14th November 2020

Yeovil Town were held as Woking grabbed a last gasp equaliser at Kingfield.

Following Matt Warburton’s first half goal, Josh Davison snatched victory out of Yeovil’s clutches.

The Glovers would have felt disappointed leaving Surrey, after missing a spot kick and having a goal ruled out for offside in the second half.

It was an unchanged side for Yeovil for the first time this season.

Adam Smith began between the sticks, with Carl Dickinson, Luke Wilkinson, Morgan Williams, and Alex Bradley in front of him.

The Glovers began with a midfield diamond, with Charlie Lee holding and Lawson D’Ath, Albi Skendi and Matt Warbuton interchanging ahead of him.

The front two had a familiar look about it with Rhys Murphy and Joe Quigley leading the line.

Darren Sarll would have hope a familiar eleven would see his side click into gear quickly, but this did not materialise with a cagey opening to the affair.

Set pieces were an avenue both teams explored, with the best chances of the first half coming from dead ball situations.

The Yeovil defence were largely able to hold firm, not allowing the Cards to show their attacking hand from open play.

In the early stages, the Glovers were only able to fashion one opening. A deep free kick from Warburton was met by Lee at the back post but his first-time effort was well saved by Craig Ross.

With the conditions wet and windy, any ball in and around the box caused a worry for both defences. Woking’s best effort of the half came from just that as Max Kretzschmar met Charlie Cooper’s cross, but his headed effort was easily stopped by A.Smith.

Set-pieces were the theme of the half, and it was only right that Yeovil took the lead from one on 44 minutes. A well worked ball down the line, stretched Woking, the ball eventually fell to Warburton on the edge of the box and his well-placed finish left Ross stranded.

Despite a cagey opening 45 minutes, Yeovil held a hard-earned lead as the game reached the midway point.

The second half was the polar opposite of the first, with Woking working hard to cut the deficit, something they almost did in the 52nd minute. Following Williams heavy challenge on Kretzschmar in the box, the referee pointed to the spot with the midfielder instantly claiming the ball to take the penalty, however the usually prolific midfielder spurned his effort, striking the post from 12-yards. 

With bodies forward, Yeovil relied on the counter for their attacking outlet and actually had the ball in the back of the net on 65 minutes. After Warburton’s initial effort was saved, Murphy pounced, turning the ball home but the linesman had his flag raised, ending Yeovil celebrations prematurely.

The disallowed goal did little to dampen Town’s fire and after a flurry of chances, earned a chance to score from the spot after Warburton was fouled in the area. Murphy stepped up to take but his effort was tame and easily saved by Ross.

As the half progressed, Woking grew more and more into the game, with Josh Davison forcing a stunning stop from A.Smith on 81 minutes as he bared down on goal.

It was second time lucky for the Woking number 25 as he snatched a point in the dying moments. Following a mix-up at the back, Davison pounced and placed the ball beyond A.Smith.

Not to be discouraged, Yeovil had one final roll of the dice, and would have felt frustrated with Albi Skendi hauled down in the box with the referee unmoved.

At full-time, Yeovil were visibly frustrated as the search for a first National League victory continues.

 

 

 

 

 

Yeovil Town: A.Smith; Bradley, Williams, Wilkinson, Dickinson; Lee, D’Ath, Warburton, Skendi; Quigley Murphy.

Subs not used: Burke, Worthington, J.Smith, Rogers, Palmer

 

Woking: Ross, Cook, Casey, Cooper, Shotton, Ferdinand, Kretzschmar, Spasov, Lofthouse, Dempsey, Davison

Subs: Gerring, Tarpey, Jarvis, Collier, Wareham