Match Report: Yeovil Town 5 Leatherhead 2

Yeovil Town made no mistake at the second time of asking against a spirited Leatherhead as they booked their place in the FA Cup First Round Proper at Huish Park.

The visitors made a dream start when Kofi Anokye-Boadi opened the scoring within the opening 90 seconds before two goals from Slavi Spasov and Ryan Jones made it 3-1 going in to the half-time break. The clinical finishing we have become accustomed to in recent weeks was back.

Just a minute before half-time, the visitors saw defender Charlie Kennett sent off for a late tackle on Jack Kingdon and when substitute Charlie Lennon made it 4-1 on 58 minutes it looked like this tie was over. But, as they did in the opening game on Saturday, Leatherhead had no intention of giving up and pulled one back through Connor Harris with 14 minutes remaining.

There was a great chance for the visitors Tom Dryer to get another as the Tanners refused to say die, but eventually it was left to Lennon to seal the tie when he turned home a beautiful cross from Glovers’ youngster Liam Nardiello with four minutes remaining.

Another thrilling FA Cup tie and both sides soaked up well-deserved praise from their supporters at the final whistle. It’s Yeovil who are in to the next round, but make no mistake, Leatherhead made them know they were in a game.

First half

Huish Park was in good voice from the kick off, but within 90 seconds of the kick-off you could hear a pin drop as the visitors took a shock lead. Slavi Spasov was knocked off the ball too easily and allowed the visitors to break and find a pass which found Kofi ANOKYE-BOADI inside the box and he curled a beautiful finish in to the bottom corner. The 200 travelling supporters are going crazy and who could blame them? It’s a dream start for the side two divisions below Yeovil in the football pyramid.

Yeovil got back on the ball and tried to find their way through a Leatherhead side who showed no signs of giving anything away. But patience paid off when Joe Gubbins whipped in a lovely deep cross in to the box, Slavi SPASOV peeled off his defender and headed in to the ground and past Sonny Wheeler in the visitors’ goal with 15 minutes gone.

Leatherhead are not changing their tactics, getting bodies behind the ball and making it as difficult for their hosts as they can. There was a shout for a penalty when Archie Davies, who scored Yeovil’s first in the opening game at the weekend, made a lovely turn to get inside the box and got a push in the back. Referee Harrison Blair was unmoved by the appeals for a spot kick.

But it was a moment of magic from who else but Ryan JONES which put the Glovers ahead with 24 minutes on the clock? Full credit to defender Ben Radcliffe who threaded a beautiful pass through the eye of a needle to pick out the winger who slotted it home equally beautifully. That was the clinical football attacking football which we have got used to from Yeovil this season, the ball never left the floor and kissed the post on its way in to the net. Chef’s kiss.

The Glovers are continuing to ask questions of a resolute Leatherhead side, Johl Powell has an effort deflected wide, but there’s no shortage of energy from the home side. Then with just a minute of normal time remaining in the first half, the visitors were reduced to ten men.

Charlie Kennett, who had been on the receiving end of a challenge from Davies which aggrieved the visitors earlier, put in a full-blooded tackle on Jack Kingdon after the whistle had gone. Perhaps a bit of revenge for Leatherhead, but referee Harrison Blair had no doubt about brandishing the red card.

With a man advantage and the memory of Saturday’s comeback still fresh in their minds, Yeovil were not taking any chances and made it 3-1 with four minutes of the seven added on played. The ball broke to Powell whose effort was only pushed away by Wheeler as far as Slavi SPASOV who tapped in the third.

A fantastic response from Billy Rowley’s men after the disappointment of the weekend and that opening 90 seconds tonight.

Half-time: Yeovil Town 3 Leatherhead 1

Second half

For the Glovers, Jordan Norville-Williams and Charlie Lennon replaced James Daly and Archie Davies, whilst the visitors also made three changes at half-time and showed their intentions to not give up this tie despite their numerical disadvantage. Within nine minutes of the restart, they had a good opportunity to reduce the deficit when a free-kick from James Dickson had Jos Barker scrambling across his goal. Luckily there was no-one in a blue and white shirt to get a touch on it.

But just before the hour mark Yeovil added a fourth after a mix-up in the Leatherhead defence. Wheeler appeared to fail to give his defence a shout when he came to collect a Brett McGavin free-kick in to the box, visiting defenders and keeper collided and there was Charlie LENNON to tuck the ball home. Almost immediately after the goal, striker Ste Walker replaced Johl Powell and shortly after Loick Ayina came on for Kingdon.

Further changes for the visitors as well and one of the new arrivals, Nathan Hogan, had a great opportunity to pull a goal back. Tom Dreyer put him clean through on goal against Jos Barker who did well to deny the substitute from close range. They might be behind and a man down, but Leatherhead are not giving up trying.

With 73 minutes on the clock and the tie seemingly settled (let’s not rule anything out after the weekend!), Under-19s forward Liam Nardiello replaced Ben Radcliffe and went to right back. He’ll not be used to that.

Remember how I said let’s not rule anything out? Leatherhead got the second when Ayina got drawn in and a ball around the corner allowed Connor HARRIS to get through and powered a shot past Jos Barker. The visitors are not taking the moment to celebrate in front of their travelling fans, they grabbed the ball and went straight back to the restart. Got to admire that spirit.

Full time: Yeovil Town 5 Leatherhead 2

Substitutes: Jordan Norville-Williams (for James Daly, 46), Charlie Lennon (for Archie Davies, 46), Ste Walker (for Johl Powell, 59), Loick Ayina (for Jack Kingdon, 64), Liam Nardiello (for Ben Radcliffe, 73), Matt Gould (not used).

Leatherhead: Sonny Wheeler, Charlie Kennett, Cameron Black, Niran Butler, Louis Paget, James Dickson (for Nathan Hogan, 65), Mark Waters, Matt Everitt (for Connor Harris, 46), Anas Igozolun (for Harry Murphy, 65), Kofi Anokye-Boadi (for Tom Dryer, 46), Marcel Barrington (for Kemall Wilson, 46).

Substitutes (not used): Maksym Zabashta, Deondre Dante.