Att: 2, 390

Line up : (3-5-2)


Jon Sheffield

Terry Skiverton
Tom White
Anthony Tonkin

Nick Crittenden
Roy O’Brien
Lee Johnson
Michael McIndoe
Andy Turner

Carl Alford
Scott Ramsay

Subs used:
Chris Giles (46, for Ramsay), Andy Lindegaard (10, for O’Brien), James Bent (82, for Lindegaard)

Scarborough:
Woods, Atkinson, Ingram, Rennison, Wilford, Fitzsimmons, Stoker, Blunt, Faure, Brodie, Pounder

Subs used:
Turley (83, for Pounder), Burt (87, for Brodie)

Scorers: Brodie (22, 0-1), Wilford (34, 0-2) Lee JOHNSON (47, 1-2), Chris GILES (77, 2-2)

This report courtesy of Fe7:

Following a run of three straight defeats todays contest against a lowly Scarborough side was an opportunity that Yeovil had to take to avoid their season becoming a relegation battle.

Back to the game.

Again, Yeovil named a familiar starting line-up. Injury to Darren Way forced Gary Johnson to draft Roy OBrien back into midfield. A minute’s silence was observed by the crowd of 2,390 in respect of those that have suffered under recent terrorist attacks in America.

Unlike previous matches the referee failed to exact punishment on the first reckless tackle, Terry Skiverton being victim.

Yeovil settled down and looked comfortable within the first few minutes with O’Brien proving himself as a positive force in midfield, dropping to right back when required, allowing Crittenden a greater degree of freedom. All this came to a shattering blow on 6 minutes when O’Brien came off second best in challenging for a 50-50 ball. O’Brien lay on the ground receiving attention for some minutes before being stretchered off. Andy Lindegaard came off the subs bench to replace him. It was later reported that the worst fear had been confirmed and O’Brien had suffered a broken leg.

It could be argued that Yeovil had the better of play but often failed to seriously threaten the Scarborough defence. Yeovil worked the ball well down the right wing and Lindegaard produced a couple of good far post crosses, Andy Turner was on the end of the crosses and he was unable to take further advantage.

As with previous matches todays opposition were content to counter attack. Sheffield collected a good low cross in his six-yard box, and shortly after it looked as if Scarborough would open the scoring but Tonkin was on hand to block at the near post.

Whereas Yeovil controlled most of the ball it was Scarborough’s counter attacks that looked most likely to produce a goal. That said it was still a shock when Scarborough did open the scoring after 20 minutes. An accurate but simple right wing corner into the six-yard box was met by Scarborough’s shortest player, Steve Brodie, while the Yeovil defence appeared motionless. Yeovil 0 Scarborough 1.

Although Scarborough played with greater confidence they were equally impotent as Yeovil as a strike force. Yeovil’s best opportunity of the first half subsequently fell to Ramsay. He robbed a Scarborough defender and moved in on goal, his shot was on target, but Woods dived to his right quickly to get a hand to Ramsay’s shot, his defence did the rest and cleared any further danger.

A minute later on 33 minutes Scarborough added their second goal. It was a good goal, and again Steve Brodie was involved. Picking the ball up outside the Yeovil penalty box, his chip was well placed for Wilford to run on to, and head past Sheffield. Yeovil 0 Scarborough 2.

The remaining minutes of the first half, including 5 minutes injury time, were even less eventful, enlivened only by a fracas off the pitch in the Westland Terrace. Various calls for board action become more vocal. If there is to be a more dismal period in Yeovil’s future I hope I am long gone by then.

Half Time: Yeovil 0 Scarborough 2.

It is fortunate that football is a game of two halves. Yeovil fans now seem guaranteed of one poor half and one good half, so it was a good bet that things could only improve. We hoped.

Gary Johnson replaced Scott Ramsay with Yeovil’s joint-leading scorer, super sub: Christopher Giles. And, as if a top-class thriller writer had written the script, Giles did his stuff. His impact was immediate. Giles, forcing his presence in the six-yard box, controlled a bouncing ball and, from wide on the left, sent in a low curling cross. Lee Johnson, arriving late in the six-yard box, met the ball with a simple side foot volley to put Yeovil back into the game. Yeovil 1 Scarborough 2.

By now Yeovil’s tails were well and truly up, and they were hungry for the equaliser. Attacks from Yeovil came thick and fast: Yeovil headers glanced past posts; Alford, turning in the box flashed his shot post the post; Tom White’s cross, bouncing off the Scarborough bar, was the closest. Yeovil continued the second half better, repeatedly getting the ball into the Scarborough danger area. At the other end the Yeovil defence coped comfortably with most threats. Steve Brodie was always a potential threat, and his chipped shot drifting just wide of Sheffield’s left hand post, was to be their best opportunity of the second half.

The game entered a quieter period and some of the Yeovil players started making unforced errors. Dead ball play from MacIndoe and Skiverton drifting frustratingly out to touch.

By now Scarborough’s attack were almost non-existent. Yeovil’s control failed to produce any clear chances until 77 minutes, an identical replica of Scarborough’s first goal. An accurate corner from MacIndoe on the right was delivered into the six-yard box, and to satisfy the scrip-writer it had to be Giles who met the ball with a simple header and power the ball into the Scarborough net, the come back was complete, Yeovil 2 Scarborough 2.

Yeovil had the better of the remaining minutes, the best chance coming from Alford who skimmed the Scarborough cross bar. James Bent replaced Andy Lindegaard.

A number of Scarborough players were booked for time-wasting and Steve Brodie was replaced by Jamie Burt, Brodie receiving much applause from the Main Stand crowd.

Yeovil continued to control the game, Scarborough’s attacks often falling to Yeovil’s well executed off side trap. However, as if to remind Yeovil of potential dangers, the game concluded with Sheffield back tracking to collect a looping ball that the Yeovil crowd feared would compound their misery.

Final Score: Yeovil 2 Scarborough 2.

Scarborough took full advantage of Yeovil’s frailties, poor dead-ball defending, and poor Yeovil finishing left them with a 0-2 half time score-line. If Ramsay was the culprit for those first-half misses, his replacement, the enigmatic Christopher Giles, turned the tide, making the first and scoring the second. However, Scarborough were poor opponents, creating relatively little in either half, but still capable of scoring two goals. Yeovil were also poor throughout, and there is much to do for them to be serious title contenders. While Gary Johnson’s defensive injuries are unfortunate, it is encouraging to see Giles and Lindegaard adding positively to the teams performance. One asks why they are not utilised more often – David Webb would have.