November 2021

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Yeovil Town have been handed a home draw against Woking in the Third Round of the FA Trophy.

The draw was made at 1pm on Monday and all ties will be played the weekend of the 18th of December.

The two sides met earlier this season at Huish Park, the Glovers winning 2-0 thanks to goals from Tom Knowles and Charlie Wakefield.

Last season Yeovil forfeited their FA Trophy tie against Boreham Wood after a COVID break meant the game couldn’t be rescheduled within the appropriate time frame.

Should the Glovers be successful in this third round tie they will receive £4500 in prize money, whilst teams exiting the competition at this stage will take home just £1250.

A reminder that no ties in this season’s competitions will be subject to a replay if ending in a draw and as such the game will be decided on the day.

Ticket [and if applicable travel] details will be announced in due course.

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

In the last six games there is no side in better form in the National League.

The Dragons from the Hollywood hills of…err…North Wales have won four and drawn two of their league encounters and you have to go back to the end of October to find their last defeat.

But, looking on the positive side, Yeovil Town have the same record in their past six matches surpassed by their hosts on Tuesday night by virtue of their goal difference.

Wrexham have a goal difference of plus 12 with the Glovers having one of plus five for their respective 14 points tallies.

Another ray of hope for Darren Sarll’s men will be that their big-spending hosts’ form is largely built on their away form, also the best in the division, with their home form showing three draws and three wins from their past six – still not bad.

Manager Phil Parkinson said he had been drumming the need to stick to their game plan in front of their own fans.

Following Saturday’s 2-0 home win over Bromley, he said: “We have been speaking to the lads about sustaining performances at home and concentrating on what we need to do, sticking to the game plan.

“I felt we did that today and we said to the lads at half-time that we owe it to ourselves to make sure we keep doing the right things right until the end.

“It is not just 75 minutes, we have to concentrate and move the ball quickly, make those angles and try and put quality in the box and I felt we stuck to that.”

The story of Wrexham’s takeover by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney needs little re-telling and the owners have backed manager Phil Parkinson in the transfer market.

Marquee signings include star striker Paul Mullin, who turned down the chance of League One football with Cambridge United to join the Dragons, and has only failed to find the net four times in 14 appearances this season.

Alongside Mullin in the win over Bromley was Jake Hyde, who was top scorer at FC Halifax Town last season, back from injury and unlucky to have two goals ruled out for offside at the weekend.

Former Yeovil midfielder Ben Tozer followed in Mullin’s footsteps leaving League One Cheltenham Town to join the Hollywood blockbuster – we can only assume the climate of North Wales was the appeal!

Defender Aaron Hayden dropped out of the League at Carlisle United, but may be missing for the visit of Yeovil with a virus.

If you are making the midweek trip to North Wales, don’t miss our Ciderspace Away Travel Guide to the Racecourse Ground – here.

FROM THE MANAGER

Speaking after the weekend’s win over Bromley, Wrexham manager Phil Parkinson said his side were looking to continue their climb up the National League table.

He said: “We are gradually working our way up the league, we are on a decent run and we aim to continue that on Tuesday night.

“It was important for us to get a win after the draw at home to Wealdstone in the last match here, and we will go in to the Yeovil game which we know will be tough.

“They went down to Bromley and beat them in the week and we know they are a resilient type of team, but by Tuesday night we will have put a lot of thought in to the team selection and hopefully we pick the right eleven, the right bench and go and get three points.”

TEAM NEWS

Playmaker Dan Jarvis is a doubt for the visit of Yeovil having been stretchered off in the weekend’s home win over Bromley.

The former Stoke City youngster, who has featured five this this month including starting the last two matches, was the victim of an full-blooded tackle which saw Bromley’s Liam Trotter see red after just eight minutes.

Defender Aaron Hayden the Bromley match with a virus and is therefore also a doubt.

Hayden, who dropped out of the League at Carlisle to join the Hollywood revolution in North Wales in the summer, was replaced by youngster Tyler French.

According to Wrexham fans, fellow centre half Harry Lennon struggles to play twice in a few days meaning the absence of him and Hayden could be a weakness in the hosts’ armoury.

A FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS

Two players with a foot in both camps could find themselves facing off against each other at the Racecourse Ground.

