Yeovil travelled to Taunton to play last year’s beaten finalists in the SPC , and also currently the leaders of the Western League Premier Division. Taunton, on the back of a 13 match winning streak, had only dropped 2 league points at home all season and were 8 points clear in the league. Yeovil had progressed to the 1/4 final by reversing last seasons 2 - 1 defeat at Paulton, while Taunton had disposed of Wellington to reach the last 8 .

Taunton kicked off on a pitch which although initially firm, had by half time began to cut up badly. The early pressure came from the visitors and after 4 minutes Ellis Wilmot had a chance to open the scoring but his shot went well over the bar. Taunton were, at this early stage, restricted to the occasional quick break and it was from one of those that, on 10 minutes, a scramble in the Yeovil penalty area developed, during which, the ball appeared to strike a defenders arm, although the claims for a penalty were turned down.

Then, with 12 minutes gone, Jason Eaton threaded a perfect through ball to Tony Pounder, who was brought down in the box. However, Matt Hayfield's well struck penalty was well saved by Mark Coombe high and to his left. This seemed to spur the home team into action and the first goal came on 20 minutes when Mark LORAM let fly from fully 35 yards with a blistering shot that beat Tony Pennock in the bottom left hand corner. Taunton's confidence was growing fast and it was they who were playing much the better football, with Yeovil seemingly unable to find their own players with the ball. It was no surprise when Ellis LAIGHT added the 2nd on 23 minutes , when he was presented with a open goal after Pennock had collided with Antony Lynch, who suffered a knock as a result, and was replaced at half time. Minutes later Darren Cann was booked for a clumsy challenge on James Bent, but the free kick was wasted by Jamie Pitman.

Both sides used the break to make changes, Glen Poole taking up the left midfield position with Pounder switching to the right. With the pace of the game slowed, Yeovil had their best period of possession, but were unable to penetrate the tight Taunton defence. The home side had the next 2 chances but the best was a blistering run from the half-way line by Bent on the hour mark, with his shot beating the keeper but hitting the post.

Following a performance like this, it's hard not to start with the negatives. Sometimes scorelines can lie but this was certainly not the case with a well organised, confident Taunton side deserving everything they got. The strange hybrid of 1st team/reserves was again shown to be a creature without teeth, and the lack of communication and understanding between players was painfully obvious. One wonders what the reaction would be if, say, Tony Pennock had been injured in such a game.

There were some positives. Pounder and Pitman gave typically honest performances and Ellis Wilmot had a good first half, but the main plus was the work of James Bent up front. His work rate was good and he showed some signs of genuine class and if, as seems the case, Eaton is not the management's choice as back-up for Patmore and Foster, no harm could be done by trying Bent at a higher level.

Ultimately Yeovil were undone by not showing the opposition the respect they deserved when the team was selected, and for that they paid a heavy price on the night.

I'm obviously very disappointed to lose a game 5-1, particularly as I put out a team that I thought was strong enough to win the game. I was proved wrong, even though that was a stronger team than the one we put out in the league when we drew 3-3. A lot of the players didn't do themselves justice, nor the club.

I wanted to see how players reacted in difficult conditions and against a good team. Taunton are a good team; they are the best team in the Western League, they're doing well in the FA Vase, and it was a chance for those players who normally play in the reserves, or aren't getting into the first team, to just play at just that little bit higher level. I was looking to see how those people did, and a few didn't do themselves any favours.