Venue: Huish Park
Wed 12th November 2003, 7.45pm kick-off.

Conditions: Dry, fairly cold
Pitch: Good

Scorers: Adam Stansfield (1-0, 8), Lee Elam (2-0, 38), Abdelhalim El Kholti (3-0, 42), Adam Stansfield (4-0, 53), Abdelhalim El Kholti (5-0, 79)

Attendance: 175 approx

Referee: Mr A Turner
Assistant Refs: Mr K Milford, Mr S Robbins
Fourth Official: Mr B Crabb

Bookings:
Yeovil: None
Oxford: None

Line up : (4-4-2)
13 Steve Collis
16 Andy Lindegaard (C), 12 Hugo Rodrigues, 19 Chris Giles, 15 Steve Reed
3 Abdelhalim El Kholti, 23 Jamie Gosling, 21 Steve Thompson, 22 Lee Elam
7 Adam Stansfield, 18 Kirk Jackson

Subs:
25 Ian Patchett (59 mins for Thompson), 26 Sam Croft (64 mins for Giles), 27 Dale Williams (46 mins for Jackson), 1 Danny Barker

Oxford United: (4-4-2)
1 Simon Cox
2 Richard Tweed, 5 Angus MacKay, 6 Adam Garner, 3 James Tweed
7 Josias Carbon, 8 Michael Alexis, 4 Matthew Brandish (C), 11 Tom Winters
10 Jamie Brooks, 9 Craig Davies

Subs:
12 Billy Beechers, 13 Taurean O'Sullivan (61 mins for Brooks), 14 James Keeble (80 mins for James Tweed), 15 David Oldfield (24 mins for Richard Tweed), 16 Matthew Dixon

WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE SAY WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE

With the reserve games played so far this season being a run out for squad players not in the first team starting eleven, and a chance to look at trialists such as Ian Joy and Alex Rhodes, it is easy to forget that these games are actually part of a competitive league. I wonder how many of the 175 or so spectators at Huish Park tonight actually knew that the winners of the match would end the night as leaders of the Pontins Holiday Combination (Wales & West Division)? Very few I suspect.

The Glovers, as usual, began fairly brightly winning a corner in the second minute, which Steve Thompson crossed and Chris Giles headed over. In another early attack a Steve Reed cross was headed wide by Kirk Jackson. In the first five minutes Lee Elam beat two defenders before shooting, and this was typical of his man of the match performance.

Oxford seemed to settle a little after the early pressure, but this did not last long as confusion between their two central defenders saw the ball fall to Adam STANSFIELD who raced away to calmly slot past the keeper for an early Yeovil lead. 1 - 0.

With ten minutes on the clock Craig Davies put Jamie Brooks away on the left for Oxford, but Chris Giles intercepted his cross at the cost of just a corner. At the other end Stansfield headed on and Jackson nodded the ball down to the left wing for another Elam run, but after beating two or three defenders he was finally dispossessed.

A Jamie Gosling free kick was headed toward goal by Giles, and an unconvincing stop by Simon Cox saw him awarded a free kick after a follow-up challenge. For Oxford right winger Josias Carbon looked to be the most influential and dangerous player, but it was his Yeovil counterpart Abdelhalim El Kholti who put Lee Elam through with a defence splitting pass, and then saw his own good shot go just wide. Elam then had a good shot through a crowded penalty area after a good pass from Gosling, but keeper Cox did well with a diving save.

Lee Elam then impressed with some good defensive work before Jackson put Stansfield through on the left. His cross was difficult for El Kholti to control, and he was unable to beat Cox.

The midway point of the first half was reached without the visitors having a shot, but their early substitution was at the back with David Oldfield replacing Richard Tweed.

Yeovil continued to dominate, and El Kholti put Stansfield away on the right. His cross was met with an excellent volley by Jackson, but the ball powered over the bar. A few minutes later another Stansfield cross from a similar position again found Jackson, but this time he met the ball sliding in but again the shot flew over the Oxford goal. The Oxford side were probably the noisiest team I have come across, and with so much loud shouting going on it was difficult to see how they would have enough energy left for playing football.

Just after the half hour Kirk Jackson received treatment after a heavy challenge from substitute David Oldfield, but he was able to continue and played on until half time. Soon after returning to the field he played a clever back heel to Steve Reed on the left, and his shot-come-cross was well taken by Cox.

