Venue: Huish Park
Saturday 1st March 2003, 3.00pm kick-off.
Conditions: Windy, overcast,some rain at times
Ground: Perfect with bare areas in goalmouths
Nationwide Conference :
Yeovil Town 4 Hereford United 0
Att: 6,487
Referee: Mr S.Dorr (Worcester)
Bookings:
Yeovil: Mustoe (20, foul), Skiverton (36, foul), Williams (68, foul)
Hereford: Smith (37, foul), Tretton (49, dissent), Pitman (61, foul) . Red Card: Grant (36, violent conduct), James (90, professional foul)
Line up : (3-4-1-2)
 1. Chris Weale |
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2. Adam Lockwood |
4. Terry Skiverton |
5. Colin Pluck |
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24. Abdelhalim El Kholti |
23. Neil Mustoe |
8. Lee Johnson |
11. Michael McIndoe |
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20. Gavin Williams |
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25. Kirk Jackson |
9. Kevin Gall |
Substitutes: 14. Roy O’Brien (75, for Mustoe), 16. Andy Lindegaard (75, for Williams), 18. Kim Grant (83, for Jackson), 22. Steven Collis, 26. Jimmy Aggrey
Hereford: 1. Mathew Baker, 3. Michael Rose, 4. Andrew Tretton, 6. Tony James, 30. Jay Lovett, 8. Ben Smith, 12. Daniel Williams, 7. Jamie Pitman, 11. Paul Parry, 18. Stephen Guinan, 10. John Grant
Subs : 5. Ian Wright, 14. Kenny Griffiths, 16. Robert Sawyers, 17. Robert Purdey (84, for Williams), 2. Matthew Clarke (79, for Lovett)
Scorers: Adam Lockwood (24 mins, 1-0), Kevin Gall (77 mins, 2-0), Kirk Jackson (78 mins, 3-0), Michael McIndoe pen (90 mins, 4-0)
This report courtesy of Noddy Elms:
BULLS BUTCHERED AT HUISH PARK
Yeovil’s Westland Stand Terrace chanted that it was a massacre, but it took the Glover’s well into the second half before that was true. After 74 minutes Yeovil Town performed with all the skill of a master butcher as they minced the Bulls in front of the season’s second-largest Conference crowd of 6487 at Huish Park today.
Although reduced to ten men Hereford charged out for to the second half fully intent to cancel out Lockwood’s opener. As Hereford pushed forward the Yeovil defence looked decidedly nervous and Weale had to make a number of important saves. However, two minutes of dramatic play left Yeovil with an unassailable 3-0 lead: first Gall then Jackson finished moves after the Hereford defence conceded possession. With added time ticking away McIndoe converted from the spot, Hereford finishing with only nine men.
From the start Yeovil dominated proceedings: in the first minute El Kholti’s cross found Jackson who drew a fine save from Baker in the Hereford goal. Two minutes later Kevin Gall was unlucky to see his shot dip the wrong side of the Hereford bar after his pace had beaten the opponent’s defence. Gavin Williams then produced a fine run from the halfway line, but his shot was too straight and Baker had little trouble collecting it. A minute later Pluck ‘s long throw seemed to ricochet around the Hereford box before Jackson put in two headers that the visitor’s defence just managed to keep out.
In the opening minutes Hereford were rarely in the Yeovil half, but their first chance came after twelve minutes when Gavin Williams lost possession, but John Grant’s final header was easily taken by Weale.
Yeovil’s new boy, Neil Mustoe, failed to impress and struggled to impose himself on the game: his main first half contribution earning an entry into Mr Dorr’s book.
When in possession Yeovil looked dangerous and it was no real surprise that they took the lead. Graham Turner should have done his homework as Yeovil’s opener was a carbon copy of their opener against Northwich a week earlier. Yeovil won a free kick halfway inside the opposition’s half, just in from the left touchline. Lee Johnson floated in a right footer. This week it was too strong for Lockwood but Skiverton was at the far post to head it back. Adam LOCKWOOD was on had to knock the ball past Baker and register his second goal in two Saturdays: Yeovil 1 Hereford 0.
