Although conditions were poor, with the rain which had persisted all morning stopping just moments before kick off, both sides made a fairly lively start with Oxford pushing forward immediately and then Yeovil taking their turn to press. The poor weather also restricted the attendance which began at about 20, but built up during the course of the match to around double that number.

The early flurries produced no clear cut chances, and the first moment of note was a bad tackle on Andy Martin by Ryan Brooks. Referee Mr Ibbeson initially confused those watching by speaking to his team mate Kyle McCoy, but this seemed to be regarding something that had been said as he then booked Brooks – and this in just the sixth minute. <,p>Yeovil pressed forward, with Gavin McCallum making a couple of dangerous runs on the right wing, but it was Brooks of Oxford who had the first real shot but it lacked power and was easily taken by Danny Barker. Fifteen minutes into the match opposing goal keeper Sam Worrell came out of his area to head the ball away from the onrushing McCallum.

An Oxford defender seemed to have done well saving a corner at the cost of a throw near the corner flag on the right, but he was obviously unaware that an Andy Holmes throw-in is as good as a corner! Holmes’ long throw was flicked on by the head of Sam Croft and headed in from close range by Jamie UNDERWOOD. 1 – 0.

McCallum made an excellent run on the left flank, and his shot was cleared from virtually off of the line by a well placed defender when it looked to be going in. Oxford then pressed for a short spell but Yeovil defended stoutly and Barker was not called upon to make a save.

Just after midway through the half already booked Brooks appeared to catch Croft with his elbow when both jumped for a ball, and he was spoken to and perhaps fortunate to stay on the field. Minutes later Daryl Harris caught Ben Wood with a late challenge, and he also received a verbal warning but no card. On the whole Oxford were a very physical side and the young Glovers suffered a lot of shirt pulling and niggling fouls.

Half an hour into the contest Kyle McCoy latched onto a long ball, and after forcing his way past a couple of defenders he shot wide of the goal. Soon after he did well in the Yeovil area, keeping close control of the ball under pressure and playing the ball back across the area, but the defence cleared. The visitors’ good spell continued when they won the first corner of the game in the 33rd minute, which Josh Kennett took and Croft headed to safety. Brooks was awarded a foul against Croft which Eric Odihambo took and Barker caught.

Andy Martin was called upon to make an excellent defensive tackle, and Harris turned and shot but could not beat Barker. In the last few minutes of the half Yeovil won a succession of free kicks; the first was taken by Williams and volleyed wide by McCallum, and the next earned them their first corner in the 44th minute. In stoppage time Williams played in Underwood, and his low shot was touched around the post by the diving Worrell for another corner.

At half time Oxford withdrew Brooks and sent on Andrew Younie. They pressed first when McCoy made a good run and low cross, but the player in the middle could not control the ball. Sean Smith was tripped near the left touchline and Yeovil made Oxford pay when the Williams free kick was floated in, headed on by Croft and fired in from close range by Sean SMITH. 2 – 0.

Oxford made a second change with Luke Bennett replacing Tommy Franklyn. They won another corner, and then a McCoy shot went into the side netting. A Williams free kick, following a foul on Ansell just outside the Oxford penalty area, was fired in hard and low and deflected for a corner. Yeovil were well on top now, and a Smith cross was met but went over the bar. Ten minutes into the second period a foul on Jamie Underwood by Kennett saw him spoken to but not cautioned.

With just over half and hour remaining an Oxford corner led to a low shot from Daryl Harris which was blocked, and Yeovil broke away through a McCallum run which was ended when he was fouled in the opposition half. Yeovil made a double substitution with Jamie Barber and Jack Adams replacing Richard Cullingford and Ben Wood. Oxford’s final change saw Tommy Heydey on and David Malloy off, and this was a tactical move with a change to a 3-5-2 formation.

A nice ball from McCallum for Smith was well anticipated by Worrell who came out well to dive at the feet of the Yeovil player and smother the ball. At the other end Martin blocked a shot from McCoy, and Oxford had a spell of pressure. Williams flicked on for Barber and his shot was well blocked by Worrell at the cost of a corner. Substitute Heydey fouled Smith, then seemed to push aggressively after Smith stood up, and Mr Ibbeson had a word but again produced no card.

With 20 minutes remaining the final Yeovil change saw Bradley Bryant replace Andy Martin, and Yeovil also altered formation to three at the back. Odihambo fired just wide from 20 yards, and a Williams free kick was floated in for an Ansell header which came back off the outside of the post, although an offside decision was given anyway.

With five minutes to go Glovers substitute Bryant was booked for a foul on Oxford captain Andrew Gunn, which seemed rather harsh, particularly in view of what had escaped caution before. Danny Barker came out to smother the ball at the feet of McCoy, and the Yeovil custodian needed treatment following an injury to his knee caused by the collision. Barker was still alert enough to catch a looping header from Chris Roberts in the 89th minute.

In the last minute Barber headed out a cross for an Oxford corner, and Underwood did well to close down a potential Oxford attack. In stoppage time Bryant made an excellent tackle on McCoy in the Yeovil penalty area. Yeovil won a free kick 35 yards out which Williams took and Oxford cleared.

Dale Williams made a good run, passing several players before appearing to be caught by an outstretched leg just on the edge of the Oxford area. Although Barber won a corner after picking up the loose ball, the Yeovil captain expressed his feelings regarding the non-award of a free kick/penalty, and he was received a 93rd minute yellow card, giving a card count of 2 to 1 for Yeovil against a very physical Oxford side who had been very lucky to escape at least 3 or 4 more yellows and a sending off!

Robin Evans

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