14th May 2021

The Young Glovers round off a competitive season in the Merit League Division One with a heavy loss at Newport.

Yeovil travelled to South Wales with another opportunity to provide some valuable experience for their youthful squad. Short of several senior players, Head Coach Mark Challen set up with a back four of Brito, Corrbridge, Guppy and Hunter with Heaton, Constanza and skipper Medrano occupying the midfield. Andrews and Skiverton would play in support of striker Benjani Jr.

The home side dominated possession in the opening spell but the first real chance of the game came in the 15thminute when Andrews and Medrano combined down the left before Brito crossed for Benjani Jr whose shot looped narrowly over.

The opening goal for County came in the 18th minute when a free kick from the left caused confusion in the visitor’s box allowing the striker to nip in and pounce from 5 yards, 1-0.

As the half wore on Newport continued to impress with some fine attacking interplay and added to their lead in the 32nd minute when a slick one-two on the edge of the box resulted in a left foot curler into the bottom corner, 2-0.  

Yeovil finished the half strongly as Benjani Jr and Andrews set up a half chance for Skiverton. Shortly after, Corrbridge saw his header saved and then Heaton tried his luck from distance but his shot sailed narrowly over.

County continued to fashion further chances into the second half and the Glovers were indebted to Pike in goal for making a string of saves.

Into the final twenty minutes and Newport grabbed their third via a cruel deflection off Corrbridge which looped over the helpless Pike, 3-0.

The Yeovil legs were beginning to tire and County’s fourth came via a break down the left and a fine finish into the bottom corner, 4-0.

Newport sealed it in the final ten minutes when a run at the heart of the defence led to a one-two and side foot finish to make it 5-0.

The Young Glovers kept going to the end and Skiverton was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet when he cut inside and saw his shot parried to safety.

 

Team: Pike (GK), Hunter, Guppy, Corrbridge, Brito, Heaton, Medrano ©, Constanza, Andrews, Skiverton and Benjani Jr.

 

After a blistering start to the season, Yeovil couldn’t quite maintain the required form over the course of the campaign. There were encouraging signs, with several U16s making their debuts, and the coaching staff will now take stock as they look towards next season.  

Plymouth Argyle were crowned league champions after a 1-1 draw against Cheltenham.