Venue: The Hand Stadium
Tues 8th April 2003, 7.30pm kick-off.

Conditions: cool and dry.
Ground: fairly thin grass cover on sandy soil.

Somerset Premier Cup Semi-Final :
Clevedon Town 0 Yeovil Town 4

Attendance: 283 ( including approx 150 Yeovil supporters )

Referee: Mr R Palmer. Assisted by : Mr R Corp and Mr T Lawrence.

Bookings:
Yeovil: Lockwood ( 44 mins, foul )
Clevedon: None

Line up : (4-4-2)


Steve Collis

Ian Linney

Adam Lockwood (c)

Jimmy Aggrey

Steve Reed

Nick Crittenden

Steve Thompson

Neil Mustoe

Abdelhalim El Kholti

Chris Giles

Kim Grant

Substitutes: James Turner ( for Ian Linney, 24 mins ), Tom Jacobs ( for Adam Lockwood, 45 mins ), Nick Jacobs, Ian Patchett ( for Steve Thompson, 67 mins ).

Clevedon: Steve Weaver, Ollie Price ( capt ), Steve Mason, Steve Lester, Lee Jefferies, Rob Scott, Mike Wyatt, Lee Vickerman, Guiseppe Sorbara, Arthur Appleton, Peter Ball.
Subs : Danny Bryant, Lee Stanton, Chay Harris, Philip Walsh, Dave Mogg.

Scorers: Nick CRITTENDEN ( 11 mins, 1-0 ), ( 14 mins, 2-0 ), Chris GILES ( 26 mins, 3-0 ), Kim GRANT ( 59 mins, 4-0 ).


This report courtesy of Tony Elbourn:

QUALITY SHOWS

It says a lot about the quality and depth of the regime at Yeovil when a team composed mostly of our less experienced players is still capable of overwhelming spirited, skilful and confident opponents who have held this Cup for the past two years.

First Half

It took ten minutes for the sides to settle down, changing gradually from a Sunday league style of play to keeping the ball on the ground. Yeovil were quicker to settle, pushing forward and stretching Clevedon’s back line several times. In the 11th minute a point-blank Chris Giles header from a Jimmy Aggrey cross was brilliantly saved by Steve Weaver, only to have NICK CRITTENDEN volley the rebound in from close range.

Almost immediately Steve Collis had to stretch to stop a low drive from Arthur Appleton, but in the 14th minute NICK CRITTENDEN hammered home the rebound from another excellent reflex save by Steve Weaver to make it 2-0.

Play settled into the pattern it was to retain throughout most of the match, Clevedon hustling and bustling a Yeovil side that wanted to take a little more time than they were allowed. Abdelhalim El Kholti ran forward continuously, supported by Neil Mustoe in midfield and Steve Reed pushing up from the back, while Jimmy Aggrey anchored the defence. Kim Grant had an opportunity in the 21st minute, placing the ball beautifully after El Kholti had run through half the opposition, but the ball lacked pace and was stopped by a scrambling defender.

James Turner replaced Ian Linney after the latter received a knock to the head. Adam Lockwood dropped back from midfield to cover his more usual right back position and Turner filled the midfield slot, providing some extra drive and linking well with Mustoe. Another goal was certain, and in the 26th minute CHRIS GILES made it 3-0 with a knee-high diving header from a Nick Crittenden cross.

Yeovil had three more notable attempts on goal in this half. Kim Grant hit the ball just wide on 32 minutes after another El Kholti jinking run, a minute later Chris Giles’ header was an inch over the crossbar from a corner, and after 41 minutes Grant’s sizzling 25-yard shot came off the post.

Last move of the half came from Clevedon, Guiseppe Sorbara chipping the ball over Collis but just wide of the post.

Half Time : Clevedon Town 0 Yeovil Town 3.

Second Half

Clevedon launched a blitz from the whistle with four goal attempts in as many minutes, the most dangerous requiring a goal-line clearance from Nick Crittenden, but thereafter the game settled into its previous pattern of Clevedon chasing the ball and Yeovil being pressured continuously. Just before the hour that pressure relaxed momentarily, KIM GRANT was presented with an open goal from a cross and tapped the ball in to make it 4-0.

A couple of minutes later El Kholti caused problems again with a twisting run through the defence, followed by a nice touch from Mustoe and a first-time cross by Crittenden that produced chaos in the Clevedon goalmouth, the ball eventually being hoofed away. The incident seemed to fire the Seasiders up, and for the next 20 minutes the balance of play was theirs. Yeovil appeared to lose some of their cohesion and fell back behind the ball. Several times Clevedon pushed forward threateningly, but the towering presence of Jimmy Aggrey made itself felt throughout the area and put paid to most of the Seasiders’ efforts. Steve Collis had to make a dramatic save on 72 minutes, and Arthur Appleton produced a fine run a few minutes later followed by a shot that was only just wide.

In the last five minutes the pace began to tell on the hosts, and the pressure swung towards their goal. James Turner had a fine shot saved by Steve Weaver, Neil Mustoe skied an opportunity, and Jimmy Aggrey’s header flicked wide of the mark.

Overall Yeovil deserved the win, but full credit must go to the Seasiders for making this a game worthy of winning.

Full Time : Clevedon Town 0 Yeovil Town 4.

Tony Elbourn


Internet Man of the Match Voting Result:

Player MOTM Score
Nick Crittenden 3 514
Abdelhalim El Kholti 2 314
Chris Giles 286
Steve Collis 1 171

Overall match rating: 6.8 / 10
Performance: 7.2
Entertainment: 6.4

6 votes received.