The Glovers kicked off their return to the National League with a defeat, as Hartlepool United emerged 1-0 winners. A strike from Jack Hunter midway through the second half secured all three points for the team from the North.
Mark Cooper made just one change from the final pre-season friendly against Weston-super-Mare, with Dylan Morgan returning from a slight knock to replace Sam Pearson.
Despite it being the first game of the season, Hartlepool’s Tom Parkes didn’t hold back in the seventh minute when he chopped down Jordan Young. The defender was shown only a yellow card, and he was likely fortunate it wasn’t more severe.
Following this, Jordan Young caused havoc down the right wing. Supported by Michael Smith, Young raced down the touchline before cutting back to Smith, whose cross failed to find Aaron Jarvis.
In the 15th minute, Luke Charman linked up with David Ferguson on the right before sending a low cross into the box, which flashed across the goal before Morgan Williams managed to scramble it behind.
Hartlepool’s physical approach led to another yellow card, this time for Joe Grey following a heavy challenge on Dylan Morgan.
As the half progressed, the game remained a battle in the middle of the park until the 36th minute, when Luke Charman found space to drive down the left before cutting back to Adam Campbell. Campbell got his shot away, but his low effort was cleared by Morgan Williams.
As the first half entered injury time, Luke Charman had a great chance to put the visitors ahead. Following a free kick, the ball dropped to Charman at the back post, but despite having time to bring it down, he fired his shot over the crossbar.
The second half saw Hartlepool push harder in search of an opener. Mark Cooper made his first change just 10 minutes into the half, with Dylan Morgan being replaced by Harvey Greenslade.
In the 57th minute, Adam Campbell’s cross found Dieseruvwe, who flicked it across to Nathan Sheron, but Sheron could only direct his effort into the gloves of Ollie Wright. Shortly after, Wright had to be on high alert again as Campbell had a shot from range, which Wright saved.
At the other end, the Glovers were trying to make their mark on the game. Michael Smith brought the ball forward down the right before crossing towards Aaron Jarvis, but the delivery was just out of Jarvis’s reach.
In the 65th minute, the deadlock was finally broken, and it was Hartlepool’s Jack Hunter who found the net. Luke Charman advanced down the left before playing the ball inside to Adam Campbell. Campbell rolled the ball back into the path of Hunter, who drilled it into the far corner, beyond Ollie Wright, to make it 1-0.
Immediately after the goal, Mark Cooper made a couple of changes to inject fresh energy into the side, with Jordan Thomas and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton coming on for Michael Smith and Brett McGavin.
As the game entered the final 15 minutes, the Glovers pushed hard for an equaliser. In the 77th minute, Jordan Young cut inside from the right wing and unleashed an effort that was deflected wide. The resulting corner from Lo-Everton dropped inside the six-yard area but somehow ended up in the hands of Joel Dixon.
Mark Cooper’s final change saw Sam Pearson replace Frank Nouble for a last burst of energy in search of an equaliser.
In the 86th minute, Matt Worthington worked his way inside from the left before shooting from range, but Joel Dixon saved at his near post. Just a minute later, the substitutes linked up, with Sam Pearson clipping the ball into Harvey Greenslade, but Greenslade’s effort was wide of the post.
With seven additional minutes to be played, the Glovers’ best chance to find an equaliser came in the 98th minute. A ball into the box from Sonny Blu Lo-Everton was flapped at by Joel Dixon before it fell to the feet of Harvey Greenslade, who managed to get a shot away, but it went over the bar.
The resulting goal kick was the final action of the game, as the Glovers were defeated on the opening day.
