Huish Park was the scene of a tense National League match as Yeovil Town narrowly defeated Brackley Town 2-1 in a game defined by late drama. The Glovers, eager to build momentum after a mixed start to the season, ultimately secured a valuable three points against a Brackley side with ambitions of their own.
The first half was characterised by a cautious approach from both teams, with clear-cut chances few and far between. The deadlock was broken in the 36th minute when Josh Sims, assisted by Tahvon Campbell, found the net, much to the delight of the home supporters. The goal injected life into the match, with Yeovil taking a narrow lead into the interval.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with neither side able to truly dominate. Yeovil manager Mark Cooper sought to inject fresh energy into his team, introducing Aaron Jarvis in the 61st minute and Ben Wodskou in the 68th minute. The substitutions proved effective as, in the 85th minute, Wodskou, assisted by Jarvis, extended Yeovil’s lead to 2-0.
Just as Yeovil appeared to be heading for a comfortable victory, Brackley Town mounted a late comeback. In the 92nd minute, substitute Tyler Lyttle scored, ensuring a nervy finish. However, Yeovil managed to hold on, securing a 2-1 victory.
Referee Aji Ajibola had a busy evening, issuing six yellow cards. Alex Whittle, Harvey Greenslade, and Charlie Cooper were cautioned for Yeovil, while Kyle Morrison and Morgan Roberts were booked for Brackley. Byron Pendleton received a late yellow card for Yeovil in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
Brackley manager Gavin Cowan attempted to change the course of the match with a series of substitutions. Lyttle replaced Michael Nottingham in the 34th minute, followed by Bailey Hobson and Scott Pollock replacing Zak Brown and Connor Hall respectively in the 64th minute. Matt Lowe and Ryan Haynes were later replaced by Riccardo Calder and Danny Waldron in the 76th minute. In response to Brackley’s changes, Yeovil brought on Finn Cousin-Dawson for Harvey Greenslade in the 79th minute.
The win lifts Yeovil Town to 10th in the National League table with 4 points from 3 games, a welcome improvement after sitting 19th with only one point prior to the match. Brackley Town, who came into the match in 10th position, now sit in 14th position with 3 points from 2 games, after starting the season with a win.