Yeovil Town 3-3 Bristol Rovers
Saturday 19th September 2015Connor Jones, Blake Davies and Lewis Ellington were on target for our U-18’s in this match against Yeovil Town.
Although the draw preserved their unbeaten league record, they should have won this match having led 2-0 and 3-1 at different points in the game.
“It was a frustrating day for us, and the draw feels like a defeat,” said Alan Walsh, “as we put them under pressure and dominated first half proceedings.
“We only scored twice, but it could have been more as we created a number of opportunities. Connor scored our first goal after 15 minutes when he picked the ball up in midfield and drove forward before unleashing a powerful shot from 20 yards out which went in off the post.
“Ten minutes later we broke down the left and Tyler Tucker-Dixon lashed in a cross to the far post where Blake was on hand to score from close range.
“At half time I asked the boys for more of the same in the second half, but we didn’t begin the half well and struggled to cope with a change of formation by Yeovil who played three players, with pace, up front and constantly knocked long balls up to them.
“After Charlie Phillips had made a couple of very good saves the home side did pull a goal back, but we soon restored our two goal advantage when Lewis Ellington tapped the ball over the line after the Yeovil goalkeeper had fumbled a shot from George Corp
“I thought that would settle us but, for some reason, we couldn’t get our shape right to stop them playing the ball forward quickly. It would be easy to blame the defence for that, but it was down to the whole team. If your opponents are going to play long balls all the time then the thing to do is try to stop it at source. Had those front three not got the service they did then we wouldn’t have conceded two more goals.
“Although we should give Yeovil credit for their second half performance, the draw felt like a defeat for us.”
Rovers: Charlie Phillips, Alfie Kilgour, Tom Fry, Sam Iles, Bradley Confrey, Connor Jones, Elliot Green (Sam Hedges, 75), George Corp, Blake Davies (Olly Mehew, 70), Tyrone Tucker-Dixon, Lewis Ellington (Luke Russe, 75)
Substitutes: Sam Blake, Kieran Hodges