For Yeovil Town, striker Adi Yussuf scored six times in 16 appearances for the Dragons whilst on loan last season, whilst Ben Tozer played 26 times for Yeovil in the 2015-16 season.

Yussuf could find himself on the wrong end of the home supporters having allegedly got off the team coach en route to a match with Eastleigh to force a move to Chesterfield on transfer deadline day in January.

Tozer, who rejected a new contract offer at Huish Park at the end of his spell and joined Newport County, is likely to get a more neutral response from the travelling supporters.

Top scorer Joe Quigley, out until Christmas with a knee injury, spent four matches on loan at Wrexham in 2015 whilst an AFC Bournemouth player, scoring a late equaliser in a match against Tranmere Rovers in October that year.

Other players with a foot in both camps include:

  • Gold Omotayo (Yeovil Town – 2019-2020, Wrexham – 2021)
  • Iffy Allen (Yeovil Town – 2015-2016, Wrexham – 2017)
  • Mark Beck (Yeovil Town – 2015-16, Wrexham – loan – 2016)
  • Izale McLeod (Yeovil Town – 2015-16, Wrexham – 2017)
  • Chris Dunn (Yeovil Town – 2013-14, Wrexham 2016-18)
  • Daniel Alfei (Wrexham – 2012/2013, Yeovil Town 2017-2018)
  • Andy Bishop (Yeovil Town – loan – 2004, Wrexham – 2013-15)
  • Kevin Gall (Yeovil Town – 2003-2006, Wrexham – 2010-2011)

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Podcasts

Did we curse the match against Dover? Maybe.

Here to chat through the 1-1 draw from Saturday are Ian, Ben, Dave and Elliot Watts.

Thanks for listening!

Remember to add Gloverscast.co.uk to your favourites and check the website daily for the latest news from Huish Park.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook, enjoy some retro content on Instagram. Leave us a review and share the pod with a pal.

If you want to take part in the quiz, have an idea for the website or just want to send us a message, email ian@gloverscast.co.uk

By:
On:
In: Five Conclusions, Gloversblog, Latest Yeovil Town News

A point at home to bottom-of-the-table Dover Athletic was what Yeovil Town deserved, according to manager Darren Sarll.

But, the boss and midfielder Dale Gorman were also quick to point out that even two dropped points meant the Glovers had picked up seven points from a possible nine in the past week.

We asked supporter Adam Barrington to give the Gloverscast his view from his vantage point at Huish Park on Saturday – here are his five conclusions.

Wind was a major influence in the game. Both teams struggled to deal with it and within before the second minute was on the clock Dover scored from a cross assisted by whatever remained from Storm Arwen, Smith tried to claw the cross out but with no avail.
In the first half, we just never really got going and when you try long ball into the wind you never going to successful.
Second half with the wind behind us we didn’t really use it to our advantage kept over hitting the ball and only time we took advantage was with the goal which was cross from Jordan Barnett and Adi Yussuf (potentially) claiming the goal.

We need more options going forward. With the news of Quigley out until Christmas, Adi Yussuf is our only fit striker. Both Tom Knowles and Charlie Wakefield are midfield players and Sonny Blu

Adi Yussuf in action against Altrincham.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Lo-Everton is not an out an out striker.Against Dover, Yussuf struggled to have an influence but with no other option Sarll had to keep him on. I know Reuben Reid back in training, but he hasn’t played since pre-season and it will be a while until he match fit. There is no question need a new striker in as soon as possible but, with an apparently limited budget, Sarll may have to  beg, borrow or steal.

Can we sign Dan Moss and Jordan Barnett  for the next 10 years? These two are another level, always driving forward but don’t forget there defensive duties. Moss in the first half while 1-0 down made a

Dan Moss in action vs Grimsby. Pic Credit @leeblease

last ditch challenge to stop Dover from doubling their lead.
Barnett is always a threat down the left and never shies away from a challenge. He thoroughly deserved his man of the match award.

Is it time to panic after not beating a team bottom of the table? No, I don’t think so, this was just bad day at the office. We never dealt with the wind and having picked up wins against two of the league’s top teams in Dagenham and Bromley, I think there may have been a little complacency. But, we have got a point, we’re still unbeaten in our last eight first team matches and move on to Wrexham on Tuesday night. Perhaps we prefer being the underdog?

