Venue: Huish Park
Tues 19th November 2002, 7.45pm kick-off.

Conditions: Cold, dry and breezy.
Pitch: Perfect

Att: 525

Referee: Mr Newman

Bookings:
Yeovil:
Mangotsfield:

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

		22. Steve Collis
	12. Chris Giles	14. Roy O'Brien	15. Steve Reed
16. Andy Lindegaard	21. Steve Thompson		20. Gavin Williams	24. Abdelhalim El Kholti
		18. Kim Grant
	19. Abdoulai Demba		9. Carl Alford

Substitutes: 10. Nick Crittenden (46, for Grant), 11. Michael McIndoe (46, for Lindegaard), 13. Jon Sheffield, 23. Howard Forinton (46, for Alford), Ian Patchett, Lee Clark, Gary Nash

Mangotsfield: (4-4-2) Thompson,
Summers, Hallett, Hendry, Elsley,
Loydon, Simms, Davies, Pendry,
Seal, Pitcher.
Subs : Nicholls, Cozens.

Scorers: Abdoulai DEMBA (20, 1-0), Adam Simms (42, 1-1), Abdoulai DEMBA (119, 2-1)

This report courtesy of Noddy Elms:

The opening minutes of tonight's game with Mangotsfield United proved to be indicative of how Yeovil Town would struggle against their humble opponents in the second round of the Somerset Premier Cup. During that time Yeovil Town were lucky to stay on level terms: Collis making three good saves within twelve minutes.

Yeovil began to turn the game after eighteen minutes when Kim Grant played Demba in, but the Yeovil man was well shepherded away from danger by a well disciplined Mangotsfield defence. A minute later Williams had a good shot that flashed over the bar, but it was only another minute before Yeovil opened the scoring. Giles cleared from defence and El Kholti nodded on in a challenge in the centre circle. DEMBA latched onto it and took the ball a full forty yards before drifting to his left and clinically finishing from inside the box. Yeovil 1 Mangotsfield 0.

Yeovil were well on top and Gavin Williams was now running midfield. Yeovil swept forward time and again, many attacks involving Lindegaard down the right wing. In as many minutes Lindy sent in two good crosses and linked in two good breaks, but each time the final conversion was poor. Mangotsfield stuck to their task and, although finding it more and more difficult, mounted a not insignificant number of counter attacks. It was from one such attack on 42 minutes that Mangotsfield grabbed the equaliser: Yeovil appeared stretched as a right wing cross headed for the far post. Lindegaard did well to keep out a Mangotsfield strike, but the ball flew back across the Yeovil goal and fell for Adam SIMMS who finished well with a strong shot from ten yards. Yeovil 1 Mangotsfield 1.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Cheltenham Town 1.

Gary Johnson posted his intentions at the beginning of the second half by replacing Lindegaard and Grant with first team superstars Crittenden and McIndoe. Forinton replaced Alford. El Kholti now moved into the "hole" behind the front two. Watching El Kholti in a free supportive role was worth the admission money alone. It was a joy to watch Yeovil's latest addition work tirelessly, occasionally losing out, but immediately chasing back to regain the ball.

Although Yeovil had the majority of the possession Steven Reed needed to be at his best on more than one occasion to cover the Mangotsfield counter attack. Mangotsfield's best counter came after 50 minutes, Pitcher should have done much better than blast over from short range. It appeared that all parties were intent on extending the evening's events to the extreme. Both linesmen must have been enthralled by the game itself as both were guilty of failing to watch the defensive line on many occasions. Consequently the number of offside decisions was excessive. This in itself ensured the game was low-scoring, and it is with some wonder that the likes of McIndoe kept their composure so well. Mr Newman insisted in keeping things equal by ignoring a blatant foul on O'Brien in the Mangotsfield box. Having taken a full-bloodied charge from behind as he was due to head for goal he finished in a heap and received attention for some time before being helped to his feet and struggling to the side line. It was with relief that O'Brien rejoined the game some minutes later just as El Kholti sent a wicked dipping left-footed shot just over the bar.

But the most culpable party was undoubtedly Yeovil themselves. Although well on top Yeovil appeared intent on walking the ball into the net. Few were willing to "have a shot" when that appeared the best option. Rather they attempted one pass too many, and that invariably went astray. Those few who were willing to have a go were incapable of getting it on target. It was not until the 90th minute when Williams tried his hand. Ironically Thompson pulled off an excellent save.

Full Time: Yeovil Town 1 Mangotsfield United 1.

So the game now entered extra time and there was almost an inevitability that that would lead to penalties. Mangotsfield had a great opening spell of extra time. Collis produced an excellent save to push a shot round his left hand post and minutes later a Mangotsfield shot flew just wide of the same post. Although some Mangotsfield players showed signs of tiredness it is a tribute to their fitness that it was not until the second half of extra time that they appeared on their last legs.

Forinton, turned in the box on 109 minutes to create a great chance for McIndoe, but the Scotsman's side foot drifted wide of the far post. As the game appeared to be heading for penalties even the linesmen were trying to encourage a goal by missing Demba in an offside position, but the Yeovil striker was again thwarted by the Mangotsfield keeper.

Yeovil had, undoubtedly, dominated much of the game. But domination does not win games and it is such situations where teams can fall to a sucker punch. That was so close to happening at Huish Park on 120 minutes. A long clearance fell kindly and Seal's shot could so easily have dumped Yeovil out of the cup. But Yeovil broke from the resulting goal kick, Crittenden fired in a low cross from the right hand goal line and Demba beat two tired defenders to the ball and convert with aplomb. Yeovil 2 Mangotsfield 1.

Final score: Yeovil Town 2 Mangotsfield United 1.

I have an important piece of information for Gary Johnson to pass onto his players: "It's the thing with two white posts sticking up and one white post across the top. It's called a goal. I suggest they try kicking a ball at one."

Noddy Elms

Player MOTM Score Abdelhalim El Kholti 3 543 Abdoulai Demba 1 286 Michael McIndoe 1 200 Roy O'Brien - 200 Gavin Williams - 171 Steve Reed 1 143 Steve Collis 1 143

Overall match rating: 5.6 / 10
Performance: 5.4
Entertainment: 5.7

7 votes received.