by Izzy Jackopson
Yeovil Town bounced back after going 1-0 down to Braintree Town at Huish Park on Saturday afternoon, winning the game 3-1 with goals from Aaron Jarvis, Ed James, and Brett McGavin. The victory saw them return to the play-off spots.
In the fifth minute, Kofi Shaw laid off the first shot on goal from around 30 yards out, but the ball fell into the hands of Braintree goalkeeper Lucas Covolan.
Some lovely football was played by the Glovers in the 10th minute, resulting in a chance for Aaron Jarvis to open the scoring. This followed a great pass from Kofi Shaw just outside the area down the right-hand side to Michael Smith, who sent the ball into the box. However, the Braintree keeper was able to collect the ball at Jarvis’s feet.
In the 15th minute, the visitors broke the deadlock. A high ball through the middle of the park found John Akinde past the Yeovil defenders. After receiving the ball, Akinde took a touch and chipped it over Ollie Wright’s head, putting Braintree into an early lead.
However, just 12 minutes later, Aaron Jarvis levelled the score in the 27th minute. A great long ball from Matt Worthington in Yeovil’s defensive half found Jarvis just outside the Braintree box, where he slotted it into the bottom right-hand corner of the goal.
Around the half-hour mark, Jake Wannell was forced to make a vital goal-line clearance. Braintree’s two attackers were put through on goal, and Ollie Wright had to come out to make the first save to keep the scoreline level. The rebound fell to a Braintree forward, who released a shot targeted at goal, but Wannell was there to clear the ball away.
Just seven minutes later, there was a dramatic triple goal-line clearance from the Glovers, as shots from three Braintree forwards were blocked off the line, ensuring the score remained level late into the first half.
In the 53rd minute, Braintree nearly regained the lead with a cross into the box that resulted in Kyrell Lisbie attempting a bicycle kick from close range. However, the ball went high, and the scoreline remained 1-1.
Huish Park came alive in the 62nd minute when Ed James managed to capitalise on an attempted goal-line clearance by a Braintree defender, putting the home side ahead with just under 30 minutes left to play.
Kofi Shaw was denied a spectacular goal in the 73rd minute after a long-distance shot hit both posts. With acres of space in the middle of the park, Shaw unleashed a shot that struck the inside of the right post, ricocheted onto the left post, and bounced out. Unfortunately, his rebound effort went wide of the goal.
With less than ten minutes to go, Brett McGavin missed a golden opportunity to secure the win. Played through on goal and having passed all the Braintree defenders, he was unable to hit the target.
Moments after the four minutes of additional time were played, the Glovers sealed the victory. Substitute Dylan Morgan played Brett McGavin through on goal, and McGavin chipped the ball over the Braintree goalkeeper’s head.
In the dying moments of the match, the post once again denied Yeovil Town a further goal. A great run down the left-hand side by Josh Sims saw him beat his defender and square the ball into the box, finding Aaron Jarvis. Unfortunately, Jarvis’s shot struck the left post.
The final whistle blew, and the Glovers secured another three points at Huish Park.