A Jamie Gosling corner from the right was headed on, and Lee ELAM headed in superbly from what looked to be a fairly tight angle to the right of goal. 2-0.

Yeovil captain Andy Lindegaard had a very good first half from his position at right back, contributing both to defence when needed and coming forward. It was old campaigner Steve Thompson whose corner was met by Abdelhalim EL KHOLTI running in to the penalty area, and his downward header found the net to increase the Yeovil lead. 3 - 0.

The last action of the first period saw Kirk Jackson chasing a ball with U's keeper Simon Cox running for the same ball. The challenge by Jackson was fair, but the collision was fairly heavy and Cox received treatment for several minutes before continuing.

Dale Williams began the second half for Yeovil as a replacement for Kirk Jackson. Early action saw Steve Thompson clear a ball from his position on the floor, which fell nicely for Adam Stansfield to chase, and he had the ball taken virtually off his toe by James Tweed at the expense of a corner. From Thompson's corner kick Hugo Rodrigues headed over the bar.

Oxford were considerably quieter vocally in the second half, although whether this was fatigue or a reflection of the score line is unknown. They were further silenced when Lee Elam beat two or three defenders on the left before crossing from the by-line for Adam STANSFIELD to bundle the ball into the net. 4 - 0.

Dale Williams again looked impressive, and he played across the front of the Oxford penalty area before striking a fine left foot shot which went wide of the goal. Yeovil brought on a second substitute with Ian Patchett replacing Steve Thompson. The side then rearranged with Patchett taking the right back slot and Lindegaard moving to the right of midfield, and El Kholti assuming a more central role.

The new formation saw a good move almost straight away, with Gosling linking well with Lindegaard and Stansfield. During the second period Gosling dominated the centre of midfield, playing a Lee Johnson type role, with almost every attacking move from Yeovil being instigated by him.

Oxford replaced Jamie Brooks with Taurean O'Sullivan, and he made an early run at the Yeovil goal before being tackled by Rodrigues. Yeovil brought on Sam Croft to take the place of Chris Giles in central defence.

A lovely Yeovil move from Lindegaard and Stansfield saw Adam's shot saved for a corner on the left which Steve Reed took. Good control on the left of the area by Dale Williams was followed by his shot which again passed just to the right of goal. A couple of minutes later Williams flicked the ball on with his head and ran into the Oxford area, but again his fine shot just missed the target.

A good Oxford move saw Michael Alexis shoot over from 30 yards out, and with twenty minutes remaining this was their first shot at goal. This effort seemed to spur them on and they came forward more in the last twenty minutes than in the previous seventy!

With a little over ten minutes remaining an excellent move involving Lindegaard, Gosling, Williams and Elam earned Yeovil a corner. From the corner Elam had the ball, and he found Abdelhalim EL KHOLTI who picked up the ball on the left and ran to the edge of the area before cracking a simply superb shot which gave Cox no chance whatsoever. A truly excellent goal. 5 - 0. Substitute O'Sullivan, who looked one of the brighter prospects for Oxford, shot over the bar. James Keeble was then brought on to replace James Tweed in their final change. With five minutes remaining a good Oxford chance ended with Steve Collis grabbing the ball under a challenge from O'Sullivan, which momentarily looked like the situation might flare up, but fortunately there was only a small amount of shoving. The Yeovil defence looked solid throughout the game with Collis not troubled until the final twenty minutes, and then rarely. Sam Croft looked confident and assured when he came on, and will no doubt have impressed the Yeovil staff.

In the last few minutes a very good run by Steve Reed saw him finally tackled, but the ball fell to Dale Williams who shot over from 25 yards with a good effort. Another good Stansfield run and cross saw a chance for Lindegaard, but his left footed shot was wide of goal. O'Sullivan had a late effort for Oxford, but his shot was well collected by Steve Collis.

Final score: Yeovil Town Reserves 5 Oxford United Reserves 0

An excellent win for the Glovers reserves, who now sit on top of the table above Cardiff City and Oxford United. Man of the match Lee Elam will have done himself much good in trying to earn a permanent place at Huish Park, and fine displays from Andy Lindegaard, Jamie Gosling, Steve Reed, Abdelhalim El Kholti, Hugo Rodrigues, Chris Giles in defence and youth players Dale Williams and Sam Croft illustrate the strength and depth that Gary Johnson and Steve Thompson now have to call upon.

Robin Evans

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