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Just one change to Yeovil Town's starting line-up and also the overall sixteen as Lee Morris dropped out of the squad on the back of a midweek hamstring injury, with on-loan midfielder Kevin Cooper making his debut for the Glovers by starting the game, taking up the left-wing position that Morris has made his own in recent weeks. For Brentford, much of their pre-match claims that they would be short of multiple players proved to be a slight exaggeration, with Kevin O'Connor, Thomas Pinault and Adam Griffiths all landing in the starting line-up despite being listed as on the crocked list during the week.
The first period was a very open affair with both sides playing the ball from end to end, with plenty of chances emerging at both ends. The Glovers opened up the stronger, with Arron Davies getting in a third minute cross that went straight onto the left boot of Marcus Stewart who volleyed first time over the crossbar. Two minutes later, Stewart had an even better chance to Yeovil in the lead. A poor clearance by Brentford keeper Stuart Nelson was headed back into the Brentford half by Terry Skiverton, putting Stewart straight through on goal but his shot found the legs of Nelson in the way and the loose ball went begging. A minute later and Yeovil were creating yet another chance, with Jean-Paul Kalala receiving a Nathan Jones crossfield ball and letting fly from distance, but despite Nelson being beaten by the shot, it also cleared the bar.
Brentford took 19 minutes to find their feet in an opening spell that Yeovil dominated. Paul Brooker finally got some room down the left flank, putting in a cross to the far post, but it was always an inch too far away from former Macclesfield striker Clyde Wijnhard and on full stretch, he sliced his header wide of the target. Brentford were also winning a lot of free kicks, thanks to some pretty home-friendly decisions from referee Ray Lee who was reacting to whatever the home supporters told him, but these lacked invention and Steve Mildenhall claimed all of the early three that came his way with ease.
However, the Bees best chance of the half came on its midpoint, with former Grimsby Town midfielder Thomas Pinault almost netting as he got free space behind the Yeovil back line, but even though he managed to beat Mildenhall, he didn't allow for Terrell Forbes - another former Mariner - clearing his lobbed attempt off the line.
For the rest of the half, the game swung from end to end on an alternating basis. Jean-Paul Kalala had a shot deflected for a corner, whilst Calum Willock's downward header brought the best out of Steve Mildenhall as he palmed the ball away for a corner. At the other end, a long ball from Mark Lynch was chested down by Chris Cohen with home keeper Nelson reacting quickly before Cohen could control the ball onto his foot. Marcus Stewart tested Nelson from distance, whilst yet another strangely awarded free kick allowed Kevin O'Connor a chance to test his 'Beckham' skills. He executed the kick perfectly, but didn't allow for a rather unwitting 'defensive header' from team-mate Wijnhard, who turned a dangerous on target shot into a tame attempt wide with Mildenhall struggling to cover his ground. Thanks Clyde!
As the half closed, John Mousinho became the first name in the book for a reckless tackle on Arron Davies as Yeovil finished the half on top with a couple of near misses. Firstly Chris Cohen's curling backpost cross caused defensive confusion between home keeper Stuart Nelson and his full-back Kevin O'Connor when both left the ball for each other, nearly resulting in embarrassment as the ball sneaked out for a goal kick. Then right on half time, Arron Davies spurned Yeovil's best chance of the half when he followed up on a shot from Kevin Cooper that was parried by keeper Stuart Nelson, only to slam the ball against the crossbar from 8 yards out with the goal gaping - seconds before the half time cuppa.
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