Other reports : Nationwide Conference site; BBC Sport; www.nvfc.co.uk; www.ytfc.net;
Venue: The Avenue, Dorchester Town FC
Sat 7th September 2002, 3pm kick-off.
Conditions: Overcast and breezy.
Ground: Good covering of grass, thinning in goalmouths.
Nationwide Conference :
Yeovil Town 2 - 1 Northwich Victoria
Att: 2,154
Referee: Mr A Williams
Bookings:
Yeovil:
No bookings.Red card: Weale (50, professional foul)
Northwich: Royle (55, foul), Ingram (60, dissent), Allan (67, foul)
Line up : (3-4-1-2)
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 1. Chris Weale |
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 2. Adam Lockwood |
 4. Terry Skiverton |
 5. Colin Pluck |
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 10. Nick Crittenden |
 6. Darren Way |
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 8. Lee Johnson |
 11. Michael McIndoe |
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 20. Gavin Williams |
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 23. Howard Forinton |
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 18. Kim Grant |
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Substitutes: 9. Carl Alford, 13. John Sheffield (51, for Grant), 14. Roy O'Brien (87, for Johnson), 16. Andy Lindegaard, 19. Abdoulai Demba (66, for Forinton)
Northwich: (4-4-2) Gibson, Royle, Ingram, Walsh, Rioch, Norris, Owen, Devlin, Garvey, Blundell, Allan
Subs : Matthews, Taylor (83, for Devlin), McGuire, Street (72, for Norris), Quinn
Scorers: Terry Skiverton (23, 1-0), Jon Allan (33, 1-1), Kim Grant (40, 2-1)
This report courtesy of Noddy Elms:
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Gavin Williams keeps an eye on a chasing defender
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Many of Yeovil Town's successes this year have been earned through sheer
determination and grit. But today's performance went well beyond that. The
quality of their football in the first half was at times well beyond
Conference level.
They were deservedly leading 2-1 at half time against a capable Northwich
Victoria side. But the events of the second half made this the proverbial
game of two halves. Despite the odd scare in the first half many of the 2100
crowd justifiably expected Yeovil to go on to take three points comfortably.
However, if football were predictable it wouldn't be the spectacle we know it
is.
The second half was as different as chalk is to cheese. To the neutral
spectator - if such a species exists - the game may have appeared finely
balanced at 2-1 with Northwich looking capable of pulling back an equaliser.
But as Yeovil pushed forward for a third decisive goal, they left themselves
exposed at the back and Northwich broke quickly. Yeovil's keeper, Chris
Weale, was left too much to do to beat Northwich striker Owen to a long
clearance. The inevitably happened: Weale committed himself and touched Owen
as the Northwich striker pushed the ball past him, referee Mr Williams had no
hesitation in awarding a penalty and dismissing young Weale.
Gary Johnson, Yeovil's manager, made the obligatory changes by bringing on
substitute keeper John Sheffield. But few would have expected the man who had
taken such criticism last season to do any more than go through the motions
and pick the ball out of the net. However, we now know the character of John
Sheffield and he may now have added has name to Yeovil Town folklore. While
strikers win games, any incident that knocks a team off a winning course, or
otherwise, is crucial at the end of the season. This may well have been such
an incident. Sheffield's first touch was to save Blundell's spot kick and he
instantly became a Yeovil hero for the day. But the game was not over.
The game opened with Forinton chasing a lost cause to create Yeovil's first
attack, Nick Crittenden was just unable to force his way past his marker from
Forinton's pass. Gavin Williams then put McIndoe through to win the game's
first corner. Grant was then provider for Williams. But none of these attacks
came to anything more.
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Kim Grant is congratulated on his goal
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Northwich, for their part, exhibited patience and a great deal of skill when
on the ball: Blundell concluded their first real attack but volleyed wide
from the edge of the Yeovil penalty box. Yeovil's Skiverton headed from under
his bar, but there was no real danger. Northwich won a succession of corners
but the Yeovil defence held fast. Both teams played attractive football
approaching the opposition's penalty box, but neither were able to create a
clear cut chance until the 14th minute: Skiverton was slow to challenge
Blundell and Weale had to be alert to tip over his shot from outside the box.
While Yeovil had the better of the middle section of the first half: Way and
McIndoe combined to put Forinton through; Forinton and Grant worked well to
set up Skiverton at the far post; the Northwich defence were well marshalled
and it wasn't until the 22nd minute that Yeovil broke through. MacIndoe's
shot was cleared for a corner. He took it short to Johnson and received it
back. MacIndoe picked out Terry Skiverton in the six-yard box and he completed the
formalities off his thigh: Yeovil 1 Northwich 0.
