It was very cold when the game was due to start, and together with the change of venue to Bunford Lane this would account for the disappointing crowd which numbered 17 shortly after kick-off. Tim Pearse, who played well, was given a start in goal as Danny Barker had played for England schoolboys the night before so was “rested”. Danny’s father told me that other England players had warned that Walsall were a “physical” side, and this proved to be correct.

Walsall had the early pressure with Ishmel Demontagnac involved a lot, but in accordance with Mr Barker’s information Yeovil were given several free kicks in the first five minutes, including one in a useful position for a foul on Dale Williams about 25 yards from goal. There was also a stoppage for Kevin Morgan to treat Sam Croft who had taken a knock, but with 85 minutes remaining it was good to see Sam return to the field quickly.

Yeovil were mainly involved in defending, but when Dale Williams charged down an attempted clearance from visiting goal keeper Luke Tilt there could have been a good chance but fortunately for Walsall the ball went safely to a defender. Long throw expert Andy Holmes took a throw-in from the right (and his throws are like corners!) and Walsall were perhaps caught by surprise, but Sean SMITH rose to head the ball home. 1 – 0.

Walsall pressed, with Alex Nicholls forcing a good save from Tim Pearse, and David McDermott firing the rebound wide. Walsall earned a couple of well positioned free kicks, as the Glovers attempted to match their physical presence, but the Yeovil defence played well with Andy Martin in particular doing well early on. Walsall won the first corner of the game, but again failed to capitalise. When the equaliser came there was an element of fortune, as a long shot from Demontagnac hit team mate Theo STREET in the area, and the ball fell nicely for Street to fire past Pearse from about 12 yards. 1 – 1.

Williams and Holmes carried on plugging away at the front, with good support from Smith and Richard Cullingford, but Walsall still looked the most likely to score with a couple of good corners and a shot from Jay Sztybel which missed the target. On 36 minutes the pressure paid off as a McDermott cross from the left flank was headed in well by Mark BRADLEY. 1 – 2.

Three minutes later Nicholls found the net, but only after the referee had blown his whistle in response to his assistant’s raised offside flag. Walsall replaced McDermott with Charlton DAVIES, and a couple of minutes before half time a bit of a scramble in the Yeovil area saw a close range shot which I judged to come from him which Tim Pearse smothered but Mr Paul decided had already crossed the line. 1 – 3.

In the remaining moments Yeovil put the ball in the net through Gavin McCallum, but although the Walsall players did not seem to protest the referee awarded a free-kick for something he had spotted.

There was a lively start to the second period with Tim Pearse tipping over a shot/cross in the 46th minute. Yeovil then applied some pressure with Andy Holmes chipping wide, a good run and cross from Ben Wood, and Sam Croft firing over a Dale Williams corner. Pearse then saved well again, touching over a Demontagnac shot before Yeovil earned another corner.

Just after an hour had passed Gavin McCallum was replaced by Jamie Barber. Six minutes later another long throw from Holmes led to a second Yeovil goal, but this time Jamie UNDERWOOD volleyed the ball in. 2 – 3.

What had seemed a bit of a lost cause at half time now seemed like a real opportunity for the Glovers, and Ben Wood forced a good save from Tilt at the cost of a corner, two long range efforts from Sean Smith sailed over the bar and a good Dale Williams corner needing stout defending. It was not all Yeovil, however, and Pearse made a good diving save from Nicholls.

Mr Paul issued his one booking of the game to Yeovil captain Williams, presumably for something he said. With ten minutes remaining Yeovil replaced the excellent Ben Wood with Bradley Bryant.

Williams took a free kick from about 25 yards out, but fired wide. Pearse made two excellent saves after a Walsall break. The visitors’ final change saw Richard Taundry on for Demontagnac, who had played well and been involved enough for me to be grateful that I was making written notes rather than giving a verbal commentary!

A late flurry by Yeovil in search of an equaliser saw a cross from Holmes headed against the bar, and goal keeper Tilt save the Smith shot from the rebound. Walsall still had time for another corner and then a Nicholls shot, which went wide, after he broke away. Yeovil earned a stoppage time free kick but could not get the goal they sought.

Final score: Yeovil Town u-18 2 Walsall u-18 3

A good performance from Yeovil against a strong Walsall side, and the second half was enough to keep the crowd entertained in the very cold conditions when a lesser game would probably have seen many wander off.

Robin Evans

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