Yeovil Town 0 - 1 Everton

Half-time: 0 - 0

Pre-season 2000 Friendly #7
 7³⁰pm Wednesday 9 August 2000
Huish Park, Yeovil
Att: 4,750

Ref: Rolf Harris

[ 2000-01 Fixtures & Results ]

Everton complete their trio of games in the South West with a trip to non-league Yeovil Town.  With nine goals scored in the previous two outings, many will expect the team to continue the recent goal glut.  Francis Jeffers continues his absence (for personal reasons) while Thomas Gravesen also misses this game and potentially the start to the season with a niggling back injury.

This has forced Walter Smith to wrap his stars in cotton wool and send them home for the Yeovil match.  He has obviously seen enough, and doesn't want any more absentees in advance of the Joe Parkinson testimonial at Goodison this coming Saturday and the tough trip to Elland Road on the opening day of the season.  Archie Knox will be left to field a second-string of mostly the fringe/support players in the main squad – the likes of Michael Ball and Steve Simonsen...

An appearance from Gascoigne could keep the media and local fans happy, if he hasn't already gone home along with the rest of the "senior" players.  A cricket score in waiting or one of those famed Yeovil upsets?  Perhaps neither.

With only Lee Osman (showing some clever touches) and Scott Gemmill (controlling the midfield) it was more like a Sunday morning kick-around bar the physical tackles.

The African trialist Samuel Ipoua had a run out and missed an absolute sitter in the second half before converting in a similar situation.  I just hope Archie Knox reports back to Walter that the trialist stays at just that and any interest is aborted.

Yeovil, although a hard working side, rarely threatened. Although its fair to say we had the majority of play, particularly in the second half, if we do have to rely on certain players out there tonight – Degn, for example – then we are in for a hard season.

Jevons is no more looking a contender for a first-team place than when he first entered the arena against Oxford United in the League Cup last season.  Simonsen once again has not done himself any favours this pre-season and Michael Ball remains in the shadows at Goodison.

Finally, thanks to Yeovil Town for some great hospitality.  I only wish we could have shown them the respect they deserved.

In the first 45 mins, Everton were restricted to one clear chance at goal.  This came in the 22nd min, Jevons having been put through by Milligan with just the keeper to beat.  He normally would have scored, but today was not the case – well off target.

The only other half chance fell to Degn in the 42nd min, who had a shot blocked from inside the box.

The first 45 mins had to go to Yeovil, who had most of the possession.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 - Everton 0

Everton trialist Samuel Ipoua, who was out to try and impress the watching Archie Knox, found himself on 63 mins, with the ball at his feet from a Milligan cross.  He had a virtual open goal but somehow blasted wide of the post.  However, on 75 mins, Ipoua did get his name on the scoresheet.  McLeod on the left wing, hit a good 50-yd pass to Milligan on the right wing who, fired in a cross low and hard. Ipoua calmly side-footed the ball into the net for Everton's only goal of the evening.

Jevons did have the ball in the back of the net in the 51 min, only for it to be ruled offside.

The Blues, with virtually a reserve-strength side, did nothing much to impress at the end of what had been a successful West Country tour.