By Dan Howell
Yeovil Town closed out 2024 on the road with a narrow 2-1 defeat away to Hartlepool United, as second-half goals from Mani Dieseruvwe and Gary Madine proved decisive despite a spirited equaliser from Kofi Shaw.
Changes to the side that beat Braintree Town the previous week saw Finn Cousin-Dawson, Frank Nouble, and Dom Bernard return to the starting line up.
The Glovers started brightly, with Brett McGavin testing the Hartlepool defence in the opening exchanges. His early corner and a long-range free kick kept Adam Smith alert, but neither posed a serious threat.
As the first half progressed, Hartlepool grew into the game. Luke Charman and David Ferguson both had efforts from distance, but neither troubled Ollie Wright, with their shots flying harmlessly over the bar.
More chances for the Glovers came midway through the half. Aaron Jarvis intercepted a loose ball and played in Michael Smith, whose cross towards the near post was claimed by the keeper. Moments later, Frank Nouble found himself in a promising position but was unable to get a shot away.
Drama then unfolded off the pitch as play was halted due to safety concerns. A loose advertising board hanging over the away end prompted a lengthy delay, with officials and safety officers stepping in to resolve the issue.
When play resumed, Hartlepool began to press. In the 30th minute, Anthony Mancini’s curling effort was saved by Wright, while Mani Dieseruvwe fired the rebound wide. McGavin struck another free kick into the wall, while Charman continued to shoot from distance without success.
The first half ended goalless, with both sides struggling to find the decisive touch.
After the restart, Hartlepool began to assert themselves. Dieseruvwe grazed the bar with a header before Charman forced Wright into a fine save with a curling effort.
Yeovil thought they had taken the lead in the 53rd minute when Aaron Jarvis turned in Charlie Cooper’s free kick, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Just ten minutes later, Hartlepool broke the deadlock. A free kick into the box saw Tom Parkes hit the deck in the area, and the referee pointed to the spot. Mani Dieseruvwe stepped up and confidently dispatched the penalty, sending Wright the wrong way to put the hosts ahead.
Frustration spilled over for the Glovers, with both Matt Worthington and Frank Nouble booked for their protests.
Yeovil responded positively, and their persistence paid off in the 80th minute. Brett McGavin threaded a pass to Kofi Shaw, who surged forward and struck a low shot into the far corner, beating Adam Smith to level the scores.
The joy was short-lived, however, as Hartlepool restored their lead just three minutes later. A goalmouth scramble ended with Gary Madine poking the ball home to make it 2-1.
The Glovers threw everything forward in the dying moments, even sending goalkeeper Ollie Wright up for a corner. Despite their efforts, Jake Wannell’s late header drifted wide, and Yeovil were unable to find an equaliser.
The defeat for the Glovers see them drop to 10th place as the National League reaches the halfway stage of the season.