Was it a bad choice picking a Diet Coke rather than a hot drink? I know you thinking ‘hang a minute’, but seriously when is it too cold for a cold drink? Yes, this is probably not football related but this game was one to forget and this last conclusion is only thing left to say.

Bring on the Wrexham!

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

A hat-trick from Joshua John saw Yeovil Town Under-18s pick up a second win in the Gary Else Cup on Saturday.

Benjani Junior got the other goal for the young Glovers in a 4-1 win over New College Swindon (Academy) Under-18s at the Alvington playing fields.

The Gary Else Cup is the cup competition of the South West Counties’ Youth League which the Under-18s compete in.

The competition is named in memory of a former member of the league committee who died in 2012.

 

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Toby Stephens claps the Yeovil fans

Yeovil Town midfielder Toby Stephens started his second game of his loan spell at Hemel Hempstead in their FA Trophy fixture against Stourbridge.

Stephens played the full 90 minutes for his adopted side, and could have won the game late on, but it wasn’t meant to be as the match ended 1-1.

That meant spot kicks and whilst a full list of penalty takers is hard to source, we don’t think the on loan midfielder took one, he certainly wasn’t one of the two Tudor players who missed from 12-yards.

Hemel Hempstead were eliminated from the competition whilst Stourbridge who go onto the third round proper, the round in which Yeovil Town will enter. (draw will be announced on Monday at 1pm)

As an aside, FA Trophy Player Registration Rule 5e states “a player shall not play for more than one club in the competition” and as such, he will NOT be eligible for the Glovers’ during this season.

Loan Stats

Appearances: 2
Minutes: 167
Assists: 0
Goals: 0

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Uncategorized

Dale Gorman said his Yeovil Town team-mates were “really disappointed” with their first half performance in the 1-1 draw at home to bottom side Dover Athletic on Saturday.

Dale Gorman.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

But, the Northern Irishman was quick to point out that seven points from the past three fixtures, including wins at high-flying Dagenham & Redbridge and Bromley, meant they were happy with their week’s work and ready for the trip to big-spending Wrexham on Tuesday night.

Gorman refused to blame the blustery conditions at Huish Park for the slow start which saw Yeovil go 1-0 down to a second minute goal from TJ Bramble.

Speaking to BBC Radio Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the match, he said: “We as a group have expectations and as a group we were really disappointed with ourselves in the first half, but we came out of it with a point.

“That takes us a step closer to where we want to be and I think we actually moved up two places today, so you have to take some positives from it.

“We have to dust ourselves down and go again (at Wrexham) on Tuesday.”

He added: “It has been a good month for us, we stay unbeaten and we are positive and we will do all the right things to get a result at Wrexham.

“We will go there as underdogs, but we have gone to Stockport, Dagenham and Bromley (and got) big results, so why can’t it happen again on Tuesday night?”

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Uncategorized

Darren Sarll said his Yeovil Town  side “got what we deserved” from a 1-1 draw against National League bottom club Dover Athletic at Huish Park on Saturday.

The Glovers went behind after a defensive blunder gifted TJ Bramble an opening goal after two minutes in a game affected the after-effects of Storm Arwen.

Adi Yussuf rescued a point when he touched in a Jordan Barnett free-kick after 77 minutes, but the manager said three points would have “papered over the cracks.”

Darren Sarll
Yeovil Town manager Darren Sarll.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz,.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the game, Sarll described the first half performance as “like we were in pre-season, absolute cack.”

He said: “We probably got what we deserved today. Everyone will see Dover in last place and us as a form team and the expectation is a win, but I don’t think our team is built to have the ball.

“We are built to run, chase and compete and it was like role reversal today and we struggled horrendously with that in the first half.”

He singled out his team’s senior players for criticism, in particular Josh Staunton and goalkeeper Grant Smith for their role in the visitors’ early goal.

He said: “Josh  has to do better there, he has taken a brilliant amount of credit (for his performances this season) which he deserves and he now needs to take responsibility, and Grant as well.”

Having started with a familiar 4-3-3 formation, the manager switched formation twice in the second half as his side searched for an equaliser.

Initially he reverted to a diamond before switching to three at the back in the closing 15 minutes.

