Yeovil Town 3
(Clarke 39′, 62′ Young 58′)
United 0
Yeovil Town came out on top at Huish Park on Good Friday, as they secured a 3-0 victory over The Gulls.
After Jahmari Clarke opened the scoring before the break, Jordan Young doubled that advantage after the restart, before Clarke completed his brace shortly after.
Aaron Downes made two enforced changes to the side that triumphed over Hampton & Richmond at Plainmoor last Saturday, with Ross Marshall and Kevin Dawson replaced by Austen Booth and Ethon Archer in the starting eleven.
A feisty start to proceedings left onlookers in no doubt to both sides’ commitment to the cause, and the game remained closely fought thereafter, although it was the title-chasing Glovers who were enjoying the bulk of the possession.
Neither side were able to create much in the way of clear-cut chances though, with The Gulls’ backline remaining organised and composed in the face of a handful of Town forays into the United box.
Just when Torquay were beginning to create a few openings for themselves, the hosts struck.
With Stobbs being robbed of possession on the halfway line following a dubious-looking challenge, Jordan Stevens strode his way into The Gulls half, and after laying the ball off to Charlie Cooper to his left, the Yeovil man’s curling shot was diverted past Mark Halstead at close-range by Clarke to make it 1-0.
Aaron Downes’ side nearly levelled things up straight away.
Tom Lapslie’s charge in the centre of midfield sparked the home side to retreat, and with Jack Stobbs’ right-wing cross heading back in the direction of Torquay’s No.4, Town goalkeeper Joe Day was forced to tip the ball behind to prevent parity being restored.
A goal behind at the break.
The second period took a little while to get going, although United were giving as good as they were getting during the first ten minutes following the restart.
With the game just two minutes short of the hour mark though, Yeovil extended their lead.
Some good work by former Gull Frank Nouble saw Young presented with space eight yards from goal, and after getting his shot away on the turn, his effort cannoned off the crossbar and into the back of the net to make it 2-0.
Only four minutes later it was three.
Clarke, already boosted by his first goal for The Glovers, showed a turn of pace to give himself a one-on-one opportunity with Halstead, and the striker finished confidently by firing across the United stopper to put the result beyond doubt.
Torquay continued to plug away, but they never really threatened a serious response, as the Somerset side took another step towards their goal of promotion.
For United, other and bigger priorities remain.
Onto Monday.
YEOVIL TOWN: 21. Joe Day, 2. Morgan Williams, 6. Jacob Wannell, 7. Jordan Stevens, 8. Matthew Worthington (c), 11. Jordan Young (2. Dylan Morgan, 80′), 19. Jahmari Clarke (40. Olly Thomas, 65′), 20. Brooklyn Genesini, 24. Charlie Cooper, 30. Frank Nouble, 33. Jay Foulston.
SUBS NOT USED: 16. Sonny Blu-Everton, 27. Sam Pearson, 39. Rhys Murphy.
Yellow Card: Young 2′
UNITED: 1. Mark Halstead, 2. Arkell Jude-Boyd (23. Ollie Tomlinson, 74′), 4. Tom Lapslie (19. Duane Ofori-Acheampong, 63′), 5. Austen Booth, 8. Asa Hall (c), 11. Brad Ash, 14. Brett McGavin, 18. Will Jenkins Davies, 21. Dean Moxey, 27. Jack Stobbs (10. LEwis Collins, 80′), 30. Ethon Archer.
SUBS NOT USED:22. Rhys Lovett.
Yellow Card: Jude-Boyd 4′, Booth 25′, Hall 68′, Jenkins Davies 72′
Attendance: 6,462 (680 away)