Saturday 17 th October 2026
FA Cup, Fourth Qualifying Round – Yeovil Town (H) 3-3
Yawn, another uneventful Saturday afternoon in KT22…
I was invited on to a Yeovil fan podcast during the week. While I was talking up the Tanners’
own goal threat, the Gloverscast host Ben gleefully reminded me that his side had racked up
twelve without reply in their last two matches. I’d also seen some of their online supporters
musing whether they might reach double figures in this one, and openly scoffing when our
stadium announcer reminded the sell-out crowd of two thousand that our midweek game
against Welling would be postponed if the game went to a replay. Football is, as Jimmy
Greaves’ (look him up, kids) catchphrase went, “a funny old game” …
For the first time in what has felt like weeks, Tanners were able to field a full-strength side.
That’s all well and good, but fifty-five league places separated the two clubs at kick off.
Niran had already had to make one important intervention before Yeovil had their first
attempt on eight minutes. Archie Davies’ cross found Slavi Spasov in the middle, but his
header was off target. It fell to James Daly, who could only lash it into the side netting, but it
was a sign that the visitors had arrived in business mode.
Tanners had their first shot on target after twenty minutes. Running at the defence, Anas
was unceremoniously fouled just outside the D, presenting the much-missed Dicko with a
goalscoring opportunity from the resulting free kick. His shot made it through the wall, but
not past Jos Barker, who gathered it comfortably. Ony a minute later, the ball was back at
the other end, and a combination of Sonny and Niran just about snuffed out Johl Powell’s
effort after he’d cleverly turned Cam six yards out.
The half continued in much the same vein – Yeovil constantly probing and Tanners needing
to concentrate at all times on keeping them at bay. Connoisseurs of the defensive arts will
have enjoyed, amongst other moments, a soaring Cam clearance and an exceptionally well-
timed tackle by Charlie. With around ten minutes to go until the break, Tanners were briefly
able to abandon the defending, pouring forward as Harry pounced on a stray pass to feed
Tom. For the first time in the game, there were signs that Yeovil could be got at, and they
looked less than comfortable as they just about managed to clear Kofi’s shot, the ball having
reached him after it had squirmed under Harry’s boot from Tom’s pass.
Halftime – Tanners 0, Yeovil Town 0.
All the good defensive work of the first forty-five minutes was undone seconds after the
restart, when Davies beat Sonny at his near post from an acute angle. Four minutes later, it
looked to be game over as Daly made the very most of Louie’s contact in the box, ‘winning’
his side a penalty. With The Grove collectively sending ‘think Ramsgate’ mind waves in
Sonny’s direction, Brett McGavin smacked the kick against the underside of the bar. The
relief was short-lived though…
Yeovil fashioned further chances, one from McGavin hitting the post – boy, does that guy
like the woodwork! He eventually made one count in the fifty-eighth minute though.
Working it patiently up the right, Ryan Jones played the ball to the number fourteen just
outside the box, and he scooped it beyond Sonny’s reach into the bottom right corner for
two-nil.
Five minutes earlier, Harry had made way for Marcel. Just past the hour, Tom was then
replaced by Matty, Yeovil taking the same opportunity to swap out three of their players.
Amongst them were Jones and Daly. In hindsight, these switches signalled the point at
which the game changed, eventually setting up what I believe true pundits would term ‘a
grandstand finish’. Deondre entered the fray on sixty-five minutes with Anas going off, while
Nathan and Connor (making his first appearance in seven weeks) came on for Kofi and Dicko
after seventy-two minutes. With some of Yeovil’s most influential players now benched, and
fresh attacking legs on for the Tanners, they simply decided to go for it – it so nearly paid
off…
Deondre was fouled just outside the box with seventy-seven minutes played. Matty swung
the resulting free kick to the back post. With Barker coming for it but failing pretty
spectacularly, Niran nodded it back across goal for Louie to steer it into the unguarded net.
Once I’d calmed down, I managed to gasp into my Dictaphone, “I just wonder…?” Four
minutes later, the wondering was over – we were back on terms.
Cam’s close-range shot was deflected out for a corner. The big number six roared at us
behind the ball to increase the noise levels (way ahead of you Cam) as Matty went to take
the kick. In it came – a Yeovil defender got to it first, but he only managed to nod it against
the back of a teammate’s head, and the ball looped into the net for the leveller.
All of a sudden, the Tanners were looking the more likely winners. A long Marcel throw
caused havoc in the box, the ball eventually bouncing to Mark whose shot was on target,
but saved well by the keeper, his outstretched glove doing enough to push it past the post.
Matty’s resulting corner was cleared, and the chance looked to have gone. Marcel clipped it
back into the left channel for Mark though, and one turn and shot later, with a deflection en
route, the ball was in the back of the net. ‘Scenes’ does not do the reaction justice – as one,
the Tanners bench was up and on its feet, hurtling across the pitch to join in the bundle in
the far corner. Five minutes to go, comeback complete – COYT! Except…
Yeovil equalised with two to go. Hayden Muller tried his luck from distance, and Sonny could
only parry it out to Johl Powell. Cam’s attempt to block the shot only took the ball away
from Sonny and into the back of the net. With seven additional minutes then signalled, both
sides had chances to win it, but three-all is how it stayed, and down to Somerset we all go
on Tuesday…
Fulltime – Tanners 3, Yeovil Town 3.
To be in the first-round draw seemed an unlikely prospect even before kick-off, and
certainly after an hour of the game. Yet, with five minutes to go, we were nearly in it
without the ‘or Yeovil Town’ part being necessary. Either way, what a game that was! Can
we repeat the heroics and go one better on Tuesday? The hotel is booked, and I’m very
much looking forward to finding out – COYT!
