27th March 2021

Yeovil Town produced a stunning first half performance to beat Barnet 3-1 at Huish Park.

Bouncing back from Tuesday’s late heartbreak, the Glovers showed real eagerness to put the result behind them, finding an early goal through Tom Knowles.

Further goals followed as Charlie Lee and Josh Neufville got in on the act before the end of the first half to build a comfortable advantage.

Darren Sarll made one change to the side which drew with Notts County on Tuesday. The goalkeeper and defence remained the same as Adam Smith began in goal, with Carl Dickinson, Max Hunt, Albi Skendi and Michael Kelly ahead of him. 

The diamond returned for Town, Lee began at the base of it, with Matt Worthington, Knowles and Neufville further forward. 

Chris Dagnall returned to the fold alongside Reuben Reid who retained his place up front. 

With the visitors occupying bottom spot, Town looked to make their mark on the game quickly.

In the 6th minute, the hosts had their first opening, Dagnall was played through by a misplaced Barnet header but some heroic defending from the Bees denied the experienced forward.

However, it didn’t take long for Yeovil to open the scoring. Breaking with pace, a stunning counterattack was capped off by Knowles’ pile driver from around 25-yards after Nefuville played the ball into his feet on 11 minutes.

Knowles was involved once again as Sarll’s side doubled its advantage. The former Cambridge man sent a deep cross into Reid who headed the ball into Lee’s path as he sent a sumptuous volley into the bottom corner.

 

It was almost three through an unlikely source, as Dickinson had his shot on the turn cleared by the Bees on the line.

The Glovers got the third they deserved on 34 minutes as Luton loanee Neufville capped off a great first half. Nobody could get a touch on Neufville as he danced through the Barnet defence and fired beyond Azaze.

With a comfortable advantage, Sarll looked to marshall through the second half and save the fitness of players after a busy schedule. After playing every game since signing, Reid was replaced by Quigley in the opening stages of the half. 

On 68 minutes, the visitors scored a consolation as Kefalas headed beyond A.Smith to cut the advantage to two. 

Yet, this did little to chip away the Glovers confidence, effectively dominating possession and keeping the Bees at arms length. 

The second half also saw an opportunity to give Emmanuel Sonupe some minutes after a long injury lay-off. 

Ultimately, neither side did much to test either goalkeeper in the closing stages as Town claimed a valuable victory at Huish Park.

 

Yeovil Town: A.Smith; Dickinson, Skendi, Hunt, Kelly; Lee, Worthington, Knowles (J.Smith), Neufville (Sonupe); Reid (Quigley), Dagnall.

Subs not used: Collins, Warburton.