Yeovil continued to exude an added level of confidence: even Colin Pluck was
shooting from the edge of the box. Skiverton was on the end of Johnson's
cross after good work by Crittenden. The Northwich equaliser after 31 minutes
was, if not against the run of play, out of the blue. The Yeovil defence,
usually so secure, taking responsibility. Lockwood over-committed himself and
missed a defending header: while Skiverton and Pluck stood and watched,
Northwich's Jon Allen reacted quickest and unleashed an unstoppable shot from
outside the box. Weale could do no more than watch the ball sail into his
goal: Yeovil 1 Northwich 1.
Although Northwich pushed forward for the next few minutes: Skiverton often
resorting to desperate defending, it took Yeovil only seven minutes to regain
the lead. Good movement by Crittenden won a right wing corner: McIndoe
produced his standard left footed in-swinger that Grant glanced onto the
underside of the Northwich bar and over the goal line: Yeovil 2 Northwich 1.
Grant should have added his second three minutes later when Williams set him
through, but with a clear shot on goal could only manage to blast high and
wide. Before the half-time interval Williams should have added a third, but
shot over. At the other end Northwich flashed a cross across the Yeovil goal,
but no forward was following up.
Half Time: Yeovil Town 2 Northwich Victoria 1.
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Abdoulai Demba - on as a second half substitute
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Northwich opened the second half on top, Skiverton again providing the final
clearing boot.
Within minutes Yeovil were down to 10 men when Weale was dismissed. Sheffield
replaced Grant and was immediately staring down the barrel of Blundell's
penalty. Although it was an accurate shot there was too little power on it,
and Sheffield dropped to his right to smother the shot and become the instant
hero.
Yeovil's objective was to hold on to their lead. As Northwich pushed forward
Yeovil's two wide midfielders dropped back to add strength to an embattled
back five. Johnson and Way worked tirelessly in midfield and Williams
attempted to fill the gap between midfield and lone front man, Demba.
In possession Yeovil moved as a unit and often Demba was forced to slow down
his attack to allow time for Williams or MacIndoe to join him. And, in truth,
there were more attacks than their circumstances allowed. The best chance of
the second half fell to Yeovil and Williams. Demba beat Gibson to a through
ball and opted to play the ball back to Williams. However, Demba's ball was
unkind to Williams who had to backtrack to recover it. William's final shot
was disappointingly over the bar with Gibson back tracking towards his
goalmouth.
For all of Northwich's efforts in the final minutes John Sheffield had won
the psychological battle with that penalty save and was, in truth, rarely
troubled again. The introduction of Taylor for Devlin added extra impetus to
the Northwich attack, but inevitably Lockwood or Skiverton were on hand to
provide the final decisive intervention. Despite two nervous minutes of extra
time Northwich were unable to raise themselves game beyond the controlled,
patient game. That will hold them in good stead for the rest of the season
but against a gritty, skilful Yeovil side of ten men, it was not enough.
Final Score: Yeovil Town 2 Northwich Victoria 1.
Yeovil exhibited two assets today that will hold them in good stead for the
coming months: skill and grit. In the coming months when injury and
suspension restrict The Gaffer's choices he will have to turn more and more
to his heroes-in-waiting. He has many, and they also have a rich vein of high
quality grit running all the way through them. That is Yeovil's most valuable
asset.
Noddy Elms
Internet Man of the Match Voting Results:
Player |
MOTM |
Score |
Terry Skiverton |
18 |
600 |
Michael McIndoe |
15 |
467 |
Colin Pluck |
6 |
208 |
Darren Way |
5 |
179 |
Jon Sheffield |
2 |
83 |
Gavin Williams |
- |
83 |
Nick Crittenden |
1 |
79 |
Kim Grant |
1 |
50 |
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Overall match rating: 7.7/10
Performance: 7.7
Entertainment: 7.9
48 votes received.
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Gavin Williams in a second half attack
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Darren Way tries to muscle in on a Northwich move
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Terry Skiverton celebrates his opening goal
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Michael McIndoe looks to skin a Vics defender
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Kim Grant gets in a good first half shot
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Gavin Williams and Gregor Rioch slide in to claim the ball
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Nick Crittenden grapples his way down the right wing
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Michael McIndoe on his mammoth end-to-end second half run
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Gavin Williams perfects his impression of Critts and the tongue hanging out!
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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A Vics defender tries in vain to stop Kim Grant's header from crossing the line for Yeovil's second goal
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Gavin Williams and Lee Johnson chase a Vics midfielder
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Kim Grant finds a clutch of Vics defenders chasing him for the ball
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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Gavin Williams slides in for a loose ball
Photo © 2002 Ciderspace
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