Other reports :
Nationwide Conference website; www.ytfc.net; www.nvfc.co.uk;
Venue: Huish Park
Saturday 22nd Feb 2003, 3.00pm kick-off.
Conditions: Sunny but fresh
Ground: Perfect but bare in goalmouths
FA Trophy Fifth Round :
Yeovil Town 2 Northwich Victoria 1
Att: 4,469
Referee: Mr T. Kettle
Bookings:
Yeovil: McIndoe (82, unsporting behaviour)
Northwich: Royle (13, foul), Allan (39, foul), Rioch (45, foul), Ingram (88, handball), Teather (89, foul), Norris (90, foul)
Line up : (4-4-2)
|
|
 1. Chris Weale |
|
|
 2. Adam Lockwood |
 4. Terry Skiverton |
|
 5. Colin Pluck |
 24. Abdelhalim El Kholti |
 20. Gavin Williams |
 6. Darren Way |
|
 8. Lee Johnson |
 11. Michael McIndoe |
|
 25. Kirk Jackson |
|
 9. Kevin Gall |
|
Substitutes:
14. Roy O'Brien (87, for Pluck),
16. Andy Lindegaard,
18. Kim Grant,
22. Stephen Collis,
23. Steve Reed.
Northwich Victoria: (4-4-2)
Kelly,
Royle, Ingram, Davis, Rioch,
Allan, Devlin, Norris, Garvey,
Blundell, McNiven.
Subs : Walsh, Quinn, Teather, Penn, Perry
Scorers: Greg Blundell (1-0, 24 mins), Adam LOCKWOOD (1-1, 44 mins), Kevin GALL (2-1, 86 mins)
This report courtesy of Noddy Elms:
YEOVIL LEAVE IT LATE
Yeovil had only five minutes to spare when they took the lead in today's FA
Trophy 5th round tie at Huish Park: new boy Kevin Gall making the decisive
strike. The scores were level at half time after Adam Lockwood had cancelled
out Greg Blundell's 23rd minute opener. The game may not have been as
exciting as this season's league encounter, when Jon Sheffield came off the
Yeovil bench to save Blundell's spot kick and keep Yeovil ahead, but it
required just as much grit as that performance and Yeovil again succeeded in
grinding out an important result.
Throughout the afternoon Yeovil's grasp on their Trophy had looked decidedly
nervous: Intent on ensuring victory on home territory Yeovil often committed
numbers forward and Northwich looked menacingly dangerous on numerous second
half counter-attacks.
Northwich made their intentions clear early on as they drove forward in the
opening minutes, their first shot after three minutes being well taken by
Yeovil's Weale. Yeovil responded positively, winning the first corner of the
game, then Jackson won a dangerous free kick on the edge of the Northwich
box. After nine minutes the best chance of the game fell to Kevin Gall whose
speed took him behind the Northwich defence, but keeper Kelly did well to
block his strike.
Yeovil's McIndoe had a quiet first half, but he nevertheless worried the
Northwich defence who seemed intent on nullifying him at any cost: Royle was
the first of a number of Northwich players to find themselves in Mr Kettle's
book following a challenge on the young Scotsman.
After fifteen minutes Yeovil gave notice of their superiority when Way took a
quick free kick to link with Johnson to set up McIndoe on the edge of the
Northwich box, but Macca's strong shot flew inches over. Five minutes later
Yeovil did get the ball in the net after good work by Way and Gall, but
Williams was judged offside and the "goal" disallowed.
Northwich had shown good movement and passing in midfield and replied with
Allan's snapshot after 23 minutes, but that flashed outside Weale's left hand
post. Weale's ensuing free kick reached the half way line but somehow the
Yeovil defence managed to set up Gregg BLUNDELL and the Northwich striker surged
clear towards Weale's goal, he beat the Yeovil keeper clinically from the
edge of the box. The Yeovil contingent of today's 4469 crowd was stunned in
disbelief. Yeovil 0 Northwich 1. Yeovil were undoubtedly shaken and Garvey
was soon to test Weale again, the Yeovil keeper gathering well.
But Yeovil soon regained their composure and Jackson should have done better
when he latched onto a long clearance: Jackson's shot eventually smothered by
three converging defenders.
But when Yeovil need to step up a gear there is no-one better than Darren Way
to lead by example, today was one such typical day. Man of the match Way
single-handedly raised the Yeovil momentum to create today's equaliser on 43
minutes: chasing another lost cause Dazza won a free kick on the left,
halfway inside the Northwich half. Lee Johnson's inch-perfect free kick found
Adam LOCKWOOD, apparently unmarked in the Northwich box, and he glanced his
header past the rooted Kelly. Yeovil 1 Northwich 1.
