Ten-man Yeovil Town fell to a defeat in Hampshire against Aldershot Town.
Chike Kandi’s second-half goal opened the scoring for the hosts, before Alex Bradley’s red card made Yeovil’s evening increasingly difficult.
With less than ten minutes to go, Aldershot doubled their advantage through Harry Panayiotou securing a victory for Danny Searle’s side.
As injuries ravaged his squad, Darren Sarll’s side had a rather makeshift look to it. Whilst Adam Smith kept his record of starting every game this season, the defence saw Josh Neufville in an unfamiliar right-back role alongside Billy Sass-Davies, Michael Kelly and Charlie Lee, who filled in at the middle of the defence.
The midfield saw returns for Emmanuel Sonupe and Alex Bradley, alongside Chris Dagnall and Tom Knowles. Joe Quigley and Reuben Reid combined up top.
It was an electric start in Hampshire with chances falling to both sides in quick succession.
The first for Town came Sonupe’s way in the sixth minute after Knowles' long-throw was marshalled well, Yeovil recycled possession finding Sonupe in shooting range, but his effort was blocked.
Just one minute later, the Glovers found shooting room once again. Following some excellent combination between Knowles and Reid, the Glovers wide man burst through but had his effort heroically cleared by the hosts' defence.
At the other end, it was almost a worldie for a host to open the scoring as Panayiotou fired wide of the mark on the volley.
Reid’s combination with those around him proved effective in the opening stages, holding the ball up to workspace for Dagnall to burst through, but the 35-year-old had his effort saved by Mitch Walker’s legs.
As the half grew on, Aldershot enjoyed more of the ball in Town’s half but offered very little in terms of goalmouth action.
At the break, despite Yeovil enjoying the better chances, neither team had done enough to claim the advantage.
In the opening stages of the second half, that opening goal came on 51 minutes, but unfortunately for Sarll’s side, it was for Aldershot. A deep cross found Chike Kandi at the back post to bundle the ball past A. Smith.
Just four minutes later, Yeovil’s task became even more difficult as Bradley received his marching orders for a heavy challenge on Panayiotou.
The ten-man of Town did huff and puff but struggled to cope with the energy of Aldershot with the man advantage.
In terms of chances, Yeovil’s best fell to Knowles, who hammered an effort from the edge of the box over during the Glovers best spell of possession.
The hosts doubled their advantage with less than ten minutes to go, as Panayiotou made the most of the bodies Yeovil had thrown forward, smashing the ball beyond A.Smith and putting the game to bed.
Next up for Yeovil is a return to Huish Park to face King’s Lynn.
Yeovil Town: A.Smith; Neufville, Sass-Davies, Lee, Kelly; Bradley, Dagnall (Stephens), Knowles, Sonupe (D’Ath); Reid, Quigley.
Bookings: Alex Bradley (RED)
Subs not used: Heaton, Medrano, Evans.
**This report courtesy of YTFC find out more at YTFC.net
