Following age limit changes, which took effect last season, there are transitional rules in place which allow sides to field five "over age" players - one goal keeper and four outfield players. This meant that a few familiar faces appeared alongside their new colleagues in the opening game of this year's South West Conference.

Poor weather combined with the game not being held on the top pitch at Huish Park limited the attendance which numbered around 50. However, those present were able to enjoy an entertaining and hard fought (but not dirty) encounter, which did credit to both sides.

Both sides started fairly brightly, but Oxford had the first effort at goal when Kyle McCoy crossed from the left and Billy Beechers blasted well wide. A corner was won at each end, with honours elsewhere on the pitch standing fairly even, when after ten minutes Gavin McCALLUM really brought the game to life when he ran and fired a looping shot from about 25 to 30 yards out, which left visiting keeper Gareth Tucker with no chance as it nestled in the top left corner. 1 - 0.

Oxford did well to press back, with Glovers keeper Danny Barker claiming a free kick confidently, and then Daniel Meade beating several players with a good run, but lacking an incisive final pass. Oxford won a couple of corners, but from the second Yeovil broke away until their attack was ended by a fine tackle by Oxford right back David Malloy. It was Malloy who, just a couple of minutes later, tackled Dan Thompson on the edge of the area, and sent his side on the attack. This attack proved more fruitful for the visitors, with McCoy sliding the ball across the area from the right for Billy BEECHERS to side foot home for a deserved equaliser. 1 - 1.

Midway through the half a Dale Williams free kick was headed out and Richard Cullingford played the ball back into the danger area. A foul on the edge of the area was not given, but Yeovil earned a corner.

An Oxford break resulted in a free kick about 20 yards out and fairly central, but Gareth McCleary blasted it straight into the Yeovil wall. Andy Holmes showed good, strong defence against Beechers. The visiting side showed a lot of pace - particularly on the wings - but the Glovers defence did well against them.

Williams ran through the centre, and slid the ball out to Ben Wood on the left, but his shot went across the face of goal and narrowly wide. A lovely long ball from Jake Smeeton at left back was placed well for Matty Concliffe to run onto, but Oxford keeper Tucker came out quickly to clear.

As the half wore on Yeovil began to press more, but it was Oxford who had an opportunity five minutes before the break when Josh Kennett slid the ball across the area past Danny Barker, but Beechers failed to connect with the goal seemingly at his mercy. Williams took a free kick for a foul on Concliffe, and then a McCallum shot was blocked and Dan Thompson's shot from the rebound deflected for a corner.

At half time Yeovil replaced Andy Holmes with Tom Warren, and Oxford sent on Ryan Brooks for Daryl Harris. In the first minute of the second period Kennett brought down McCallum, but the free kick from Williams was headed out to safety.

A good Yeovil move saw Concliffe chip across the area, but Tucker did well to collect the ball. Substitute Brooks shot wide for Oxford, and then a foul by Malloy on Gavin McCallum resulted in the referee speaking to the Oxford right back, but no card was shown. Cullingford took this free kick, and also another just a minute later after he was the man pushed.

The speedy McCleary made a good run for Oxford, but Yeovil substitute Tom Warren made a great tackle at the cost of a corner. The corner was headed back across by Beechers and then over by McCoy. On the hour mark a Yeovil corner was taken by Cullingford and headed toward goal by McCallum, but well blocked by a defender.

Malloy won a corner for Oxford which Kennett took. From this corner Concliffe broke away for Yeovil and shot, but Tucker blocked well. Tom Warren made another excellent penalty area tackle on McCleary, and the resulting corner was met by Thomas Franklyn, who glanced his header wide.

There were loud appeals for a penalty from the Oxford players when Danny Barker came out to meet McCoy, but the Oxford striker shot before crashing into the Yeovil glovesman, and the referee waived away their claims.

With twenty minutes to go and the rain now falling a Dale Williams free kick from 35 yards out was well struck but to the right of goal. A great ball from the impressive Warren was headed away by keeper Tucker as he and Ben Wood clashed on the edge of the area, giving Yeovil players their chance to appeal for a penalty which was also turned down by the consistent referee.

The resulting corner was headed over by Matt Pitcher, but the game had become real end-to-end stuff and moments later Barker was diving at the feet of Beechers.

Just inside the last fifteen minutes Yeovil replaced Dan Thompson and Ben Wood with Jamie Barber and Bradley Bryant. A couple of minutes later Oxford withdrew Kyle McCoy and sent on Andrew Younie. Younie had an early shot, but it went wide.

With ten minutes remaining Matty CONCLIFFE broke away after an Oxford free kick, and he ran about 30 to 40 yards, outpacing the Oxford defence, to leave him with a one-on-one against Tucker whom he coolly shot past into the net. 2 - 1.

The rain, which had been falling steadily for a few minutes, was now getting very heavy. Shane Adcock-Case, who had moved into midfield with Tom Warren taking over as right back, made an excellent defensive tackle that typified the finish to the game for Yeovil. The whole side worked hard to close down Oxford, and when Yeovil had possession they held on to the ball in a very professional manner. Four minutes of stoppage time was added on by the referee, but Yeovil never looked like conceding in these final minutes and they earned a good victory against an equally hardworking an impressive Oxford youth side.

Robin Evans.

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