NO HAPPY RETURNS FOR WEBB AS JOHNNO SPARKLES
There was no nostalgic return to Huish Park for David Webb. The man who masterminded Yeovil’s current set up received no favours on the pitch in today’s encounter. Webb must have left Huish Park with the glaring realisation of how far away his temporary charges are from promotion form. This game was over by halftime: Yeovil’s midfield dominated the first forty-five minutes and had racked up three goals in the process.
It didn’t look so rosy for Gary Johnson just before three o’clock: Gavin Williams was withdrawn shortly before kick-off. The change meant a home debut start for loan signing Lee Elam with Jamie Gosling warming the bench.
Things could have got worse shortly after as Lockwood took a knock in the opening seconds and needed lengthy treatment. Kevin Gall latched onto the free kick and his pace stretched the Southend defence but keeper Flahavan gathered well taking a knock in the process. Flahavan needed treatment and with three minutes on the clock we had seen less than twenty seconds of play. It seemed a strange start to the game.
The following few minutes were uneventful. It wasn’t until the ninth minute before either goal came under threat. Edwards and Gall combined in the Southend box and Gall’s shot at the near post was blocked when it looked as if he would score. Seven minutes later Yeovil should have again opened the scoring, Crittenden and Gall had pushed up the left wing and created a chance for Lee Johnson, but his shot was weak and Flahavan took it comfortably.
To Southend’s credit they showed that they can play a nice passing game, but too often were indecisive near goal. The Yeovil back four rarely looked troubled. Weale’s goal was rarely threatened but he did need to block Broughton’s strike after 25 minutes.
Lee ELAM had started nervously, and appeared just off the pace. But his home debut turned golden after
32 minutes when he picked up a Southend clearance and his powerful shot deflected past Flahavan’s right-hand
to give Yeovil the lead. Yeovil 1 Southend 0. From then on the new boy grew in confidence and looked keen to show his flair. Elam will undoubtedly entertain the Yeovil faithful during his stay at Huish Park, but there was little evidence to suggest that would become a more permanent move.
Having had to wait over half an hour for the first goal, two more came along in quick succession.
On 39 minutes Lee Johnson’s chip found Darren WAY surging down the left wing and past the Southend defence.
Controlling the ball with his chest and turning inside he coolly curled the ball into the far side of the
Southend goal. Yeovil 2 Southend 0.
Southend were reeling and Kevin Gall’s pace caused them no end of problems. Hunt earned himself a
yellow card for bringing down Gall him on the edge of his box after 43 minutes. Lee JOHNSON compounded
the punishment as he curled the perfect free kick inside the right hand post of the Southend goal. Yeovil 3 Southend 0.
The Gaffer had recently called for his strikers to be more clinical. Today all strikers were firing blank
but Johnson’s midfielders could do no wrong. After the trickle of goals from mid-field over recent years we
had enjoyed three midfield goals in a ten-minute spell.
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Nationwide League Division Three : Yeovil Town 4 Southend United 0
