Saturday 9th August | Enterprise National League | Huish Park
In a match of few clear chances, both sides had spells on top, but neither could find the breakthrough.
The visitors edged the first half in terms of opportunities, with Alex Reid and Danny Johnson both going close, while Yeovil’s best moment before the break came in the opening minutes through Aaron Jarvis.
Just three minutes in, a defensive lapse from Hartlepool presented Jarvis with a chance inside the box. Beating his marker to a loose ball, he drove forward with intent, but just as he shaped to shoot, former Glover Tom Parkes slid in with a perfectly timed challenge to snuff out the danger.
The Glovers were then forced to defend as Hartlepool grew into the game. After 18 minutes, Jermaine Francis found space in behind and drove into the area, but his low strike took a deflection and looped into the arms of Jed Ward.
Two minutes later, Morgan Williams showed great defensive awareness to block a goalbound effort from Reid, before the forward headed just wide from a deep cross soon after.
The visitors’ final chance of the half came on 39 minutes when Johnson found space just 10 yards out, only to be denied by a superb last-ditch sliding block from Alex Whittle, who cleared the ball for a corner.
Half-Time: Yeovil Town 0–0 Hartlepool United
Yeovil came out brightly after the restart and nearly took the lead within two minutes. A deep cross to the back post was met by James Daly, whose downward header was superbly tipped behind by Hartlepool keeper Harvey Cartwright.
That attacking spell was quickly matched by a Hartlepool response. On 55 minutes, Ward stood tall at his near post to deny Reid from close range, before bravely diving at the striker’s feet three minutes later to smother the ball after a misplaced pass handed the visitors another opening.
As the game progressed, both managers turned to their benches. The match entered a quieter spell until the 83rd minute, when Yeovil created their best chance of the afternoon.
Debutant Ben Wodskou, on loan from Birmingham City, came off the bench and almost made an immediate impact. After a scramble in the area left Cartwright on the ground, the ball broke to Wodskou, who struck towards goal—but the ball ricocheted straight into the body of the recovering keeper.
Despite a late push, the Glovers were unable to find a winner, but the point ensured they started the season with a clean sheet and something to build on ahead of their next outing.
Final Score: Yeovil Town 0–0 Hartlepool United
