by Matt Partridge
The Young Glovers maintained their 100% start in the league with a come from behind win at home against a determined Bishops Lydeard. Goals from Corey Koerner and George Geraghty secured a 2-1 scoreline which sent Yeovil Town joint top of the Western Counties Floodlight Youth League Premier Division.
Following last week’s 2-0 win on the road at Odd Down, the U18s were looking for a 4th consecutive league win as they took on Bishops Lydeard at Huish Park. Devon Proctor slotted into the right wing back position in place of the injured Adam Samuels in an otherwise unchanged line-up from their home opener against Paulton Rovers.
The Young Glovers made a slow start to the game with a low shot from Koerner the only shot of merit in a quiet opening period. The visitors took the lead in the 12th minute when Carson Richards poked a low finish past Louis Parker in goal to make it 1-0. Buoyed by their opening strike, Bishops Lydeard were settling well into the game and keeping the home side off their stride with their hard-working diamond formation working to good effect.
The tide began to turn in the 30th minute when Blake Watts powered a header against the bar following a corner. The equaliser came minutes later courtesy of a stunning free kick from the edge of the box by Koerner. The young skipper curled his left footed shot in off the bar to give the home crowd something to cheer and send both teams in at the breakall square at 1-1.
Yeovil Town sought to take the upper hand early in the second half and Geraghty saw a flicked header sail narrowly over before Koerner whipped in a dangerous cross which just evaded substitute Alec Thomas. Fellow substitute Oscar Foot had a great chance in the box but saw his shot blocked by Ward in the visitors box, before Geraghty smashed a shot into the side netting following good work by Solomon Padmore.
Substitutes Reece Bastafield, Denzil Gurung and Josh Ansell entered the game in the final quarter and the Young Glovers got a second when Geraghty turned his man and found the bottom corner with his 3rd league goal of the season to make it 2-1 on 75 minutes.
The visitors, who had put in an admirable shift, began to tire in the final minutes and were indebted to another heroic block by Ward in defense to deny striker Foot and keep the score at 2-1 as the final whistle sounded.
Yeovil Town will be happy to have secured the 3 points in a tough match up and after another positive team performance, members of the group may be eying a place in the squad for next week’s home tie against Weston Super Mare in the Somerset Men’s Premier Cup at Huish Park on Tuesday 19thNovember.
