Yeovil end Halifax Town's National League promotion hopes

Yeovil Town all but ended Halifax's promotion hopes with a 0-0 draw at Huish Park on Saturday (April 11).

Both teams struggled to create chances throughout the game, with a last-minute Ryan Jones chance the best for the Glovers.

The result didn't have a huge impact on the home side. Despite the Glovers losing 2-1 to Eastleigh on Easter Monday, results elsewhere confirmed Yeovil’s National League status for next season before a ball had been kicked.

Yeovil originally made four changes from the trip to Eastleigh. Troy Perrett and Harvey Greenslade dropped to the bench, while Matthews-Lewis and Alex Whittle didn’t make the squad.

They were replaced by Finn Cousin-Dawson, Joy Mukena, James Daly and Terrell Works.

However, Kyle Ferguson was injured during the warm-up and was replaced by Greenslade.

The visitors made one change from their 2-2 draw with Tamworth. Will Hugill replaced Kieron Morris, who was on the bench.

Both teams failed to create any meaningful chances in the opening stages.

The first shot of the game came after 15 minutes when Halifax's Jay Turner-Cooke received the ball 30 yards from goal and hit an ambitious effort, but the ball travelled well over the bar.

After 24 minutes, Yeovil had their first chance as a ball from Delano McCoy-Splatt found Greenslade, and he squared the ball to Will Merry, who forced a good save from Sam Johnson.

After the attack, Greenslade was flagged offside.

Yeovil's best chance of the first half came in the 35th minute, a defensive error from the away side saw the ball fall to Terrell Works inside the penalty area, but his shot crept wide of the post.

A minute later, the visitors broke forward, with Josh Hmami forcing a save from Jed Ward.

From the resulting corner, Turner-Cooke curled the ball towards the far corner from the edge of the area, but Ward produced another good save.

Turner-Cooke received the first yellow card of the game in the 53rd minute, after a cynical foul on Will Merry.

Brett McGavin came close to giving Yeovil the lead four minutes later. His free-kick from 30 yards out was a great effort, it beat the outstretched Sam Johnson but was inches wide of the post.

A ball over the top found substitute Billy Waters on the left of the penalty area. He went for the half-volley, which sailed over the crossbar.

The glovers had a great chance with 13 minutes to go. McGavin played a through ball to Tahvon Campbell. Just before he was about to get a shot away, a last-ditch challenge allowed the away side to clear the danger.

With three minutes to go, a spectacular effort from Turner-Cooke nearly won it for Halifax as he looked to lob Ward from the halfway line, with his shot clipping the crossbar.

Ryan Jones had the chance to win it for Yeovil in the dying moments as he burst down the right-hand side. He cut back inside the box, but his shot was just wide of the far post.

The result leaves Yeovil 16th with two games to go, with their next game away to top-of-the-league York City.

For the visitors, their promotion hopes are all-but over as they sit five points outside of the playoffs with two games to go. Next up for Halifax is a massive game against Southend.