Aldershot Town U18s sunk to a disappointing FA Youth Cup exit at the hands of a professional-looking Yeovil Town U18s at a wet and windy EBB Stadium.
Despite a good start filled with chances for The Shots, Yeovil’s class told as they ran away with the game in a goal-filled second half.
The Shots were denied early on when a beautifly floated cross from George Winser was met at the far post by Danilo Pereira who could only head over the bar from close range.
The early chances continued for Aldershot when right back Abdul Kabia overlapped to deliver a low drilled ball straight across the front of goal but no-one was there to turn it in.
The first goal of the game came against the run of play when the visitors worked their way into the final third. A deflected pass led put box-to-box midfielder Dan Neild through on goal and converted with a delightful chip over the diving keepers body.
Yeovil then doubled their advantage after a penalty was awarding in an tangling of legs between Yeovil striker Devon Arnold and Shots centre half Dan Walster. After winning the penalty Arnold stepped up and smashed it into the top right corner even with goalkeeper Ephraim Lisk diving the right way.
The Shots went into half time down 2-0 despite playing some good football and creating chances.
The second-half was packed with goals and it took just four minutes for Yeovil to make it 3-0 as possession was given away cheaply in the middle of the pitch and Yeovil countered quickly. Arnold pulled the ball back to Neild who clinically converted from just inside the area.
Aldershot managed to pull back hope less than a minute after going 3-0 down as Pereira drove dangerously into the box and then managed to squeeze it back to substitute Woody Angell who rolled it into the back of the net.
Unfortunately the young Shots side failed to manage the game correctly as Yeovil punished some sloppy errors. A free kick was given as the referee judged the ball to hit the hand of Aldershot left back Liam Montague. It was from this that Yeovil full back whipped the ball right across the face of goal and into the side netting denting any hope of a Shots comeback.
On the hour mark and an opportunity came starting with a poor clearance from the Shots keeper, led to Yeovil making it 5-1 as a shot from Arnold rebounded off the woodwork and tucked home by Aldershot captain Harry Taylor.
However the Shots were handed a slight lifeline as the dangerous Danilo Pereira was tripped inside the area resulting in a penalty. Despite this, Taylor couldn’t make the chance count as a fine save from Yeovil keeper Kowalczyk Kacper.
A late goal for either side ended the disappointing night for the in-experienced Shots academy as the ever dangerous Devon Arnold completed his hat-trick for Yeovil.
This was shortly followed up buy a Shots consolation goal from Jaan Stanley turning it into an empty net after a poor goalkeeping error.
Despite an exciting FA Youth Cup encounter, it wasn’t to be for an under-performing Shots side, as they were dumped out by a professional display from the visitors Yeovil, whom we wish the best of luck in the next round.
Aldershot Town: Lisk, Kabia, Montague, Winser (Regragui 45), Taylor, Britton (Stanley 54), Wylie, Pereira, Moreira, Maccari (Angell 45)
Yeovil Town: Kacper, Abbora, Caluerley, Rose, Fleming, Wright (Esdres 90+3), Sturdy (Monk 88), Hughes (Smith 86), Arnold, Neild, Lloyd