Rioch was next in the referee's book for a foul on Jackson, and it was
Jackson who almost took immediate revenge with his shot, but it was somehow
deflected away for a corner. The half time whistle blew before the corner
could be taken.
Half Time: Yeovil Town 1 Northwich Victoria 1.
At the start of the second half Yeovil came out at full speed and dominated
from the off: Kelly did well to tip over Williams' shot; Lee Johnson should
then have done better but completely missed his kick when in a dangerous
position. McIndoe had by now regained his touch and became a constant threat
down the Yeovil left. His cross on 48 minutes found Jackson at the back post,
but the Yeovil striker decided to play the ball back rather than strike for
goal, it was easily cleared by a grateful Northwich defence. Seconds later
McIndoe found Jackson again, but this time Jackson shot wide.
Yeovil were passing well and undoubtedly on top and Northwich did well to
hold onto the ball for any period of time to reduce some of the pressure.
Northwich introduced Teather for Allan in order to stem the tide. With Yeovil
going all out for a winner Northwich were always their most dangerous when
breaking on the counter-attack. El Kholti was often the last man and the
anxiety in the Yeovil crowd was almost tangible when Northwich did counter.
Ironically it was El Kholti who caused the greatest consternation in the
Yeovil defence as Weale dived to his left to save a "back pass" from his
teammate. However, each time Yeovil did manage to repel the counter and set
up their next onslaught.
McIndoe switched sides to link with Way and test Kelly with a dipping shot
destined for the far post, but the Northwich keeper did well to pushed the
ball away for a corner. From the ensuing corner Yeovil worked the ball into
the Northwich area and their defence were called upon to close down Gall's
shot, forcing the Yeovil man to shoot wide.
Adam Lockwood was coming more into the Yeovil attack and was heavily involved
on 72 minutes. Starting the move from defence he ended up in the penalty area
to head across the Northwich goal, but Gall was unable to beat the Northwich
defence when the ball fell to him. As the game ebbed towards ninety minutes
Northwich looked increasingly dangerous on the attack, but in all honesty
Weale was rarely troubled.
Mr Kettle had been fussy all afternoon and appeared to be doing his best to
make sure the Northwich underdogs were given any advantage possible.
Northwich had won a free kick on the edge of the Yeovil box for what appeared
an innocuous challenge. They proceeded to make a mess of the kick and McIndoe
had broken from the wall to put in a fair challenge. However, it appeared
that Mr Kettle had failed to see Northwich take the kick and Yeovil's
Scotsman was unfairly booked. Much to Macca's credit he walked away from the
scene and gave himself time to calm down. Northwich failed to take advantage
of the second kick and no further damage was done.
Northwich boss Quinn had introduced himself to the game with five minutes to
go, replacing McNiven, but Northwich conceded what turned out to be the
winning goal. It was that man Way again. Dazza won a crucial corner on the
right that McIndoe swung in with his trusty left foot. The ball eventually
fell to Way on the edge of the box and he pumped it back into the crowded
box. The ball seemed to take a number of touches but it was Kevin GALL who
claimed the final touch that took it over the Northwich line. Yeovil 2
Northwich 1.
O'Brien replaced Pluck with five minutes remaining and McIndoe began to play
keep-ball down by the leftwing corner flag. Northwich had lost their
composure and Teather and Norris were carded for fouls on Macca, both joining
Ingram who had been booked seconds earlier for deliberate hand ball as Macca
threaten to break behind the Northwich defence. It was all but over.
Final Score: Yeovil Town 2 Northwich Victoria 1.
Not a supreme performance by Yeovil, but it is Yeovil in the draw for Round
Six.
Noddy Elms
Internet Man of the Match Voting Result:
Player |
MOTM |
Score |
Darren Way |
30 |
848 |
Adam Lockwood |
2 |
186 |
Michael McIndoe |
2 |
138 |
Kevin Gall |
- |
129 |
Kirk Jackson |
1 |
119 |
Lee Johnson |
2 |
114 |
Abdehalim El Kholti |
2 |
95 |
Terry Skiverton |
2 |
90 |
Chris Weale |
1 |
48 |
|
Overall match rating: 6.9 / 10
Performance: 6.7
Entertainment: 7.1
42 votes received.
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