Saturday 9th August | Enterprise National League | Huish Park

Second-half strikes from debutant Jili Buyabu and substitute Kairo Mitchell proved decisive on an afternoon where the Glovers struggled to create chances of their own.

Mark Cooper made one change from the opening-day stalemate against Hartlepool United, with Tahvon Campbell starting in place of James Daly.

The opening exchanges were subdued, with neither side able to stamp their authority on the game. Yeovil’s first opportunity came on 13 minutes when a Charlie Cooper free kick towards the back post narrowly failed to connect with Jake Wannell. Forest Green responded four minutes later as Jayden Clarke went close with a low drive that whistled past the upright. Soon after, Jed Ward was forced into his first save of the afternoon, reacting sharply to punch away Kyle McAllister’s deflected effort.

The referee was busy throughout the half, booking Wannell in the 22nd minute after a foul on Yahya Bamba just outside the area. The resulting free-kick from McAllister was blocked by the wall, with Laurent Mendy’s follow-up deflected wide. Mendy tried his luck again from distance on the half-hour mark but blazed over the bar. Bamba caused problems down the left, though his cross on 33 minutes was comfortably gathered by Ward.

Charlie Cooper joined Wannell in the book before the break, though he nearly provided the breakthrough with a low-driven free kick that was scrambled away for a corner. The resulting delivery was cleared by Luke McNicholas, ensuring the sides went in level at the interval.

Half-Time: Forest Green Rovers 0–0 Yeovil Town

At the restart, Yeovil reverted to their Hartlepool line-up as Daly replaced Campbell. Within three minutes the Glovers thought they had carved out a huge chance when Josh Sims burst through on goal, but the offside flag was raised. On 54 minutes, Brett McGavin replaced Luke McCormick as Cooper looked to strengthen midfield.

Forest Green made attacking changes of their own, introducing Buyabu, Callum Haughton and Christian Doidge. The impact was immediate, as Doidge headed over from close range before Haughton rattled the crossbar with a powerful strike from the edge of the area.

After repeated warnings, the breakthrough came in the 75th minute. Buyabu drove into space down the left and fired a low effort across Ward into the far corner to give Forest Green the lead.

Cooper introduced Junior Morias and Harvey Greenslade in search of an equaliser, but the hosts continued to look the more dangerous. Former Glover Tom Knowles almost made it two in spectacular fashion, attempting a strike from the halfway line that beat Ward but thundered off the post.

Any hopes of a Yeovil response were dashed on 86 minutes when Wannell, already booked, received a second yellow card and was dismissed for a foul near the halfway line.

The points were sealed in stoppage time when Mitchell broke into the box and finished calmly to double Forest Green’s lead. The Glovers’ frustration showed as Brett McGavin fired wide from distance and Finn Cousin-Dawson entered the referee’s book late on, but the damage had long been done.

The Glovers will now look to regroup ahead of Wednesday evening’s clash against Brackley Town at Huish Park, as they continue their search for a first win and their first goals of the new campaign.

Full-Time: Forest Green Rovers 2–0 Yeovil Town
(Buyabu 75’, Mitchell 90+2’)