Hartlepool v Yeovil ; why it’s good to be a Glover!

Posted on December 6, 2025 by henry tapper

This blog is for the fans who went to Hartlepool from Somerset on a wet early December Saturday

For a club that was heading towards relegation with a manager that didn’t do the job well , we have had a couple of good weeks. A new manager (Billy Rowley), our fourth this season and two wins , Yeovil is looking up not down.

Congratulations to the fans who made it to Hartlepool in bad December weather from Somerset.

London has its premier teams but there is an entitlement to football success that you don’t see at Yeovil. Today Yeovil a beat it drew 0-0 with on the opening day of the season at the Huish. We were outplayed that day and I am so pleased for our players and our fans that we had the day we obviously did.

This blog isn’t used to inflicting Yeovil pain on its readers – that’s not the deal we have.

But occasionally this blog reminds itself that Yeovil Town is just like Arsenal or Tottenham being a team that puts 11 players out to win a set of games!

Here’s the match report

Yeovil Town scored in both halves to wrap up a hard-fought victory at Hartlepool United.

The Glovers took the lead after just 14 minutes when a burst down the left from Luke McCormick picked out Aaron Jarvis in the middle to sweep home the opener.

They had to withstand intense pressure for much of the game, but sealed three points in style when the persistence of McCormick to attack down the left and curled a sumptuous strike in to the net.

There were chaotic scenes at the final whistle with an enormous melee in front of the dug out leading to both Glovers’ defender Morgan Williams and Pools’ substitute Jermaine Francis being sent off after the final whistle.

First half

After an even opening ten minutes, the first meaningful opportunity of the game fell to the home side on 12 minutes as Adam Campbell laid ball off to Matt Daly whose low shot was turned aside by Jed Ward.

But three minutes later, Yeovil took the lead. When we Luke McCormick burst away down left side and squared the ball to Aaron JARVIS who stroked the Glovers in front with 14 minutes. You can’t help but think that a few weeks ago McCormick might have checked back and played a pass back to his defence.

Three minutes later Jarvis, who had been making a nuisance of himself from himself the start, was brought down on the edge of the box by Maxim Kougoun who earned himself the first booking of the game.

From the resulting free-kick, Brett McGavin curled on just wide of the post.

The play which created the goal almost repeated itself on 28 minutes as McCormick got away down the left again and this time forced a good stop out of Hartlepool keeper George Evans.

At the other end a nice move involving Campbell and Daly found Alex Reid inside the six yard but he put his chance wide of the post with the offside flag up anyway. A minute later, McCormick came even closer to doubling the advantage as he beat Evans but not the post.

Hartlepool were starting to see more of the ball as the half wore on and with ten minutes remaining of the first half, Jay Benn was found in space on the right of the box and his driven ball was palmed away from danger by Ward. Daly flashed a good opportunity past the post on 37 minutes and moments later another driven ball from Benn was cut out by Michee Efete.

We are definitely standing firm, but the Hartlepool are turning the screw and there are undoubtedly times when we appear to be inviting pressure on.

The half-time whistle was met by a roar from the away supporters who had been non-stop in their support from the opening whistle. Amazing what attacking football and backs to the wall defending can do for a fanbase!

Half time: Hartlepool United 0 Yeovil Town 1

Second half

The second half started with the home side on top again. First Ward had to be alert to keep out Daly’s chance before a towering header Tom Parkes whistled just past the post.

The pressure was all Hartlepool’s in the opening 15 minutes of the second half, but the next chance fell to Yeovil. On 63 minutes, it was another attack down the left led by James Daly who forced a stop out of Evans.

On 65 minutes, Billy Rowley made his first substitution with Tahvon Campbell replacing Aaron Jarvis with Alex Whittle coming on for Harvey Greenslade after 73 minutes.

Hartlepool, who were unbeaten in the previous seven matches going in to the game, enjoyed much of the play but Yeovil’s hard work held them at bay. Whilst the possession stats for the second half will be heavily weighted to the home side, they showed much to seriously trouble Jed Ward.

It was left to Luke McCORMICK to seal the win. He showed amazing persistence to not give up on a ball in the fourth minute of injury time before curling a shot around the keeper and in to the bottom corner to send the away end in to delirium.

As the final whistle sounded, a huge melee involving what seemed like every player and member of staff from both sides exploded in front of the dug outs. From the distance of the away end it was difficult to tell exactly what happened, but the result was sending’s off for both Yeovil’s Morgan Williams and Hartlepool’s Jermaine Francis.

There were reports of a Hartlepool fan getting on to the pitch and swinging a punch at Yeovil’s Finn Cousin-Dawson which, if even vaguely true, requires serious answers from Hartlepool,

Full time: Hartlepool United 0 Yeovil Town 2

Match Details

Venue: Victoria Park
Date: Saturday 6th December, 3pm kick-off

Competition: National League Premier Division

Scorers: Aaron Jarvis 14 (1-0), Luke McCormick 90+4 (2-0)

Pitch: Didn’t look too bad

Conditions: Cold, wet. It’s December in Hartlepool.

Attendance: 3,014 (98 away supporters)

Bookings:

Yeovil Town: Aaron Jarvis 37, Jake Wannell 58, Kyle Ferguson 66, Luke McCormick 86.

Hartlepool United: Maxim Kougoun 17

Sendings off

Hartlepool United: Jermaine Francis 90+8

Yeovil Town: Morgan Williams 90+8

Referee: Dean Watson

About henry tapper

Founder of the Pension PlayPen,, partner of Stella, father of Olly . I am the Pension Plowman
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