found the head of a visiting defender before it could make it way to anyone in green-and-white.

Powell had another opportunity two minutes later and (again!) it was Jones who made progress through the middle of the park and picked out Powell whose effort was well stopped by Taylor Seymour in the Worthing goal. Another great run and pass from Jones and Powell picking out another great position.

Next up it was Worthing’s chance to come close to breaking the deadlock. A swift move found striker Charley Kendall on the right side of the box, his effort deflected off Jack Kingdon, clipped the crossbar and bounced away to safety. Then, straight down the other end, a ball dropped to Jordan Norville-Williams inside the box and he struck it first time and watched his effort rattle back off the post.

After several good moves from both sides, it was a pretty scruffy one which broke the deadlock. Razzaq COLEMAN DE GRAFT fired in a speculative shot from just outside the box which slipped through the hands of Barker who appeared to have it covered and in to the corner of the net. It was great to hear Yeovil fans in the Thatcher’s Stand singing the young keeper’s name straight afterwards, there’s plenty of credit in the bank for him.

Despite taking the lead, Worthing had no intent of slacking off and carved out another good chance when Jordan Young – who was weirdly booed by some Glovers’ fans during the first half – looped a ball in to the box which defender Charlie Waller could not direct goalwards.

There were applause from the home support as the players went in at half-time and that is an indication that this was far from a poor performance from Yeovil in this first half. One goalkeeping error is all there is in this one.

Half-time: Yeovil Town 0 Worthing 1

Second half

The first chance of the second half led to Yeovil’s equaliser. Clever play from Powell saw him with a free-kick just 30 seconds after the restart way out on the left side and Brett McGavin’s free-kick fizzed in to the area and in to the net. It was definitely on target but it came off Worthing defender Joe Cook on its way in to the net. OWN GOAL.

Almost immediately after the restart, Powell was picked out by another Jones pass, bore down on the Worthing but and was only denied by a sensational last ditch tackle from Cook. If the defender did score an own goal to level this match, he’s made up for it with that tackle.

There were chances at both ends with Barker doing well to block an effort with his feet which landed to Cook whose goal-bound effort was kept out by a superb block from Radcliffe. Just before the hour mark Young lifted a free-kick in prime Jordan Young territory over the bar, and at the other end Powell got away and hammered a ball across the face of an open goal but Slavi Spasov was unable to turn it home.

On 64 minutes, Mason Obeng and Zain Westbrooke replaced Hayden Muller and James Daly and then ten minutes later Ste Walker came on in place of Spasov. But with 76 minutes, Yeovil were indebted to defender Jack Kingdon who did superbly to throw himself at an effort from the visitors Cory Adjetey-Brew which seemed destined to be hammered home.

Charlie Lennon replaced Johl Powell with seven minutes of normal time remaining, but Yeovil found it difficult to make the ball stick in forward positions whilst Worthing seem happy to let this one drift to a draw. And that is exactly what happened as players from both sides collapsed to the turf at the final whistle.

There were definitely chances for both sides to win this one and Yeovil will be disappointed not to have scored more than one from all the chances they created.

Full time: Yeovil Town 1 Worthing 1

Substitutes: Mason Obeng (for James Daly, 64), Zain Westbrooke (for Hayden Muller, 64), Ste Walker (for Slavi Spasov, 74), Charlie Lennon (for Johl Powell, 83), Joe Gubbins (not used), Matt Gould (not used).

Worthing: Taylor Seymour, Joel Colbran, Jayden Moore, Joe Cook, Charlie Walker, Razzaq Coleman De Graft, Jack Wadham, Ricky Aguiar, Cory Adjetey-Brew, Charley Kendall, Jordan Young (for Emmerson Suttoon, 77).

Substitutes (not used): Guillermo De La Cruz, Harry Ransom, Sam Packham, Owen Spicer, Harvey Boddy, Bailey Smith.