GARY GETS IT RIGHT

If anyone knows the best formation to use when playing Yeovil Town it must be their former manager, now Ashton Gate supremo, Gary Johnson.

Gary certainly sprung a surprise on the Ashton Gate faithful with his selection for this first ever league encounter between the sides in Bristol. Already missing wide man Scott Murray through injury, Gary dropped his other flank man Dave Cotterill, midfield playmaker Alex Russell and striker Bas Savage. Mark McCammon partnered Steve Brooker up front while David Noble, Scott Brown and Luke Wilkshire joined Cole Skuse in midfield.

A blustery wind, a fine atmosphere and Ashton’s largest crowd of the season greeted the players and the opening minutes were of the tense, somewhat scrappy nature oft associated with local derbies. City, attacking the Atyeo end, were having more of the ball, however, without creating any clearcut chances while the visitors seemed content, at this stage, to sit back and soak up the pressure.

After 13 minutes, however, City took the lead in surprising fashion, the ball was switched from midfield to Bradley Orr on the right hand side and he was allowed to progress some 30 yards without challenge, before sending a high looping chip over the head of the Yeovil keeper Collis and into the net. Most of the crowd had started to groan at what they perceived to be a poor centre , too close to the keeper, but the groans changed to cheers as the effort found the net. The Liverpool born Orr celebrated his first professional goal in style and insisted afterwards that his effort had been as intended and was not a mishit centre. Some spectators, particularly at the Yeovil end, would disagree.

City, bolstered by their goal, were now dominating
proceedings and it came as no surprise when they extended their lead on 21 minutes, although the manner of the goal was again unexpected.

Luke Wilkshire was enjoying a fine return to the side and it was his free kick after a foul on Cole Skuse by Yeovil’s Scott Guyett that led to the goal. The Australian’s goal bound effort looped into the air off the Yeovil wall and seemed destined for easy collection by Collis when McCammon leaped to get to the ball before the keeper and head into the net, an excellent opportunist effort.

Fired by his goal McCammon went close again with a long shot five minutes later, but this time Collis was equal to it, then the Brighton loan man was involved in a one-two with Wilkshire who was unable to connect with an acrobatic effort at the vital second.

A long last Yeovil began to show some ambition and almost reduced their arrears when Louis Carey deflected an Aaron Davies effort wide of City keeper Basso and, luckily, the far post. Yeovil’s loan men Rocastle and Cohen then combined to give the latter a clear shooting opportunity but he delayed a second too long and City’s own loan recruit Liam Fontaine rescued his team with an excellent sliding challenge at the expense of a corner.

City were soon back on the attack, however, and a brilliant move between the lively Wilkshire and Brooker ended with the Australian delivering a perfect lob on to McCammon’s head. The big striker, unmarked and barely six yards from goal, marred an impressive first half performance by heading weakly into the ground, enabling Collis to make an easy save.

Yeovil made two changes at the interval with Phil Jevons and David Poole replacing Colin Miles and Matt Harrold, but City remained on top with a succession of three corners, Brown and Brooker coming close to extending the lead.

Yeovil skipper Adam Lockwood gave his side hope with a header that cleared the bar by inches and the Glovers cause was further helped on the hour mark when City skipper and main dangerman Steve Brooker was forced to leave the field with a knee injury, being replaced by Dave Cotterill. The former Port Vale man had received an injection to enable him to play, but had looked in discomfort all afternoon despite his usual 100% effort to the City cause.

Yeovil were now coming more into the game and, deservedly, reduced the arrears on 64 minutes when Basso failed to deal cleanly with a long range , bobbling effort from Paul Terry. Phil Jevons pounced on the rebound and set up Aaron Davies who fashioned a shooting opportunity and shot crisply into the net from sixteen yards.

City immediately retaliated with a sweeping move down the left which resulted in an open goal for Scott Brown but the ex Everton man inexplicably failed to make contact and the chance was lost.City made a second substitution, Russell replacing the tiring Noble, and forced Collis into action to deny Cotterill and then Wilkshire.

Yeovil were having the lion’s share of possession at this stage without creating any clear cut opportunities , but Basso had to earn his corn when Jevons let leash a long range effort which was destined for the top corner before the Brazilian keeper managed, somewhat clumsily, to claw it away for a corner.

The pantomime season started early when, on 84 minutes , Bas Savage took the field in place of Scott Brown. City attacked down the left and a fine move assisted by a slip from Yeovil skipper Lockwood gave the newcomer a clear run on goal from about 35 yards out. Taking the ball in his stride the goal shy striker proceeded elegantly to the edge of the penalty area,the Yeovil defence trailing in his wake, before tripping over his own feet in Norman Wisdom fashion to the derision of the packed Yeovil fans behind the goal.

Yeovil huffed and puffed without worrying the City
rearguard, City coming closest to a goal when Mccammon drove just wide in the final minute.

Overall, City deserved their win which, more or less, guarantees them first division survival. Yeovil’s plight was obviously not helped by this result but ,if they continue to show the spirit demonstrated in this match, I am sure they will survive the drop to, hopefully, continue the friendly rivalry between the clubs next term.