Venue: Bunford Lane, Yeovil
Sat 27th September 2003, 11.00am kick-off.

Scorers: Sam Croft o.g. (0-1,54), Sean Smith (1-1,61), Jamie Underwood (2-1,75)

Attendance: Approx 45

Referee: Mr Phil Milton

Assistant Refs: Mr David Milton, Mr David Mountain

Yeovil Town u17's : (4-4-2)
1 Danny Barker
2 Luke Clennell, 5 Andy Homes, 6 Sam Croft, 3 Greg Squibb
7 James Underwood, 8 Richard Cullingford, 4 James Ansell, 11 Charlie Welch
9 Sean Smith, 10 Dale Williams

Subs: 12 Jamie Price, 13 Tim Pearce (GK), 14 Rob Platt (73 mins for Cullingford), 16 Andy Martin (90 mins for Underwood), 17 Brad Bryant (73 mins for Ansell)

Cheltenham Town u17's: (4-4-2)
1 Lee Idzi
2 Tom Birch, 6 Matt Glassey, 5 Matt Storey, 3 Sean Godwin
7 James Dance, 8 Darren Crocker, 4 Phillip Waters, 11 Richard Crotty
9 Steve Cook, 10 Mike Whittington (C)

Subs: 12 Ryan Parker (sub 62 mins for Glassey), 14 Bill Birch (sub 79 mins for Cook), 15 Scott Green

I saw the Yeovil Town under 17 team play their first league game a few weeks ago against Swansea. They lost 0 - 1, but impressed me - particularly as they had only previously played a handful of friendlies together. Stuart Houseley and his staff have now had more time to work with the boys, and I felt that this showed as they seem to have made improvements in all departments.

Cheltenham made the better start, with promising young keeper Danny Barker called upon a few times in the opening minutes, including a good stop from Mike Whittington and a good punch from a Richard Crotty free kick.

Young referee Phil Milton certainly imposed himself on the game early on, and he took some stick from the home fans with two or three decisions for free kicks in the visitors' favour. However, although he may have been a little too keen and over fussy early on I think his overall handling of the game was fairly good, and given his age - I would guess he was of a similar age to the players - I feel that his performances will improve with time, and I believe his age group should be encouraged rather than criticised.

The first ten minutes belonged to Cheltenham. James Dance chipped over Danny Barker, but his effort also cleared the bar. When Yeovil did press forward the opposing back four looked fairly solid, and they defended in numbers as the midfield were quick to get back to help out, whereas the Yeovil defence looked stretched more than once early on. Luke Clennell, who impressed both in defence and later coming forward, made a good tackle on Crotty, and the home side had their best early chance from a free kick by Clennell which Cheltenham keeper Idzi dropped but regathered.

Cheltenham earned the first corner of the game in the 13th minute, and Yeovil had their first corner soon after when a long shot from Dale Williams was deflected. From this corner James Underwood shot wide.

Yeovil began to get more of the play, with Dale Williams having several shots. On the right of midfield for Cheltenham James Dance was proving a bit of a handful, and he headed over a cross from Crotty. As the game progressed Charlie Welch and Greg Squibb began to get the better of Dance, and they made sure that he was far less influential in the second half. Welch had a good long shot midway through the first period. Squibb showed some nice touches, and looked comfortable coming out of defence and looking for a good ball to the midfield.

Cheltenham captain Whittington fired a good long shot, which was well stopped by a diving Barker. Cheltenham continued to press, with Phillip Waters looking impressive and Whittington heading over. For the home side Clennell looked good, and made a particularly important tackle.

Toward the end of the first half Yeovil began to look stronger and more attacking, with Sean Smith working well with Dale Williams up front. Andy Homes also stood out, and several of his long throw-ins created opportunities for Smith and Williams.

The last chance of the first half fell to Crotty of Cheltenham, but Danny Barker made another good stop.

A couple of minutes into the second half a Sam Croft header beat Idzi, but was stopped by a Cheltenham defender on the line. Idzi made amends with a good save from Williams, before Dance made progress for the visitors once again.

With 53 minutes on the clock the referee spoke to Sean Smith, but did not give a booking. This was the start of a poor period for the Glovers as just a minute later Sam Croft, under pressure from Whittington, headed back toward the advancing Barker only to see the ball pass him and roll into the empty Yeovil net. 0 - 1. Just a few minutes later Sean Smith went down with an injury, but fortunately after treatment was able to continue.

On the hour mark a Yeovil corner from the left found Croft who fired a hard shot from close range, which Idzi saved superbly. The ball looped up onto the top of the crossbar, and then rebounded into play and was cleared by a Cheltenham defender. Yeovil now had their tails up, and just a minute later good play on the left was finished by Sean Smith firing home an equaliser. 1 - 1.

The game began to open up with chances at both ends. Cheltenham replaced defender Matt Glassey with Ryan Parker, and the substitute joined Whittington up front with Steve Cook dropping back into a 3 - 5 - 2 formation. The next chance was for Yeovil, however, as Williams produced a good turn and shot which was well saved.

With a little over 15 minutes remaining Yeovil made a double substitution with Brad Bryant and Rob Platt on for James Ansell and Richard Cullingford, who had both contributed well to the Yeovil performance. The home side also changed to three at the back, with Williams and Bryant playing up front. The change proved to be inspired as just two minutes later Dale Williams beat a Cheltenham defender before crossing low from the left for Jamie Underwood to shoot in. 2 - 1.

With a little over 10 minutes remaining Cheltenham replaced Steve Cook with Bill Birch, but Yeovil pressed with corners from both flanks. As both sides tired good chances tended to become scarce. Welch and Squibb continued to do well against Dance, who remained the greatest danger to the home defence.

At the end of normal time the referee again spoke to Sean Smith, but showed no cards during the fixture. In a final change Andy Martin replaced goal scorer Underwood, and Cheltenham pressurised the Yeovil goal for much of the six minutes of added time. The Yeovil defence remained solid, and Cheltenham had their best chance when Parker shot a volley high and wide. A first league win for Yeovil, after two draws and a loss, and a very impressive performance from all involved.

Robin Evans

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