23rd July 2012
Yeovil Town extended their unbeaten pre-season run to three games with a comprehensive 5-0 demolition of League Two side Plymouth Argyle at Dorchester this afternoon.
A superb hat trick from Reuben Reid, against one of his old clubs, was supplemented by goals from Keanu Marsh-Brown and James Hayter as the Glovers took apart their opponents with some style.
Although Argyle recovered a little early in the second period despite being down to ten men following Nick Chadwick’s dismissal, it was the "home" side that came out of the match with all the plaudits following a display of pace in attack combined with a solid defence.
Manager Gary Johnson went with a strong looking starting line up for the second game running after the 2-0 win over Poole Town on Tuesday evening. This meant there were no starting berths for Sam Foley, Lewis Young or new Reading loan youngster Gozie Ugwu.
Yeovil came out of the blocks the quicker and took the lead through Reuben Reid after ten minutes. Strike partner James Hayter flicked on for Reid to outpace the Argyle defence and tuck home against the side he played a dozen games for after coming through their youth system.
After Marek Stech had saved well from Robbie Williams, Yeovil pushed the pedal down and both Ed Upson and Rohan Ince spurned chances before the Glovers doubled their lead after 22 minutes. Keanu Marsh-Brown burst through and his shot had too much pace for keeper Jake Cole.
If 2-0 was good, then 3-0 was even better. Former Yeovil loan defender Darren Purse slipped and was robbed by Reid who then beat Cole with ease slotting home into the corner.
Plymouth’s Nick Chadwick then lost his cool and was given a straight red for what appeared to be a elbow to the head of Byron Webster with eight minutes of the half remaining.
At half time, Johnson made five changes incuding the awaited introduction of Gozie Ugwu, signed this week from Reading, and initially the chance tally for Plymouth then increased despite being a man short. Jared Sims and Matt Lecointe both were denied by good saves from Stech before Curtis Nelson skirted the post with his shot.
But normal service was soon resumed when James Hayter scored his first goal in a Yeovil shirt with a stooping header from a great cross by Lewis Young.
Hayter then headed just wide before the goal of the game arrived. Reid, on fire all afternoon, curled a beauty into the corner of the net leaving keeper Cole helpless as he completed his first treble since a 2008/09 trio for Rotherham against Chester.
Ugwu had one chance to mark his debut with a goal but got under a header and boss Johnson was able to draft in youth teamers Mitch Brundle and Tommy Smith late on resting his big guns.
Yeovil team: Marek Stech, Luke Ayling, Richard Hinds, Byron Webster, Jamie McAllister, Keanu Marsh-Brown, Rohan Ince, Ed Upson, Gavin Williams, Reuben Reid, James Hayter.
Subs: Lewis Young (for Ayling 45), Nathan Ralph (for McAllister 45),  Aaron Downes (for Webster 45), Sam Foley (for Upson 45), Gozie Ugwu (for Ince 45), Will Agbo (for Williams), Charlie Ware (for Marsh-Brown), Mitch Brundle (for Hinds), Tommy Smith (for Reid)