Yeovil relegated after throwing away two-goal lead

Posted Sunday, April 28, 2019 by PA

Yeovil’s 16-year stay in the English Football League was ended when they surrendered a 2-0 lead lead in drawing 2-2 with Northampton on Saturday.

Tristan Abrahams and Jake Gray had the Glovers in control at the break but Northampton fought back in the second half and, with Macclesfield and Notts County both winning elsewhere, Yeovil’s relegation to the National League was confirmed at full-time.

The visitors made a fast start at Sixfields and were ahead after 18 minutes when Joe Powell was deemed to have hauled down Omar Sowunmi in the penalty box, leaving Abrahams to coolly tuck home the resulting spot-kick.

The Glovers were in dreamland six minutes later as another long throw caused problems for Northampton and Courtney Duffus slipped in Gray, who dinked over the onrushing David Cornell.

But Northampton were handed a lifeline in comical fashion just four minutes into the second half when Sowunmi, under no pressure, inexplicably headed Andy Williams’ harmless cross into his own net.

And the home side levelled things just shy of the hour mark through Daniel Powell as he collected Joe Powell’s pass and slipped a shot past Nathan Baxter.

With news of Macclesfield taking the lead elsewhere, Yeovil sent more and more men forward in a frantic finish to the game, but Alex Fisher missed from close range and Yoann Arquin’s volley was tipped wide by Cornell before the full-time whistle confirmed their fate.