Hereford responded positively and Jamie Pitman was unlucky to run the ball out of touch after good work had taken him into the heart of the Yeovil penalty box.
The game then became somewhat subdued as Yeovil defended their lead. But that all changed on 33 minutes when Danny Williams, after a challenge from Johnson, ended up sitting on the ball. Skiverton’s initial challenge was enthusiastic, but John Grant charged across half the width of the pitch to push the Yeovil skipper and initiate a free-for-all. Mr Dorr took full consultation with his two assistants before dismissing Grant. The crowd waited anxiously as Mr Dorr concluded his chat with Skiverton before brandishing a yellow card. Smith disagreed with the unequal treatment, so Mr Dorr yellow carded him as well. At the end of it Hereford took their free kick and Weale did well to smother the low cross through a crowded penalty area.
As if to calm things down Yeovil took their foot off the gas and were looking to the half-time break to regroup. The ten minutes before half time produced little in either penalty area except for McIndoe’s excellent run down the left and his cross for Gall. The Yeovil striker should have done better than head wide.
Half Time: Yeovil Town 1 Hereford United 0.
Graham Turner’s half time talk must have been inspirational. His team, despite their situation, were the better team for nearly twenty minutes of the second half. The best Hereford chance of the afternoon fell to Hereford’s Parry on 50 minutes. Weale was hurried into clearing a back pass, and passed straight to Parry outside the penalty box. The Hereford man was so surprised that he failed to control the pass and Weale must have been relieved to see the ball cleared from danger. Weale was again in action minutes later when he made another good save from Pitman. Yeovil were panicking and Weale had to gather McIndoe’s slice from under his own bar. Guinan then sent a shot past Weale’s right hand post after good work down the Hereford left wing. Seconds later El Kholti needed to use all his speed to cover at the back.
Hereford were still in with a chance until 74 minutes when Gary Johnson introduced O’Brien and Lindegaard in place of Mustoe, and former Hereford man Gavin Williams. Hereford should beware when Lindegaard takes the field for he was the Yeovil hero twelve months ago coming on to strike an injury-time winner. Within three minutes the game was all but over.
On 76 minutes Kevin GALL collected McIndoe’s through-ball and, cutting back onto his right foot, curled his shot inside the far post from the left hand side of the penalty area to make it 2-0.
Seconds later Lindegaard capitalised on another defensive lapse to send Gall down to the right hand goal line. Gall’s cross found Kirk JACKSON at the far post who had no trouble in making it 3-0.
From then on it was all Yeovil: El Kholti broke from the left and curled in a teasing low cross. Pitman seemed to have it covered, but again could only lay it off for the Yeovil strikers. Jackson and Gall seemed to hesitate, leaving it for each other. Gall eventually shot but Baker managed to tip it away for a corner.
With seven minutes left Yeovil’s Kim Grant replaced Kirk Jackson and Hereford’s Purdie replaced Williams. Another goal seemed inevitable and that almost fell to Skiverton whose header was itself headed off the line. Gall was close seconds later, but Grant’s cross fell just behind him.
The fourth Yeovil goal eventually fell to Michael McINDOE deep in added time. El Kholti set Grant away from the halfway line: Grant had a couple of yards advantage on the chasing James but as the pair entered the box the Hereford man lunged in desperation and Grant tumbled to the ground, Mr Dorr had little doubt in awarding a penalty and dismissing James. McIndoe had no difficulty in sending Baker the wrong way. Yeovil 4 Hereford 0.
Final Score: Yeovil Town 4 Hereford United 0
Hereford can argue that for seventy-odd minutes they were equal to Yeovil. Hereford can argue Mr Dorr was unkind to them. When down to ten men they were always going to struggle. But, when Yeovil needed to step up a gear they have many resources at their disposal, at that point today they were awesome. Hereford can take heart that a team in a different league massacred them. I suggest the suspensions they take away from today’s game will ensure they remain in a different league next season.
Noddy Elms
Internet Man of the Match Voting Result:
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Overall match rating: 8.4 / 10
Performance: 7.9
Entertainment: 8.9
72 votes received.