Yeovil Town’s young Glovers have crashed out of the Somerset Men’s Premier Cup after a Wednesday night clash in Clevedon, losing out 5-1.
Yeovil named just a few full professionals in the starting line up, with Lewis Williams, Ollie Haste and Benjani joining Charlie Bateson and the rest of the Under 18s set up.
The game’s kick off was delayed by 15 minutes, a tannoy announcement seemingly suggested that only eight of the YTFC side had arrived in good time… and the kit wasn’t in town either.
When all 11 were in the vicinity of the HAND Stadium, and wearing the kit, the home side got off to a rapid start going 2-0 up inside ten minutes, the hectic opening continues with the Glovers getting one back from Charlie Bateson, a clever header from a Mason Alden set piece – carrying on his excellent goal scoring form from his loan at Shepton Mallet.
However, the one goal deficit was soon back at two with Owen Punselie pouncing to slot beyond Williams.
The rest of the half lacked much in the way of quality chances, with the chaos of the first 15 minutes not replicated for the full 45.
The second half started off much in the same fashion as the first, with Clevedon in the ascendancy.
As the conditions started to worsen, the quality of football maybe wasn’t at its absolute best, the Glovers struggling to complete the final pass and take the game by the scruff of the neck.
A fourth goal was for Clevedon wasn’t too far away and on the hour mark, Sol Kent put the game probably beyond the Glovers.
Under 18s manager, Matt Percival made changes to get back into the game, but despite some decent link up play between Benjani Jr and Bateson up front, chances weren’t forthcoming.
Well, at least not for the Glovers, Sam Beresford would complete a hat trick with a well worked goal from a quick set piece.
Despite the score line, the youngsters do deserve credit for their efforts, on more than one occasion, Haste, Skiverton Jnr, and ‘keeper Lewis Williams kept the score down with blocks, challenges and saves.
With Mark Cooper and Josh Staunton in attendance, could one or two young lads have put themselves into the equation for Saturday with nine substitutes able to be named in the FA Cup proper?
The result means the quadruple is no longer on for Yeovil, it’ll have to be just the treble instead.
Team Sheet – ? C/O Tom Bailey & Three Valleys Radio