Taunton Town vs Yeovil Town

Details

Date	Time	League	Season	Match Day	Full Time
January 9, 2024	7:45 pm	National League South	2023/24	09/01/2024	90'

Results

Club	Goals
Taunton Town	0
Yeovil Town	1

Recap

Report

A goal early in the second half proved sufficient for the visitors to claim a quickfire League double over the Peacocks and in so doing stretch their lead at the top of the table to 13 points. This contest was far removed from the Boxing Day defeat though with the Glovers, despite enjoying the majority of possession, displaying little of their attacking swagger from then against a spirited Taunton side which frustrated them at every opportunity, resulting in a muted affair with goalmouth excitement in short supply.

The Peacocks’ side showed two changes from the one that had been beaten at Slough three days earlier. New loan signing Zac Bell from Bristol City slotted in at right back and Marcus Day came back into the starting eleven, with Louie Slough on the bench and centre half Austen Booth having sadly withdrawn from the squad due to a transfer approach. Not unexpectedly, the visitors began the stronger, with skipper Matt Worthington’s drive into the box getting flicked on and cleared ahead of the line by Bell and then Jordan Young’s cutback finding Michael Smith whose effort was gathered by Town keeper Dan Lavercombe.

Young’s free kick took a bounce and travelled through to Lavercombe as Yeovil maintained their early grip before the hosts enjoyed their first real incursion, Bell’s long throw defended with the ball finding its way to Lloyd James whose shot back into the mix was blocked. The Glovers were content to play a patient passing game as they probed for a route through, but the Town rearguard was restricting them to pot shots from distance, with Courtney Senior and Worthington both sending strikes comfortably wide of the target. The Peacocks rarely glimpsed the inner sanctum of the six yard box at the other end, with a James cross safely claimed by keeper Joe Day while Ross Stearn tried one too many step overs as he shaped for a shot inside the area and lost possession. First half complete and not too much going on to get the temperature of the 3000 crowd raised on a cold evening.

Ollie Chamberlain kicked off proceedings after the break with a promising run before Yeovil scored what proved to be the crucial goal five minutes in, Worthington seizing the ball in the centre circle to thread a pass through to Frank Nouble who cantered down the left. The striker still had work to do but confidently executed a fine finish from the left side of the box for his fourth goal in as many games. The Peacocks made their first change just past the hour when another new loanee from Bristol City, Marley Rose, made his bow off the bench replacing Nat Jarvis but Yeovil still retained the initiative. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton made inroads into the danger zone but was denied by a fine challenge from Bell, with the follow-up from Smith blocked while Glovers’ sub Rhys Murphy so nearly netted a spectacular second goal when he latched onto a ball forward to see his volley tipped away at full stretch by Lavercombe onto the crossbar.

Day who had put in a solid performance gave way to Slough, making his home debut, and then Evander Grubb took over from Stearn for the final stages when the home side created their best opening. That wasn’t from James who delivered a free kick out for a throw from a decent position before a quick turn from Grubb saw his effort blocked before an opportunity came and went when a deep cross from the impressive Bell, who was a worthy winner of the MOM award, connected with Slough at the far post. His diving header alas flew wide.

A final fling from Yeovil as the game entered seven minutes of stoppage time saw Lavercombe easily hold a Jake Hyde header following Worthington’s free kick and that was that as they saw out time without any fuss. Although meriting the points, the visitors looked nothing out of the ordinary while the Peacocks can take some optimism from some individual performances on the night. However it’s now only one point gleaned from the last five games which will hopefully be put right with two more home games in the coming week.

Line-Ups

Taunton: Dan Lavercombe, Zac Bell, Nick Grimes (captain), Dan Ball, Ollie Chamberlain, Lloyd James, Nat Jarvis (Marley Rose 61), Rabby Tabu Minzamba, Ross Stearn (Evander Grubb 78), Cameron Evans, Marcus Day (Louie Slough 71). Unused subs: Callum Dolman, Lloyd Irish

Yeovil: Joe Day, Morgan Williams, Alex Whittle, Jake Wannell, Matt Worthington (captain), Jordan Young (Will Dawes 76), Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, Courtney Senior (Rhys Murphy 45) (Jake Hyde 87), Michael Smith, Charlie Cooper, Frank Nouble. Unused subs: Jamie Sendles-White, Josh Owers

Officials

Referee: Niall Smith (Rugeley)
Referee’s Assistant 1: Harley Hetherington (Worcester)
Referee’s Assistant 2: John Duffy (Bristol)

Attendance

3001

Reaction

“We have to back these players, it is imperative we do that for us to be progressive in the next two or three months……..” watch Rob Dray’s Match Reaction on Peacocks TV HERE