29th September 2012
Yeovil Town slumped to a fifth successive defeat as they lost by three goals to two in an entertaining Deepdale encounter with Preston North End this afternoon.
Gavin Williams gave Yeovil a fifth minute lead from the penalty spot after Gozie Ugwu was brought down by keeper Thorsten Stuckmann. But after a half time roasting from Lilywhites manager Graham Westley, the home side burst into the lead with goals from Jeffrey Monakana and Chris Beardsley. New Glovers signing Dan Burn had a debut to remember scoring at both ends in the space of 75 seconds to make the score 3-2 in the end.
The result leaves Yeovil ruing defensive lapses again as they seek to reverse the poor run when they take on former Premier League side Portsmouth at Huish Park on Tuesday night.
Manager Gary Johnson opted for three changes to his starting eleven as the Glovers aimed to get their season back on track. New Fulham loanee Dan Burn, a 6’6” defender that arrived this week, went straight into the team replacing Richard Hinds while in midfield Joe Edwards replaced Sam Foley and Gozie Ugwu came in for James Hayter up front.
They had the perfect start to the game in the fifth minute with a gift from opposition keeper Thorsten Stuckmann. Ugwu broke across the penalty box, heading away from goal, when the gloveman inexplicably brought the forward down. Gavin Williams, starting for only the second time this season, thumped home the penalty gleefully.
As far as chances go, that was pretty well it for the whole of the first half barring the odd excursion into each other’s area. Bailey Wright produced a defender’s finish on sixteen minutes from a tight angle while the busiest man on the pitch was Mark Brown, the referee, who booked three Preston players, all for fouls on the targeted Williams.
Scott Laird had a chance from a set piece on the edge of the box but shot straight into the wall then sent the rebound spinning harmlessly into the arms of Marek Stech.
The second half saw Yeovil start brightly enough but find themselves 2-1 down by the halfway mark. Byron Webster headed way over on 54 minutes and within a couple of minutes, the home side had levelled. Attacker Jeffrey Monakana’s shot from fifteen yards was partly saved by Stech but rolled in despite the attentions of two defenders.
After Johnson had switched Gavin Williams for Sam Foley, Preston took the lead on 63 minutes. It was Monakana at the heart of it again, this time crossing from the right flank for Chris Beardsley to head home at the second attempt, taking advantage of some defensive indecision by the Glovers. The visitors then made a double change with Keanu Marsh-Brown and Reuben Reid coming on for Ugwu and Ayling; Joe Edwards switching to right back, Korey Smith moving wide and the subs pairing up in attack.
With fifteen minutes left, it seemed like the Gods were conspiring against Yeovil when midfielder Ed Upson was sent off; having been booked nine minutes earlier for a foul, he then took Monakana out as he went on a mazy run and ref Brown had no option but to show a second yellow, and subsequent red card.
With seven minutes left, Preston went 3-1 up through the unfortunate Dan Burn. Stuart Beavon’s shot went wide but sub Jack King pulled the ball back into play. The giant centre half was helpless in stopping the ball going in off his foot and doubling the home side’s advantage.
Burn redeemed himself almost immediately when he got on the end of a cross and looped a header back across the keeper but it was too little too late although Yeovil almost grabbed a sensational equaliser in the last minute. Joe Edwards crossed in from the right and Byron Webster met it with a header that was inches away from going across the line despite protests from the ten men of the Town.