By Matt Partridge
Yeovil Town defeated Bath City 2-0 at Huish Park in their final league match of the season to finish 3rd in the South West Counties League.
The Young Glovers put together a confident display to sign-off the season, with impressive performances across each department on the pitch. Goals from Charlie Bateson and Mason Alden secured successive league wins to give them 32 points and 10 wins from an encouraging campaign.
Manager Matt Percival was able to include several dual-registration players in his starting side, with Bateson, Benjani Jr, Sam Hodges, Mason Hunter, Josh Sutton and skipper Jake Graziano all returning from rewarding spells in Men’s football across the region. There was also a starting spot for new U16 goalkeeper Louis Parker, as Percival sets his sights on the 2023/24 season.
The visitors came into the match in fine form having beaten high-flying Torquay United last weekend and had an excellent early chance but saw their striker thwarted by a fine save from Parker in goal. On around the 15-minute mark Bateson saw a hooked shot headed off the line by the Bath defence but got his rewards minutes later when Ethan O’Sullivan directed a header back across goal toward the striker who made no mistake with his close-range finish, 1-0.
This was an energetic display from the hosts with wing-backs Sutton and Max Dyer providing a good outlet on the flanks and the creative trio of Hunter, Hodges and Graziano impressing with some good interplay and dynamic action in the middle of the park.
The half came to a close when centre backs Harrison Foster and Aidan Skiverton combined well, with Skiverton seeing his header fall narrowly wide.
The second half continued with Yeovil in the ascendancy as Hodges pounced on a mistake in midfield to tee-up Bateson who saw his curling shot head over the bar.
Mason Alden came on for Sutton on around 60 minutes to operate in an advanced midfield role, with Hunter slotting in at right wing back.
The visitors switched to a more direct approach to try and get back into the game and were denied a good opportunity when Parker was out quick to make a smart save, and later saw a shot drift wide.
But this was to be Yeovil’s night and they managed the game well into the final quarter. The defensive unit worked hard to preserve a successive clean sheet and further chances also fell to the home side. Benjani Jr put together several trademark runs to pressurise the opposition, creating an acrobatic effort for Bateson which went just over, before having a decent chance himself when put through by Dyer with the keeper saving bravely.
A second, and deserved, goal came on around 75 minutes when Alden dispatched an assured and well-controlled finish into the bottom corner after some good play down the right, 2-0.
Percival sent on substitutes Josh Haskett, Jack Bareham, Harry Lock and Filip Nowak to give minutes to all involved on the night and there were further opportunities to extend the lead with O’Sullivan, Haskett and Benjani putting efforts wide and Alden seeing a stinging drive well saved.
The final whistle brought appreciation from the crowd of three figures plus who had seen an impressive performance from the Young Glovers full of grit and desire to sign-off the season in style.
