Of course in a cup match, the result is more important than the perfomance. So we can celebrate Yeovil's record 47th appearance in the 1st round of the FA Cup. Though we'd have to admit that luck helped the side turn a mostly-average performance into victory.
Yeovil never really took control during the first half, though if Warren Patmore's 18th minute header had gone in instead of glancing just wide, it may have been more comfortable. There had already been a let-off at the other end; in attempting to keep a Matt Stowell header from going out for a corner, Tony Pennock palmed the ball into the path of a Witney attacker, but before he could put the ball into the empty net, the lineswoman signalled that the ball had gone out of play. Pennock was called into action again before the half-hour mark, saving from Carl Henry who got into a good position after a near-post flick-on.
Ben Smith had a good shot blocked, and from the rebound Witney went on the attack, Carl Henry trying to chip Pennock from long-range, but putting the shot just over.
Yeovil's best first-half move came moments before the break: Ben Smith's ball split the defence to put David Piper away down the right channel. His cross to the far post only just evaded the advancing Warren Patmore.
The half-time 0-0 score was probably about right. It was after the hour mark that the game livened up; first a pair of substitutions brought Rob Cousins and Matt Hayfield into the midfield, then Witney's Justin Miller was mysteriously flattened. His team-mates pointed the finger at Chris Sparks, but after consultation it was clear that the officials hadn't seen any infringement. And two minutes later, Yeovil were in the lead.
The goal that broke the deadlock required more than a little luck. Jamie Pitman's throw into the area evaded Warren Patmore at the near post, and bounced up into the body of the unsighted keeper Kevin Alder; as he put his hands out he knocked the ball into his own net.
The second goal had an element of luck too, as a slightly-offside Adrian Foster picked up the ball on the right, ran goalwards, and beat Alder at his far post.
We should give credit to Witney for getting on with the game, and still producing a decent effort or two on goal. Jason Caffel's long range shot was tipped over by Tony Pennock.
Right at the end, Witney's Gary Murphy pulled one back to produce a scoreline fairer to the visitors, as a corner wasn't cleared and he blasted in from six yards.
For the ytfc.com editor, a Yeovil fan living in Reading, the highlight came just after 5:30, when the draw was made. Yeovil's first round opponents will be 2nd division strugglers Reading, at the Madejski Stadium. Woo hoo!
The crowd in the box await Jamie Pitman's first half free-kick. Warren Patmore got his head to the ball, but glanced it narrowly wide.
