by Dan Howell
Yeovil Town returned to winning form with a convincing 2-0 victory over 10-man Woking at the Laithwaite Community Stadium. Brett McGavin’s first-half strike and Finn Cousin-Dawson’s late goal secured all three points for the Glovers, moving them up to 8th in the table, just outside the play-off positions on goal difference.
Manager Mark Cooper made two changes to the team that narrowly lost to Barnet midweek, reinstating Finn Cousin-Dawson after suspension and bringing Kofi Shaw back into the starting XI.
The Glovers started brightly, dominating the opening exchanges. Within minutes, Frank Nouble tested Woking goalkeeper Will Jaaskelainen with a powerful 20-yard effort. Moments later, Morgan Williams connected with a Brett McGavin corner, only to see his volley blocked at point-blank range.
The best chance of the early period fell to Aaron Jarvis in the 10th minute. A flick on from Nouble set up James Plant, who slipped a perfectly weighted pass through to Jarvis. However, Jaaskelainen was quick off his line to deny the striker with a crucial save.
The game’s momentum shifted in the 17th minute when Woking’s Jack Stretton was shown a straight red card. Following an off-the-ball incident involving Cousin-Dawson, the referee, after consulting the fourth official, dismissed Stretton for striking his opponent with a flailing arm.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Woking came close to scoring after a misplaced pass from Ollie Wright left the goalkeeper stranded. Matt Ward seized the opportunity to chip towards the open goal, but Morgan Williams made a vital retreat to head the ball off the line.
Yeovil broke the deadlock in the 31st minute through Brett McGavin. A long ball to the left found James Plant, who managed to keep it in play and lofted it back across the pitch. McGavin, arriving from midfield, struck a low, precise shot from 30 yards into the bottom corner, giving the visitors a deserved lead.
The Glovers continued to press, with Nouble’s twisting and turning inside the box nearly producing a second goal before the break. Woking thought they had equalised when Jamie Andrews tapped home a cross from Dennon Lewis, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Yeovil controlled the second half, managing possession well and limiting Woking’s opportunities. Early chances came from McGavin, whose curling free-kick narrowly missed the target, and Charlie Cooper, who sent a long-range effort just wide. Cousin-Dawson then attempted an audacious chip over Jaaskelainen, but the keeper scrambled back to tip it away.
Substitutions in the 64th minute saw Kofi Shaw replaced by Josh Sims for Yeovil, while former Glover Dale Gorman entered for Woking.
The Glovers doubled their lead in the 80th minute. A short free kick from McGavin reached Pedro Borges, who carried the ball forward and found Nouble. Using his strength and skill, Nouble turned his defender and delivered a low cross to the back post. Cousin-Dawson was on hand to strike a composed finish across goal, sealing his first goal for Yeovil.
Late substitutions ensured fresh legs as Dylan Morgan, Matt Worthington, and Harvey Greenslade all came on. Worthington’s cameo marked his return from injury.
Pedro Borges had the final chance of the match, surging forward on the right and firing straight at Jaaskelainen. The Glovers managed the six minutes of added time effectively, preventing any significant threats from the hosts.
