Match Report by Alan Cooper

Weston can be pleased with a strong showing against National League Premier opponents Yeovil Town, ahead of next Saturday’s National League South start.

A positive start for the hosts on four minutes saw James Dodd weave his way through midfield before finding Rueben Reid in space just inside the box, but Yeovil custodian Ollie Wright dashed off his line to advert the danger and the chance was gone.  Just eight minutes later, Weston had a further opportunity to take the lead on twelve minutes, the impressive Dodd outwitting the Yeovil midfield with an impressive drop of the shoulder but although finding Luke Coulson with a quality crossfield ball the winger couldn’t get past the Yeovil defence sufficiently quickly. 

It was fifteen minutes into the game before the visitors had their first real opportunity, striker Aaron Jarvis being well positioned just on the edge of the box, but his effort lacked power and was well covered by goalkeeper Kelland Absolum, who had a fine game throughout the afternoon. Jarvis was prominent again on twenty-four minutes, offering a good opportunity for Frank Nouble but Dylan Kadji quickly averted the danger and the scoreline remained goalless. 

The visitors were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box on twenty-five minutes, Jordan Young allegedly fouled twenty yards from goal, but again the Weston defence held firm.  Yeovil – last season’s National League South champions were starting to put some good moves together – winning three successive corners – and the experienced Brett McGavin, breaking forward from his midfield berth tested Absalom who did well to hold the Yeovil man’s effort. Weston however struck back on the half hour and an enterprising Trialist ‘A’ run deserved better fate as he was disarmed when about to pull the trigger sixteen yards from goal. 

Half-Time: Weston-super-Mare AFC 0-0 Yeovil Town

Yeovil opened the second half strongly and a precise move involving Sam Pearson and Jordan Young could well have seen a clear opportunity, but the latter’s effort lacked power, as he had an early effort. An off-the-ball incident saw Reuben Reid and Jake Wannell’s names enter the match official’s notebook, but this was not the type of game that required the referee to overly exert his authority.   

On the hour, Jarvis cheekily attempted to lob Absalom on the edge of the box, but his ‘head high’ effort was never going to cause the Weston custodian any difficulty.  Two minutes after Jarvis’s attempt, Weston had their best opportunity of the game, Dodd superbly creating space for himself and unleashing a good effort, stinging Wright’s gloves. 

Just after Dodd’s excellent effort, Yeovil got themselves in front on sixty-three minutes Jarvis atoning for his earlier misses, hitting home a well-stuck effort from the corner of the eighteen-yard box, giving Absalom no chance. 

The National League side had a further opportunity to add to their scoreline, Pearson seizing on an opportunity to run clear of the Weston midfield with just the goalkeeper to beat, but a tackle of the highest quality disarmed the Glovers winger and the opportunity was gone. 

Substitutes took to the field of play from both sides as manager’s Scott Bartlett and Marc Cooper juggled their line-ups, giving their players ‘minutes’ before next week’s big kick-off, and the game became a little less enterprising.  

Yeovil added a second goal on eighty-six minutes, with an excellent strike from substitute Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, but although Yeovil controlled the game for long periods of the game, the scoreline flattered Town as Weston produced several eye-catching moments throughout the game and can be justifiably pleased with their performance against a Yeovil Town full-time outfit as the Seagulls warm-up for next Saturday. 

Full-Time: Weston-super-Mare AFC 0-2 Yeovil Town (Jarvis 63, Lo-Everton 86)

Weston super Mare XI: Absalom, Thomas, Trialist A (M Lewis 68), Pope ©, E Lewis, Kadji (Jenkins 88), Dodd (Trialist B 88), Coulson (Kempster 68), Reid (Crawford 78), Waite (Bastin 68), Chamberlain (Jagger Cane 68).

Unused substitute: Croft.

Attendance: 723.

Man of the Match: Dylan Kadji. An excellent display in and out of possession from the midfield man.