The Avenue Stadium, Dorchester Town FC
Tues 23rd July 2002, 7.45pm kick-off.

Att: 927

Line up : (4-4-2)

		1. Chris Weale
2. Adam Lockwood	17. Tom White		4. Terry Skiverton	3. Anthony Tonkin
20. Gavin Williams	6. Darren Way		8. Lee Johnson	11. Michael McIndoe
	7. Adam Stansfield		19. Abdoulai Demba

Subs used: 16. Andy Lindegaard (Williams 65), 14. Roy O'Brien (Way 66), 15. Olivier Brassart (Johnson 66), 9. Carl Alford (Demba 66), 12. Chris Giles (Stansfield 66).

Scorers: McIndoe (30, 1-0)

This report courtesy of Noddy Elms:

Yeovil gained revenge for last years 5-0 exhibition with this resolute 1-0 victory with a clinical MacIndoe strike. His strike was ably supported by a resolute Yeovil defence. Before we get carried away, it could well be that this result reflects the stage both teams are at in their pre-season preparations, this is the sixth for Yeovil, but the first for City, rather than any indication for the future.

Although there were few clear-cut chances throughout Stansfield might have done better than volley over from eight yards after a couple of minutes. At the other end Citys Peacock headed well over minutes later.

For the next twenty-five minutes City showed their superiority moving the ball effectively around midfield and maintaining the greater possession, but rarely finding the final pass to produce an effective strike.

For Yeovils part, the midfield worked hard to harass City when on the ball, and Skivertons defence always did enough to protect Weale and his goal from any direct threat. Going forward, the Williams / MacIndoe combination was well used and often looked the most likely threat to the City goal. Williams always looked to have more time than any of his teammates and was always able to either hold the ball up, or wait for rthe right option to present itself. It was the Williams / MacIndoe combination that lead to the first and only goal of the match: on thirty minutes MacIndoe collected Williams inch-perfect pass on the edge of the City penalty box, took one touch for control and then targeted his left-foot shot into the far corner of the City goal.

With Citys confidence now dented it was Yeovils turn to move the ball confidently. Yeovil played the half out on top but failed to threaten Phillipss goal again.

Half Time: Yeovil Town 1 Bristol City 0.

Danny Wilson made substantial changes at half time to ease his players into the new season: this had the effect of equalising the two teams. The game now resembled a chess end game where both teams cancelled each other out, particularly in midfield, and the excitement level of the game took a dive. Neither attack seemed capable of causing trouble for the others defence.

In the first half Yeovils Demba had toiled away with little success: it is apparent that he is yet to fit into the Yeovil team. As the game wore on he played a more significant role, flicking on here, and linking there, but, his best contribution was a glancing headed that drifted past a far post. I defer to the Gaffers judgement that Demba is the twenty goal-per-season-man, that we will undoubtedly need.

During the second half Chris Weale was only required to come off his line once, to quickly gather a dangerous through-ball. Apart from that, Williams's twisted ankle and subsequent substitution was the most significant action from the Yeovil side. Further substitutions were made thereafter.

As the game ticked towards its conclusion City pushed forward with more urgency in order to salvage some pride, but Skivertons defence held firm albeit with the occasional last-ditch desperate interception. Although City were in the ascendancy, the Yeovil goal was only threatened when Beadle shot into Weales side netting.

Final Score: Yeovil Town 1 Bristol City 0.

If there is any indication to be gained from friendlies, it does provide a yardstick to compare previous seasons. Twelve months on from his appointment, the Gaffer undoubtedly has a squad that can stop goals at one end, and score goals at the other end against good opposition. My view is that this squad is better than last seasons, and consequently this season will be better than last season and that was sensational.

Noddy Elms