The Hatters suffered a first-ever loss at Huish Park, and a first double-defeat of the campaign, as they went down by the odd goal in three against the ‘Glovers’ of Yeovil.
After dominating the game’s early stages, County fell behind shortly before half-time and were two-down before the hour. And although substitute Myles Hippolyte pulled a goal back, it proved a mere consolation – with the Hatters having almost immediately afterwards been reduced in their number, as Will Collar received his side’s second straight red card in as many away matches.
As the sun began to break through on a cloudy afternoon, the Hatters took to the field for what would be their final regular Saturday 3pm kick-off of the campaign, and showing an unchanged line-up from that which had started five days previously against Solihull at Edgeley Park. Two former Glovers – namely, Paddy Madden and Hippolyte – featured in the County squad, but current Hatter Ben Barclay, on loan to the Somerset hosts, was not permitted under the terms of the spell to feature in defence against his parent club.
County created the game’s first chance of note after half a dozen minutes – when Ryan Johnson’s cross from the left found Sam Minihan, whose shot cleared the crossbar. And, with 10 gone, a close-range Madden header was parried by home goalkeeper Grant Smith beyond the left post, before the Hatters’ leading scorer hooked over a further effort, on the half-volley, around the quarter-hour mark.
Yeovil, who, by virtue of a three-goal triumph at Edgeley Park over seven months earlier, had inflicted upon the Hatters their heaviest home defeat of the campaign, took more than half an hour to fashion an attempt on the County goal – and when it did arrive, the free-kick from home captain Luke Wilkinson was comfortably caught by Ben Hinchliffe.
Andy Cannon stung Smith’s hands with a shot from 12 yards out, and the hosts’ ‘keeper also did well to tip over Ryan Rydel’s free-kick – with his saves coming either side of an inaugural Yeovil attack that saw Josh Neufville square from the right to Reuben Reid, who was dispossessed in front of goal by Ryan Croasdale.
But the Glovers’ next break on the right flank, six minutes ahead of the interval, was more decisive, as Tom Knowles cut in before firing into the far top corner of the net.
HALF-TIME: Yeovil 1 (Knowles, 39), County 0.
The Hatters introduced Hippolyte and Ollie Crankshaw immediately upon the start of the second half, as they kicked towards the end housing most of the travelling County Faithful.
The hosts, however, unleashed the first attempt after the break – with Ash Palmer being forced to head behind a free-kick by Dale Gorman. And within 10 minutes of the resumption, their advantage was doubled as Neufville was played through on goal from his own half and kept ahead (as well as his head) to slot calmly past Hinchliffe.
County strove initially to reduce the arrears through Madden, whose volley was deflected wide of the right post – and, with just over 20 minutes remaining, succeeded in doing so courtesy of the two Yeovil old boys, with Hippolyte latching on to Madden’s cut-back from the left to rifle home.
But two minutes later, any hopes on the Hatters’ part suffered a further blow when Collar was dismissed for his high challenge on Gorman. And try as the 10 men might – with the benefit of seven minutes’ added time, during which a Madden tap-in was disallowed for offside – they were unable both to restore parity on the day and extend their seven-point lead at the top of the table.
FULL-TIME: Yeovil 2 (Knowles, 39; Neufville, 55), County 1 (Hippolyte, 69).
Team (3-4-1-2): Hinchliffe; Hogan (Capt.) (Hippolyte, 46), Palmer, Johnson; Minihan, Collar, Croasdale, Rydel; Cannon (Crankshaw, 46); Quigley (Jennings, 58), Madden.
Unused Subs: Ashby-Hammond, Francis-Angol.
Booked: Hogan, Rydel.
Sent Off: Collar.
Attendance: 2,783 (779 away).
Reporter: Gareth Evans.
Photographer: Mike Pitch.
