Match Report: Halifax Town v Yeovil Town

Yeovil Town claimed their 17th draw of the season yesterday afternoon as Malachi Linton's late goal earned Yeovil a 1-1 draw with Halifax Town at The Shay. Yeovil fell behind on the hour mark as a fine finish from former player Matt Warburton gave the home side the lead but Malachi Linton bundled the ball in on 88 minutes to earn Yeovil a draw.

Mark Cooper made four changes to the side that was beaten by Barnet in mid-week. Chiori Johnson, Jamie Reckord and Malachi Linton were all relegated to the bench while Jordan Stevens was dropped from the side. Alex Fisher, Charlie Cooper, Andrew Oluwabori and Edwin Agbaje all regained their starting XI places.

Yeovil opted for a 4-3-3 formation with Ryan Law, Owen Bevan, Josh Staunton and Edwin Abgaje in front of Grant Smith. Matt Worthington, Charlie Cooper and Lawson D'Ath made up the middle while Alex Fisher and Andrew Oluwabori lead the attack with Jordan Maguire-Drew sat just behind them.

On the bench was Will Buse, Jamie Reckord, Malachi Linton and Chiori Johnson. Another game where we have only been able to name four subs.

Halifax kicked off towards the home end.

The home side almost took the lead inside the first five minutes when Grant Smith unintentionally gave the ball away and Matt Warburton was able to get a shot in but it was wide.

Neither side were playing very well and it was a fairly scrappy game.

Yeovil had to make their first substitution on 25 minutes when Lawson D'Ath went off with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Malachi Linton.

The half continued with neither side creating much. Yeovil kept attempting to play the ball out from the back but it often backfired and ended up putting themselves under pressure.

On 40 minutes a half-hearted penalty appeal was waved away when Malachi Linton went down in the box but it wasn't a foul.

Half Time: Halifax Town 0-0 Yeovil Town

The second half started off very quietly but on 60 minutes the home side took the lead. A nice bit of build up play from the home side saw the ball fed into Matt Warburton who fired a neat shot past Grant Smith.

With Yeovil chasing the game and not creating anything up front it was looking like a defeat was the most likely outcome.

On 73 minutes Yeovil's afternoon got a bit worse when Edwin Agbaje had to be stretchered off the pitch and replaced by Chiori Johnson. Another injury to the already paper-thin squad which is the last thing we needed.

To make matters just that little bit worse, Matt Worthington picked up a yellow card for a needless foul on 85 minutes. The problem with this is that now means he is suspended which adds an even bigger headache for next weeks match at home to Bromley.

As time ticked away it was looking like Yeovil were beaten. However, on 88 minutes a goal from absolutely nowhere from Malachi Linton put Yeovil level. A hopeful shot from Oluwabori was turned in at the back post. Initially it looked like it was going to be disallowed as the linesman raised his flag but he soon lowered it and the goal stood.

Six minutes of time was added on and after Yeovil replaced Alex Fisher with Jamie Reckord the match ended in a draw.

Full Time: Halifax Town 1-1 Yeovil Town

It was a poor performance from both sides but Yeovil now have a big problem on their hands for the upcoming home fixtures. With up to 3 players out and rumors that Reo Griffiths has returned to Doncaster Rovers the squad is paper thin at a crucial time of the season. Matt Uggla's tweet after the game suggested that new players will be arriving during the course of next week. We will have to wait and see if this becomes true.

Man of the match voting for this draw is now open. You can cast your vote here.

Match Attendance: 1,623 (103 from Yeovil Town)

Halifax Town

1 - Sam Johnson, 2 - Tyler Golden, 3 - Jack Senior, 5 - Jesse Debrah, 27 - Adam Senior, 6 - Jamie Stott (replaced by 18 - Angelo Cappello on 61 minutes), 14 - Jack Hunter, 20 - Harvey Gilmour, 21 - Milli Alli, 10 - Matt Warburton (replaced by 19 - Jamie Cooke on 67 minutes), 9 - Mani Dieseruvwe (replaced by 17 - Rob Harker on 79 minutes)

Substitutes

4 - Luke Summerfield, 17 - Rob Harker, 18 - Angelo Cappello, 19 - Jamie Cooke, 22 - Festus Arthur

Kit

All Blue
Goalkeeper: Fluorescent Yellow

Yeovil Town

1 - Grant Smith, 7 - Matt Worthington, 8 - Lawson D'Ath (replaced by 14 - Malachi Linton on 25 minutes), 9 - Alex Fisher (replaced by 3 - Jamie Reckord on 95 minutes), 10 - Jordan Maguire-Drew, 16 - Ryan Law, 24 - Charlie Cooper, 27 - Andrew Oluwabori, 32 - Josh Staunton, 39 - Edwin Agbaje (replaced by 17 - Chiori Johnson on 73 minutes), 26 - Owen Bevan

Substitutes

20 - Will Buse, 3 - Jamie Reckord, 14 - Malachi Linton, 17 - Chiori Johnson

Kit

Green and White Striped Shirts, Green Shorts, Green Socks
Goalkeeper: Orange

Referee: Jamie O'Connor
Assistant: Daniel Robinson
Assistant: Stuart Richardson
Fourth Official: Samuel Clayton