Match Report - Yeovil Town 1-0 Southend United - 14/11/2009

After the utter disappointment of Oxford in the F.A. Cup, it was imperative for Yeovil to get back to winning ways against Southend United on Saturday. Once again whispers of discontent at Skivo's perceived tactical naiveté were rearing their head, and it seems to have rattled his cage too if his comments after the match are anything to go by - however keep producing the goods like they did on Saturday and they'll have no problems surviving in the division.

Yeovil's lineup this weekend was much altered due to the withdrawal of Sam Williams, Nathan Jones, and Shaun MacDonald on Friday, and Terrell Forbes pulling out during the warm-up. This left the Glovers fielding a makeshift side (with only 5 subs) with George O'Callaghan, Danny Hutchins, Scott Murray and Stefan Stam returning to the starting 11.

The Glovers fair dominated the first half hour and could (and perhaps should) have been in the lead through a bullet Craig Alcock header that hit the post, a magnificent break down the right by Murray which was saved by Steve Mildenhall (the keeper back at Huish Park and in spectacular form) followed by an even better save moments later from Jonathan Obika at point blank range.

Worse still was to come for Southend, as debutant Sean Morrison was sent off for cynically pulling back Obika when clean through on goal (a sending off that Southend are STILL bitter about, yet tellingly aren't appealing the dismissal). Ryan Mason, who was in magnificent form, and eventually got the man of the match award for the Glovers, curled the free kick just past the post, with Mildenhall beaten.

After that, Southend, perhaps understandably, shut up shop and invited the Glovers to break them down. Lee Barnard, League One's top scorer, cut an isolated figure up front as Southend tried put 9 men between the Glovers and Mildenhall's goal. Breaking down a rare Southend attack, the Glovers countered just before half time, Andy Welsh running clean through on goal, unfortunately for Yeovil the tricky winger isn't much of a finisher and blasted his rushed shot over the bar. The two sides went in equal at the break.

The first 20 minutes of the second half were, from a Yeovil point of view, extremely frustrating. Southend, with Adam Barrett and Jean Christophe at the heart of their defence, were doing a very good job of nullifying the threat of Obika, with most of Yeovil's penetration coming from the impossible to pick up Mason and the eager to impress Scott Murray, the latter treading on the ball when clean through. The crowd were getting restless, and Skivo revealed after the match that supporters in the Augusta Westland Stand behind him were jeering at him for not having two strikers on against ten men.

On 70 minutes, Skivo made the change that the supporters were waiting for. Off came Andy Welsh, after another performance of graft but possibly not quite enough quality end product, and on came Dean Bowditch. Within 5 minutes of his arrival, it was 1-0.

An innocuous free-kick conceded on the right was swung over by Murray, it dropped at Obika's feet, and he swiveled and shot. The ball cannoned off Bowditch's shoulder, and it was 1-0. The atmosphere at Huish Park was one of tangible relief.

Bowditch in truth probably should have truly put Southend to the sword minutes later when he slid through on goal, but once again, Mildenhall, who was right up there with Mason as man of the match, was there to knock the ball away.

Yeovil served up the perfect response, and now must be strongly anticipating the game against Charlton next Saturday.

Final Score: Yeovil Town 1 Southend United 0.

Scorer: Dean Bowditch (1-0, 76 mins)

Yeovil Town: 4-4-1-1/4-2-3-1
1. Alex McCarthy
2. Craig Alcock 5. Steven Caulker 4. Stefan Stam 23. Danny Hutchins
16. Scott Murray 7. George O'Callaghan 21. JP Kalala 11. Andy Welsh
13. Ryan Mason
26. Jonathan Obika

Substitutes:
15. Richard Martin (GK) 8. Keiran Murtagh (89 mins for Ryan Mason) 10. Gavin Tomlin (80 mins for Scott Murray) 14. Dean Bowditch (71 mins for Andy Welsh) 3. Nathan Jones

Southend United:
1. Steve Mildenhall
2. Simon Francis 5. Sean Morrison 6. Adam Barrett 7. Anthony Grant
26. Francis Laurent 4. Jean Francois Christophe 8. Alan McCormack 14. Franck Moussa
9. Lee Barnard 16. Dougie Freedman

Substitutes:
10. James Walker (81 mins for Dougie Freedman) 12. Damian Scannell 22. Stuart O'Keefe 31. Kyle Asante

Yeovil Bookings: Jean-Paul Kalala (43 mins, foul), George O'Callaghan (54 mins, foul)

Southend Bookings: Alan McCormack (56 mins, timewasting), Anthony Grant (63 mins, dissent), Red Card: Sean Morrison (31 mins, professional foul)

Referee: David Phillips (West Sussex). Assistants: Stephen Phipps (Oxfordshire) and Tim Robinson (West Sussex). Fourth Official: Chris Powell (Dorset).

Attendance: 3,906

(Match Details courtesy of www.ciderspace.co.uk)