Venue: Huish Park
Sat 5th October 2002, 3pm kick-off.
Conditions: Warm and Sunny.
Ground: Perfect.
Nationwide Conference :
Yeovil Town 6 – 0 Southport
Att: 4,727
Referee: Mr R Lewis (Shrewsbury)
Bookings:
Yeovil: Lockwood (33, foul), Grant (42, dissent)
Southport: Jones (28, dissent), Clark (81, foul), Gibson (90, foul)
Line up : (3-4-1-2)
 12. Jon Sheffield |
||||
2. Adam Lockwood |
14. Roy O’Brien |
5. Colin Pluck |
||
10. Nick Crittenden |
6. Darren Way |
8. Lee Johnson |
11. Michael McIndoe |
|
20. Gavin Williams |
||||
18. Kim Grant |
19. Abdoulai Demba |
Substitutes: 1. Chris Weale, 9. Carl Alford (71, for Grant), 12. Chris Giles, 16. Andy Lindegaard (78, for Way), 24. Abdelhalim El Kholti (72, for Demba)
Southport: 1. Steven Dickinson, 4. Mark Winstanley, 6. Martin Clark, 5. Barry Jones, 2. Chris Lane, 20. Neil Gibson, 11. Steve Jones, 7. Steve Pickford, 3. Dean Howell, 8. Mark Lloyd-Williams, 9. Peter Thomson
Subs : 19. Tony Sullivan (57, for Lloyd-Williams), 14. Andrew Scott (45, for Pickford), 18. James Connolly, 16. Gary Bauress (87, for Jones), 17. Kevin Welsby
Scorers: Abdoulai DEMBA (15, 1-0) (25, 2-0) (45, 3-0), Gavin WILLIAMS (53, 4-0), Nick CRITTENDEN (81, 5-0), Abdelhalim EL KHOLTI (90, 6-0)
This report courtesy of Noddy Elms:
DEMBA COMES OF AGE AS YEOVIL RUN RIOT
Yeovil put on a display of awesome proportions to annihilate third placed Southport. In front of one of the largest gates of the Conference season Yeovil grabbed three goals either side of half time, it was no more than their performance deserved. Southport were disappointing: failed to compete, and often displayed ability more akin to a Sunday league side.
Many times in the past Yeovil’s dominance has warranted such a score line, but often, particularly on the big occasion, they have failed to deliver. Today, that was a thing of the past. Yeovil were solid in defence against a weak strike-force, their creative midfield trio are the envy of many league clubs, and now Yeovil have strikers that are coming into top class form.
A clinical first half hat trick by Yeovil’s tall speedy striker Demba reiterates that manager Gary Johnson has an eye for talent. Johnson has stuck with Demba in recent months. Demba’s pace has always been unquestioned, but he has struggled to hit the back of the net. That came to a dramatic end today.
The writing was on the wall in the opening minutes when Southport’s keeper, Dickinson, fumbled two Yeovil strikes, conceding the game’s open corners. Dickinson repeated the act on 14 minutes, pushing Kim Grant’s weak shot for another corner. This time McIndoe’s in-swinger was delivered with pinpoint accuracy and DEMBA rose head and shoulders, like a periscope from a potent U-boat, to direct the ball into a relatively undefended goal: Yeovil 1 Southport 0.
Demba’s second goal on 24 minutes was a supreme example of pace and clinical finishing. Timing his run to perfection, Demba latched on to an excellent through-ball from Kim Grant. With thirty-five yards to goal DEMBA‘s pace created enough time for him to pick his spot from the edge of the box: Yeovil 2 Southport 0.
Southport had no answer to Yeovil’s accurate passing and Demba’s pace and it was no surprise that Demba repeated the move on the stroke of half time. Yeovil soaked up one of Southport few attacks and as the ball was cleared up field Gavin Williams won a fifty-fifty ball in the centre circle. His quick thinking set DEMBA away and the Yeovil striker completed his hat trick, again with a decisive shot from the edge of the box: Yeovil 3 Southport 0.
Throughout the half Southport had failed to live up to their billing, undoubtedly missing their captain Soley, absent through suspension: they had simply fallen apart. Yeovil, on the other hand, rose to the challenge and, in fact, stepped up a gear in the absence of their skipper. On top of Dickinson’s apparent inability to catch a ball cleanly, many outfield players also failed to exhibited basic control skills: tripping over the ball caused many red faces throughout the afternoon. Only the tall, strong Johnson seemed capable of posing any serious threat. But in general Yeovil were quick to get men behind the ball and Southport were always too slow and pedestrian in building any semblance of an attack. Substitute O’Brien proved himself as suitable cover for the suspended Skiverton, he and his follow central defenders never put a foot wrong all afternoon: Sheffield rarely had a save to make.
Half Time: Yeovil 3 Southport 0.
Southport replaced Pickford with Scott at the beginning of the second half but Yeovil were quicker out of the starting blocks: Demba chasing down a back-pass as soon as Southport kicked-off. Four minutes later Demba was to again impact the score-sheet, this time as provider. He picked up the ball on the right-hand goal line and crossed for Gavin WILLIAMS who beat his marker and volleyed inside the right-hand post: Yeovil 4 Southport 0.
Southport had no answer to a rampant Yeovil. Despite holding position for short periods and winning a couple of corners Sheffield was never troubled. Their afternoon was epitomised by Lloyd-Williams’s total miss-kick in what was Southport’s best chance of the afternoon. Lloyd-Williams was soon to be replaced by Sullivan.
Not surprisingly Yeovil were full of confidence and moving the ball purposefully. But, as against Woking it appeared they were content with the score-line. It is testament to, in the main, Southport’s inept form that Yeovil were to add two more goals before the final whistle.
Sullivan had added extra pace down the right wing and had managed to add extra pressure to the Yeovil defence: their best attack ended with Sullivan’s header dropping onto the top of Sheffield’s goal. But Yeovil were much more potent at the other end: Demba’s left-footed shot forced a save from Dickerson, and then, perhaps the most skilful move of the day ended with Crittenden’s diving header finishing inches wide.
Yeovil made three substitutes: Grant, Way and Demba, who received a well-earned ovation form the Huish Park crowd, were replaced by Alford, Lindegaard, and new boy El Kholti.
El Kholti was on the pitch for just eleven minutes before feeding Nick CRITTENDEN into the left hand side of the Southport box. Critts cut onto his right foot and unleashed a swerving shot that gave Dickinson no chance: Yeovil 5 Southport 0.
Nine minutes later Abdelhalim El Kholti was to have the privilege of hammering the final nail into the Southport coffin. Lindegaard brought the ball down the right from half way line: Alford challenged at the near post but the ball spilled away from goal. EL KHOLTI cut in from the right and, showing impeccable balance, set himself up with a clear shooting chance. He made no mistake from ten yards: Yeovil 6 Southport 0. Perhaps another inspired Johnson signing?
Final score: Yeovil Town 6 Southport 0.
Noddy Elms
Internet Man of the Match Result:
|
Overall match rating: 9.95 / 10
Performance: 9.9
Entertainment: 10
57 votes received.