On Wednesday 25 January Team BTC Men’s Elite football team entertained Yeovil College. Team BTC struggled on a tight and narrow pitch in the first game of the season away at Yeovil, eventually losing 4 – 3.

The team also struggled against Yeovil in the South West Regionals that took place at Plymouth Marjon’s almost two months ago, losing to them in the semi finals. However Team BTC made sure they overcame these disappointing results and beat Yeovil 4 – 1.

The game started very brightly for the home side who were unlucky not to be 1 – 0 up in the first 4 minutes. Oli Hucker headed terrifically at goal but the Yeovil no.1 made a fantastic save to keep the game 0 – 0. The pressure continued on the away side. Charlie White, making his first appearance for more than 8 weeks since being injured, played a direct ball over the top to Josh Evans who rolled his opposite man, squared the ball for Ryan Brereton but again the Yeovil no.1 made another great save to deny the home side. Minutes later, Jordan Lovibond found himself one-on-one with the keeper but took a few too many touches which seemed to deny the home side a certain lead.

Yeovil were seemingly riding their luck in the opening stages, potentially making the home side nervous of squandering such good chances. Despite the pressure fading away, Harry Hamblin stepped up in the 16th minute to open Team BTC’s account. Josh Evans pressurising from the front, stole possession from the Yeovil centre halve, crossing the ball for Brereton who layed it back to Captain Harry Hamblin who rifled the ball across the keeper to make it 1 – 0.

Almost straight from the restart, Yeovil attacked with pace, playing the ball into the path of their powerful centre forward who danced past both the home sides centre halves before shooting at goal. The shot took a deflection off Cattle and beat Kingston at the near post, levelling the score 1 – 1.

With 23 minutes gone Josh Evans took a shot at goal on the half volley which the Yeovil keeper only just got finger tips on to put it out for a corner. Evans made no mistake minutes later when a Lovibond flick on sent Evans through on goal to slot past the visiting keeper for a 2 – 1 lead. Following the goal, remaining first half fizzled out with the home side failing to create any more clear cut chances.

With 47 minutes gone Charlie White failed to convert a corner, despite having a free header at the back post. Similarly, 10 minutes later Brereton crossed an in swinging ball to Kole Hall at the far post who brilliantly guided his header across goal but there was no one there to meet it.

On the hour mark Team BTC successfully defended a corner, won back possession and countered efficiently. Harry Hamblin, played the ball forward to Evans who held it well, driving at the Yeovil defence before playing Carr in who hit the ball into the back of the net on the half volley!

The game was effectively over 2 minutes later when Charlie White sent the ball over the Yeovil defence, sending Josh Evans through on goal to calmly lob the visiting keeper, 4 – 1.

Despite 30 minutes on the clock remaining with the score at 4 – 1, Team BTC struggled to get on the score sheet again following some clear cut chances.

Dan Wright, Assistant Manager said,

“It was terrific to beat Yeovil today. We had a tough start at their place on a difficult pitch at the start of the season. The squad has changed an awful lot since then and developed really well.

“We are aiming to go unbeaten for the rest of the season now. We made a good start to this target today and comfortably beat our opponents. We lost our concentration for 1 or 2 minutes today, after we went 1 – 0 up.

“I was particularly pleased for Charlie White to come back into the team and get 90 minutes under his belt following a long layoff with injury. He has been in fine form all season for both the College and Bridgwater Town Reserves. So to see him back playing is brilliant. Josh Evans was a threat all day. No defence wants to play against him when he is playing. He is a constant nuisance and has a great chances to goals ratio.”

Man of The Match: Josh Evans