22nd July 2014

An A J Leitch-Smith double gave Yeovil Town a 2-0 victory over non-league Bristol Rovers at a sultry Huish Park tonight.

The former Crewe man struck eighteen seconds into the second half and added a second ten minutes later as the Glovers maintained their unbeaten pre-season run, extending it to five games.

Rovers had the best of the first half possession wise but faded after the break and Yeovil’s counter-attacking almost brought goals for sub Kieffer Moore but manager Gary Johnson had to settle for two goals and the first clean sheet of the summer.

The first half was nothing to write home about with chances at an absolute premium, in fact only four in total and two for each team. Yeovil’s pair came first with Trialist B’s cross shot going wide of the far post and

Trialist A forcing a save from former Glovers keeper Steve Mildenhall. Rovers chances were well wide of the target with Lee Brown pulling a shot wide of the far post and Jake Gosling, going for the spectacular finish, volleying way over.

Manager Johnson made five changes at the break throughout the team and withdrawing two of the trial players and the move paid instant dividends.  One of the subs, Kieffer Moore crossed into the danger zone and A J Leitch-Smith tucked it home from close range.

Another sub, Seth Twumasi, then crossed from the right flank, the ball was flicked on for Leitch-Smith to volley home for his fifth goal of the pre-season build up. He then nearly added a third two minutes later but Mildenhall saved in the Rovers goal.

Yeovil keeper Chris Weale had been a virtual spectator for most of the game but he produced a fantastic save on the hour from Jamie White. Mark McChrystal then blazed well over after a corner was cleared to him 25 yards out.

Moore then almost headed in at the far post from a long hanging cross from Seth Twumasi and as Yeovil pressed to finish the game off, Sam Foley’s shot was deflected for a corner and Moore headed over from the resultant flag kick.

Moore had the last chance of the game, a low effort from thirty yards that was tipped around the post by Mildenhall; the crowd of 1,498 going home satisfied at another creditable pre-season performance from the Glovers.