|
It was never expected to be an easy task facing league leaders AFC Bournemouth,
and Stuart Housley decided that the best way to approach the game was by
switching from a 4-4-2 formation to a 3-5-2/5-3-2 formation, with Luke Clennell
on the right and Charlie Welch on the left as wing-backs.
The home side were given early hope when a corner was needlessly conceded
by the visitors as early as the second minute. James Ansell fired the ball
across, but the Bournemouth defence coped well. Yeovil continued to make
good progress, and Rich Cullingford won the ball and lifted it over the
Bournemouth back line for Dale Williams, but again the Cherries defended
well and put the ball out for a throw in. Andy Holmes took a long throw
in from the left, and the ball came to Sam Croft who shot just to the left
of goal.
After the first ten minutes or so Bournemouth had settled well, and a good
tackle by Luke Clennell was needed to halt Mickey Hubbard on the left wing.
Charlie Welch was next to make a fine saving tackle when stopping Luke Harvey
in the Yeovil penalty area. Bournemouth started to press forward more, and
Aaron Reid and Mickey Hubbard looked particularly lively, although Danny
Barker had not had to make a save in the first fifteen minutes, and a Yeovil
break saw a Dale Williams shot float wide of the visitors' goal.
A good Williams run won Yeovil a throw in on the left. Holmes took the throw
and again reached the penalty area, but Bournemouth defended well and broke
away earning a throw at the other end, from which Jack Cleverley shot high
over the bar.
Bournemouth had a very good spell in the middle of the first half, with
the Yeovil defence regularly tested. Gregg Squibb played particularly well
in central defence, and the two Glovers wing-backs were unable to get forward
as much as they would have liked. Midway through the first period Mr Woodward,
who handled the game well, spoke to Sam Croft and Ben Fry after an incident
which was spotted by his assistant.
With almost half an hour played Dale Williams rode two or three attempted
tackles before making a low shot from outside the area, which Andy Smallpiece
saved. Bournemouth were given a free kick near their left touchline after
a push by Croft, but Hubbard's free kick initially failed to create an opening.
However, the ball fell to Jack Cleverley outside the Yeovil box, and his
hard shot was intercepted by the head of Sam CROFT, but he was extremely
unlucky when his header looped up and over the reach of Danny Barker and
into the Yeovil net. 0 - 1.
Bournemouth tried to capitalise on their lead within a couple of minutes,
when a diving header by Ben Fry went wide after a teasing cross from Jack
Cannon. At the other end a good effort by Charlie Welch brought a fine stop
from Smallpiece. A quick break from Bournemouth saw a good cross from Reid
headed away for a corner by Andy Holmes.
Another good shot by Dale Williams from outside the Bournemouth penalty
area was well held by Andy Smallpiece, but when the ball was slid through
to Paul HARTLEY on the edge of the area just a minute later the visiting
goalkeeper had no chance as the Yeovil forward slotted the ball past him
for a deserved equaliser. 1 -1.
The goal inspired Yeovil, and Clennell shot across the face of goal with
a good effort. James Ansell then had a fine shot very well palmed away by
the visiting keeper, and in the period leading up to half time Yeovil enjoyed
their best spell of the game.
Just before the interval Bournemouth came back well, and from a Luke Harvey
cross substitute Ted Griffin, who had replaced Mickey Hubbard after Hubbard
took a hard knock, had a very close range effort saved superbly by Danny
Barker. Honours even at half time, and a fair reflection of the game.
|
Umbro Isotonic Youth Alliance League : Yeovil Town u17's 1 AFC Bournemouth u17's 3
