Venue: Cossham Park, Mangotsfield FC
Wed 26th November 2003, 7pm kick-off.

Pitch: Saturated with sub-surface water, becoming increasingly slippery.

Scorers: Rob Quinn ( 1-0, 34 mins), David Gilroy ( 2-0, 67 mins ), Shane Hobbs ( 3-0, 81 mins )

Attendance: 80 (including a dozen Yeovil supporters)

Referee: Mr R Vaughan
Assistant Refs: Mr T Jackson and Mr S Robbins
Fourth Official: Mr K Northam

Bookings:
Yeovil: None
Bristol Rovers: Rob Quinn ( 51 mins, late challenge on Steve Collis )

Line up : (4-4-2)
Steve Collis, Richard Cullinford ( Gregg Squibb, 49 mins ), Charlie Welch ( Andy Martin, 71 mins ), Sam Croft, Chris Giles, Jamie Underwood, Steve Reed, Abdelhalim El Kholti, Shaun Smith, Dale Williams, Andy Holmes ( Luke Clennell, 49 mins ). All subs used.

Bristol Rovers: (4-4-2)
Ryan Clarke, Neil Arndale, Sam Jones, Anwar Uddin, Kevin Austin ( Chris Nestor, 71 mins ), Graham Price ( Matt Hill, 80 mins ), Danny Boxall, Rob Quinn, David Gilroy, Shane Hobbs, Matthew Rouse. Subs not used : Lee Davidson, Ben Wiltshire.

Experience Shows

Just how much fun can you have in Mangotsfield on a winter Wednesday evening ? Well, not much really, but at least we were entertained by a lively display from Rovers’ reserve squad and a Yeovil team made up mostly from the promising Under-17s squad. In the end it was Rovers’ greater experience that made the difference, but what a fight the youngsters put up.

Play started with a tentative spell while the players acclimatised to the wet pitch and mood lighting provided by an understrength floodlight array. Rovers settled more quickly and looked smoother while Yeovil appeared more enthusiastic and willing to have a go, higlighted by Dale Williams’ attempt to lob the ball over the Rovers keeper from 30 yards out in the 12th minute. Several promising moves forward by Yeovil broke down on a solid Rovers defence, but for the first quarter hour the youngsters probably had the edge of play.

Rovers began to find second gear around this point, making numerous fast breaks ending with some superb crosses from the right wing boot of Danny Boxall. Yeovil fought back with some quick passing moves but were shut down by the Rovers defence. A 10-minute period of increasing pressure from Rovers around the half hour mark saw Steve Collis playing sweeper as the defence was left flat-footed, and a few minutes later Collis and at least 3 Rovers players were left sliding around in the mud after trying to connect with a blistering low pass that crossed an open goal mouth. This period was punctuated by two superb long-range ground passes from Richard Cullinford at the back that literally split the Rovers midfield and defence apart, but Dale Williams was dealt with in both cases most efficiently by the impressive Anwar Uddin. The pressure finally told when Rob Quinn slammed the ball home low and hard from 25 yards to open the scoring. Yeovil continued to hold off an increasingly confident and attacking Rovers, and were perhaps lucky just before half time when Shane Hobbs appeared to be pulled back when charging at goal but was judged offside.

Yeovil emerged for the second half with Chris Giles playing forward and Steve Reed dropping back from midfield into defence. Almost immediately Rovers were attacking and there were loud appeals for a penalty when a fast-breaking forward collapsed in a heap with a Yeovil defender after just three minutes. Pressure continued to mount on Yeovil’s defence, Rob Quinn’s glancing header only just going wide. Rovers dominated the wings, crosses flying in almost at will, but the Yeovil central defence was holding out, if a little disjointedly.

Quinn’s mounting enthusiasm got the better of him and he was booked shortly afterwards for a late challenge on Steve Collis. The short break for the caution, and to clear a wayward firework rocket that bizarrely landed on the pitch, allowed Yeovil to regroup and begin to push forward again, but each time Rovers regained the ball they flew forwards and were only stopped by two fine saves by Steve Collis, in each case taking the ball literally off the foot of the attacker.

Around the hour Yeovil were starting to come back into the game on a surface that was increasingly difficult to play on, but on another fast break David Gilroy headed home from a Danny Boxall cross to effectively seal the match. Yeovil battled on, bringing the ball forward whenever possible, and a melee in the Rovers goalmouth around 75 minutes should perhaps have brought a consolation goal, but the solid Rovers defence ushered the ball safely away. The final goal came from a sliced clearance, neatly picked up by Shane Hobbs near the corner and slotted home from a very sharp angle.

This was a fine display by our youngsters, who never stopped trying and at no stage looked overwhelmed or totally outclassed by a Rovers team that were on average 5 or 6 years their senior. It left me wondering what the score would be like if this match was to be replayed next year.

Final Score: Bristol Rovers Reserves 3 Yeovil Town Reserves 0

Tony Elbourn

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