United 3
(Wynter 66′, Sparkes 70′, Lewis 86′)
Yeovil Town 0
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United put an end to Yeovil Town’s unbeaten run and extended their own winning sequence by condemning their Westcountry rivals to a 3-0 defeat at Plainmoor on Boxing Day.
After a decidedly nick & tuck first half, the match turned on Sonny Blu Lo-Everton’s straight red card for an off-the-ball incident midway through the second period. Seizing the initiative, two goals in four minutes from Ben Wynter and Jack Sparkes saw the men in black & white stripes take control of proceedings, with Joe Lewis applying further gloss with his side’s third four minutes from time.
Against his former club, the Gaffer made two changes to the side that lost out to Tonbridge last weekend, with Shaun MacDonald and Connor Lemonheigh-Evans replacing Mark Halstead and Sinclair Armstrong in the starting line-up respectively.
The first real chance of the game came in the 7th minute, when a long ball forward by Dan Martin was headed down by Danny Wright for Lemonheigh-Evans, who drove into the box before his shot went into the side-netting.
In the 20th minute, a back-heeled effort by Lemonheigh-Evans found the arms of Grant Smith, before down the other end, MacDonald was forced into action to save a low-driven Yeovil effort.
Two minutes later, a long ball forward was chased by Wright who played the ball back for Klaidi Lolos to square the ball for Tom Lapslie, whose shot was just wide of the right-hand post. Shortly after, Lemonheigh-Evans drove a low effort from the edge of the Yeovil box, forcing Smith down to make the save.
Just short of the half-hour, a long ball forward for Wakefield forced MacDonald off his line to clear, before seconds later, Worthington advanced down the left and crossed the ball to Yussuf to head was just wide.
After Sparkes was brought down just outside the right-hand edge of the Yeovil box, he tried his luck with a free kick, which was struck well, but just over.
United continued to apply the pressure in the following few minutes, and went close again in the 42nd minute, when a corner from Little found Lewis beyond the far post whose headed effort was just wide.
United remained on top for the remainder of the half, but were unable to capitalise, with the game goalless at the the interval.
Yeovil applied the pressure early in the second half, with a 47th minute a free kick from the right eventually finding Wilkinson to header over.
United came close to opening the scoring on 54 minutes, as Lemonheigh-Evans played Lapslie through on goal one-on-one with the keeper, who was forced off his line to deny Lapslie.
Then, in the 64th minute, the visitors were down to ten men. Spotting an off the ball incident that had resulted in Lapslie hitting the turf, the referee consulted with his nearest assistant before Lo-Everton was duly given his marching orders.
United broke the deadlock two minutes later. A back-heel by Wright found Lapslie whose low-driven effort was diverted goalwards by Sparkes before finding its way to Wynter at the far-post who slotted home.
Gary Johnson’s side doubled their advantage in the 70th minute, as Moxey’s long throw provided the voltage for Sparkes to let fly, as his goalbound volley was diverted into the net via a heavy deflection from a Glovers defender.
There was a rare moment of worry at the other end, as a corner resulted in United’s bar being rattled from close range, and after MacDonald’s misplaced clearance fell straight to Matt Worthington just outside the box, it took a superb spreading block from the Torquay ‘keeper to keep his clean sheet intact.
As it was though, United made it 3-0 in the 86th minute. A quick free-kick from Little saw Lemonheigh-Evans drove cut inside from the left, before curling a cross to the penalty spot, where a rising Lewis planted a bullet header beyond Smith and into the net.
Far from soaking up pressure, United spent the remainder of the match hunting a fourth, before the final whistle signalled a superb afternoon for the Yellow Army and their black & white-clad men.
A day of misery for the visitors was compounded after the full-time whistle had gone, as Yeovil goalkeeper Smith was shown a straight red card.
United now have 48 hours to enjoy this, before Johnson’s men head for Hampshire to take on Eastleigh on Tuesday. In this mood though, they will be match for anything this division has to offer.
United: 37. Shaun MacDonald, 2. Ben Wynter, 3. Dan Martin, 4. Tom Lapslie, 7. Connor Lemonheigh-Evans, 9. Danny Wright, 10. Armani Little, 19. Klaidi Lolos (14. Chiori Johnson, 80′), 21. Dean Moxey (5. Ali Omar, 90+1′), 28. Jack Sparkes (16. Keelan O’Connell, 88′), 31. Joe Lewis.
SUBS NOT USED: 8. Asa Hall, 30. Dan Holman.
Yeovil: 1. Grant Smith, 5. Max Hunt, 6. Luke Wilkinson, 7. Matt Worthington, 8. Dale Gorman (3. Jordan Barnett 77′), 13. Morgan Williams (9. Reuben Reid 81′), 15. Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, 19. Charlie Wakefield, 22. Dan Moss, 23. Adi Yussuf (11. Tom Knowles 69′), 32. Josh Staunton.
SUBS NOT USED: 12. Max Evans, 36. Jaheim Headley
Yellow Cards: Yussuf 38′, Worthington 45+1′, Gorman 59′, Moss 75′
Red Cards: Lo-Everton 64′, Smith FT’
Attendance: 3,830 (643 away)