Venue: Huish Park
Sat 16th August 2003, 3.00pm kick-off.

Conditions: Overcast and Cool
Ground: Perfect

Scorers: Kevin Gall 4 mins, 1-0), Kevin Gall (18 mins, 2-0), Kirk Jackson (79 mins, 3-0).

Attendance: 6,347

Referee: Mick Thorpe (Suffolk)

Assistant Refs: Danny McDermid (Hampshire), Richard Palmer (Somerset).

Bookings:
Yeovil: Colin Pluck (2, foul), Gavin Williams (20, dissent)
Carlisle: D.Kelly (3, unsporting behaviour), A.Rundle (29, unsporting behaviour), S.Livingstone (42, unsporting behaviour), M.Summerbell (55, unsporting behaviour), L.Maddison (72, unsporting behaviour), C.Billy (76, unsporting behaviour).

Line up : (3-4-1-2)

1. Chris Weale,
2. Adam Lockwood, 14. Roy O'Brien, 5. Colin Pluck,
23. Jamie Gosling, 8. Lee Johnson, 20. Gavin Williams, 6. Darren Way (capt), 10. Nick Crittenden,
9. Kevin Gall, 18. Kirk Jackson

Subs: 3. Abdelhalim El Kholti (73 mins for Gosling), 7. Adam Stansfield (80 mins for Jackson), 13. Steven Collis, 12. Hugo Rodrigues, 16. Andy Lindegaard (80 mins for Williams).

Carlisle United: (4-4-2)
1. Matthew Glennon,
2. Mark Birch, 6. Darren Kelly, 4. Paul Raven, 3. Lee Maddison,
20. Brendan McGill, 9. Richie Foran, 26. Paul Simpson, 8. Chris Billy,
10. Steve Livingstone, 15. Craig Russell,

Subs: 14. Brian Wake 12. Lee Andrews 11. Adam Rundle (20 mins for Mark Birch) 13. William McDonagh 17. Mark Summerbell (35 mins for Craig Russell)

The Yeovil roller-coaster steamed on with this convincing 3-0 demolition of Carlisle United. A man-of-the-match performance by two-goal Glover Kevin Gall was the difference between Yeovil and their physical opponents.

But it was Mr Thorpe, today's referee, who was the first in action; Pluck was booked for a clumsy challenge in the first minute; Carlisle's Kelly followed a minute later.

The first footballing action after four minutes lead to the opening goal. It fell to the currently unstoppable Kevin GALL. O'Brien latched onto a clearance from Johnson's right-wing corner and fired his shot low towards the Carlisle goal. It was goal-bound but Gall managed to block his team-mates shot, and, as the ball spun beneath his feet, was able to flick the ball into the back of the net. Yeovil 1 Carlisle 0. The green and white party rolled on.

The game was punctuated by errors from both sides; Lee Johnson giving the ball away on the edge of his box after ten minutes. But Carlisle failed to take advantage as McGill sent a teasing cross across the Yeovil goal.

Johnson made amends in midfield on seventeen minutes, feeding gall on the edge of the Carlisle box. Kevin GALL, supremely confident, turned and volleyed inside the right-hand post with keeper Glennon well beaten. Yeovil 2 Carlisle 0.

Gall should have completed his hat-trick a minute later when he broke past a ragged Carlisle defence. But, this time, Glennon came out on top, and managed to tip Gall's shot away. Glennon rode his luck minutes later when Johnson's shot was deflected. The Carlisle keeper managed to get his legs in the way to prevent the shot flying into his net.

Mr Thorpe was again busy with his book as Yeovil's Williams and Carlisle's substitute Rundle battled each other in different ends of the park. Carlisle's Kelly looked to be heading for an early bath when he clattered into Gall as he played a one-two with Jackson and appeared to be clear through. Mr Thorpe appeared reluctant to show Kelly his second card of the afternoon, or maybe he had simply lost his red card.

Gosling was the next culprit to give the ball away, Carlisle winning a corner from which Kelly's header crashed onto the Yeovil bar. That spurred Yeovil on and Gall should have again completed his hat-trick, but failed to beat Glennon when one-on-one. Yeovil's passing and work-rate at this time was supreme, but could not beat Glennon when one-on-one, this time Gosling being the culprit.

Roddy Collins, the Carlisle manager, made his second substitution before half time and for the few remaining minutes Carlisle enjoyed more of the game. But rarely was Weale's goal threatened.

The second half was much more even and both teams created half chances. The first fell to Carlisle: Billy stabbing a good chance past the Yeovil post on 52 minutes. Further chances would loop over Weale's bar or drift past a post. The Copse Road appealed loudly for a penalty as Lockwood muscled Livingstone off the ball, but Mr Thorpe waved play on. Foran's shot minutes later almost cleared the Copse Road End. This highlighted Carlisle's major weakness as finishing.

At the other end Crittenden cut in from the left to curl a right-footer just past the far post. Yeovil had similar chances, and it became obvious that a third goal was always going to be decisive.

Carlisle were fortunate to keep eleven men on the pitch after 70 minutes when Gall was unceremoniously pulled to the ground as he attempted to slip past Maddison. Although some thirty yards out Gall would have been clear on goal. Carlisle's Billy was another fortunate as his two-footed challenge through the back of Darren Way should have been more severely punished.

Lindegaard and El Kholti had replaced Williams and Gosling on 72 minutes and it was the former who fed Gall eight minutes later. Gall sent in a wicked low curling cross that Kirk JACKSON ran onto to finish coolly from five yards. Yeovil 3 Carlisle 0.

With the two Yeovil substitutes strengthening the Yeovil defence as wing-backs there was no way back for Carlisle. The last real action of the game saw Simpson struck a sweet shot with the outside of his left foot from the edge of the Yeovil box, but again it curled wide of Weale's goal.

With Yeovil home and dry Gary Johnson brought on Adam Stansfield for a welcome return to Huish Park.

Final Score: Yeovil Town 3 Carlisle United 0.

Gall's finishing and work-rate drives Yeovil on. Today the difference was primarily in the penalty box. Both teams made mistakes and Yeovil must iron those flaws out of their game. But six points from two games is all that can be asked for. Perched on top of Division 3 looks a dizzy height. Long may it continue.

Noddy Elms

MOTM Vote Result:

Player MOTM Score Kevin Gall 43 825 Roy O'Brien 4 222 Lee Johnson 5 210 Darren Way 2 137 Adam Lockwood 3 115 Jamie Gosling 2 76 Kirk Jackson 1 76 Nick Crittenden 2 60 Colin Pluck 1 60

Overall match rating: 8.2 / 10
Performance: 8
Entertainment: 8.4

63 votes received.

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