Match Report: Brighton & Hove Albion v. Yeovil Town

final day of the season
By Alex O'Loughlin
May 9 2010

After securing League One status for another season last week, Terry Skiverton had the luxury of fielding several fringe players in a winner takes nothing encounter.

All in all Skiverton made four changes, with Steven Caulker, Gavin Tomlin, Jean-Paul Kalala and Gavin Wiliams all dropping out of the side, allowing Stefan Stam to return to centre back, Luke Ayling to play the holding role in midfield, Aidan Downes took up a wide position, and Scott Murray played in the hole in a changed 4-5-1 formation. 

The game matched its nothing to pay for build up, with neither side performing to their best. Yeovil's first chance came on the half hour mark when Dean Bowditch was charged down by 'keeper Mitchell Walker.

Keiran Murtagh saw his long range effort saved well before Alex McCarthy pulled of a brilliant save to deny Alan Navarro.

Just as it looked as though it was going to be 0-0 at half time, Elliott Bennett smashed in a superb shot from 25 yards, riffling past McCarthy and into the top corner. 1-0.

The second half followed the trend of the first half, with neither side producing much in the way of quality football.

Gavin Williams was introduced on the hour mark replacing Aidan Downes with the formation reverting to the more familiar 4-4-1-1 with Scott Murray pushing out on too the right wing.

Moments later the ex-Bristol City man Murray nearly grabbed an equaliser when his rasping effort went just over the bar.

The game then fizzled out with the typical end of season energy from both sides, with little in the way of chances.

The Glovers finally finished a respectable 15th place, but even so, they only hovered above the drop zone by a margin of 3 points, highlighting the competitiveness of the league.  

With only 5 players contracted on to next season, it will prove to be a busy summer at Huish Park, ahead of the next season in Coca Cola Football League One.