Yeovil Town U18s bowed out of the FA Youth Cup with a 2-1 loss away at Bridgwater United U18s. A second half strike from George Geraghty signalled a second half onslaught but it wasn’t to be for the valiant Young Glovers.
Yeovil Town U18s headed up the M5 to face Bridgwater United U18s, a familiar opponent from recent South West Counties League clashes. Manager Matt Percival made two changes from last week’s league cup win at Street U18s, with Morgan Alexander and Ollie Hughes coming into the starting eleven in place of Solomon Padmore and the injured Leyton Westlake.
The home side had the best of the opening exchanges forcing Louis Parker to make a couple of smart saves. Bridgwater then took a deserved lead in the 15th minute when a cross from the right was not dealt with and a low shot swept home to make it 1-0.
The Young Glovers best opportunities were coming down the left side with skipper Corey Koerner, fresh from FA Cup action with Plymouth Parkway at the weekend, combining well with Geraghty and then crossing for wing back Alec Thomas who couldn’t direct the chance.
Bridgwater then saw two chances missed as they pressed for a second with a drive from the edge of the box deflected wide and then a great recovery block from Blake Watts denying the striker.
This sparked a see saw finish to the first half as an excellent run and shot from Ollie Hughes was saved by the home keeper before a Yeovil free kick fell to the feet of Alexander whose shot hit the post. Bridgwater had a header from a corner drift narrowly wide at the other end before a cheeky attempt, direct from a corner, by Yeovil midfielder Joe Crisp was tipped over the bar as he sought to replicate his goal from last week.
Only 5 minutes into the second half Bridgwater United doubled their lead when a driving run from a midfielder fell to the striker who finished well into the corner, 2-0.
Krystian Woods came on for Nansimir Nanev in midfield and shortly after Yeovil pulled a goal back when Geraghty saw his initial shot parried but was quickly onto the rebound to lash a sharp finish into the far corner to make it 2-1.
The Young Glovers had their tails up and on 65 minutes Geraghty burst into the box and fired a shot against the post before Koerner smashed the rebound onto the crossbar as the equaliser just would not come.
Bridgwater had a great chance to put the tie to bed but a stinging shot was superbly pushed aside by Parker in goal.
This signalled another flurry of chances for the visitors as Alexander saw a shot well saved before substitute Padmore had a close-range effort cleared off the line before Watts saw a header sail narrowly wide from the resulting corner.
As the game entered the closing minutes Bridgwater were hanging on and a great run and cross down the left by Woods narrowly evaded substitute Levi-Blue Scott before fellow sub Reece Bastafield saw his shot from distance sail over the bar as the whistle sounded.
Bridgwater head into the draw for the 1st round proper whilst Yeovil Town turn their attention to their opening fixture in the Western Counties Floodlit Youth League.