Sarll said: “That is the first time this year we have played three shapes and I said to them at half-time I would keep changing it until I found an attitude I was happy with. I was happy with the attitude in the second half.”

He added: “We adjusted everyone’s attitude at half-time, not in an aggressive or destructive way, we just called them out and they were much better half.”

The point moves Yeovil up to 11th place, extends the unbeaten run to eight first-team matches including the Somerset Premier Cup win at Larkhall Athletic, and means they have collected seven points in the past three matches.

The manager concluded: “We will learn from it and know how to deal with it next time, but we did not get beaten.

“We have probably overachieved this week, definitely this month and so we should not be too disappointed.”

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Tom Knowles is a doubt for Yeovil Town’s next two matches after suffering concussion in the 1-1 draw at home to Dover Athletic.

The midfielder went off after an altercation with visiting defender Danny Collinge who was only booked for the incident with Glovers’ boss Darren Sarll called “reckless, forceful and over the top.”

The boss said he could be without the 23-year-old for the next two matches, but, if the injury is confirmed as concussion, it could see him miss the next three.

Speaking after the match, the manager said: “Hulk Hogan (Collinge) put him on the shoulder and slammed him in to the floor and Tom now has concussion and will be touch and go for the next two games.

Tom Knowles in action for Yeovil Town.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

“I’m not sure how the officials saw that as a booking, I would say that was reckless, forceful, over the top because wee Tom has just been slammed on his head.”

The FA’s guidelines on concussion say players confirmed as suffering concussion cannot play for 19 days in total

That would put Knowles out for next Tuesday’s trip to Wrexham, the FA Cup second round tie at home to Stevenage next weekend, and the National League home fixture with Barnet on December 11.

If the injury is confirmed as concussion, that could mean that Knowles may not return until the FA Trophy third round match on December 18.

There are some specific circumstances where players can return from concussion after six days, but, if it is confirmed as concussion, it seems likely we will be without Knowles for some time.

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Match Reports

Venue: Huish Park
Saturday, November 27th, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Very windy and bitterly cold
Pitch: Still looking good

Attendance: 2,062 (21 away supporters)

Scorers: Bramble 2 (0-1), Yussuf 77 (1-1)

Referee: Robert Massey-Ellis

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Yussuf 36
Dover Athletic: Bramble 44, Hanson 59, Collinge 90 + 2, Bexon


Yeovil Town : (4-3-3)

Grant Smith
Dan Moss, Max Hunt, Luke Wilkinson, Jordan Barnett
Matt Worthington, Josh Staunton, Dale Gorman
Tom Knowles, Adi Yussuf, Charlie Wakefield

Substitutes: Morgan Williams (for Hunt,58), Sonny Blu Lo-Everton (for Worthington, 58), Alex Bradley (for 75), Ollie Haste, Max Evans.

Dover Athletic: Bexon, Tiensia, Collinge, Hanson, Goodman, Ransom, Wood, Bramble, Woods, Cosgrave (for Caton, 90+4), Pavey (for Carney, 83).

Substitutes (not used):  Arthur, Andre.

Match Report

If you’re a Positive Polly you can look at this as Yeovil Town stretching their unbeaten run to eight games (SPC included). If you’re a Negative Nelly, this was two points dropped against the bottom side in the division who had only picked up three points all season.

But, as the final whistle blew at a freezing and windy Huish Park, it was hard to feel too much positive from this result.

A mistake by goalkeeper Grant Smith, who has been pretty faultless in recent matches, gifted Dover an opener after just two minutes, and it took until 77 minutes for Adi Yussuf to touch home an equaliser.

First half

Storm Arwen was not named on either team-sheet but from the opening whistle it became clear the weather system was going to have a say in proceedings.

The first half saw the home side playing against the wind shooting towards the away end, and it took just a couple of minutes for her to show her teeth – or am I being a bit kind to Grant Smith there?

A cross from midfielder TJ BRAMBLE was palmed in to his own net by the goalkeeper and Huish Park was stunned.

 

Having beaten promotion-chasing Dagenham & Redbridge and Bromley in the past two games away from home, it seems like the comforts of Huish Park had us feeling a bit too comfortable.

Inexplicably despite the conditions there was a lot of long ball football being played against the wind, despite (according to the commentary of Lawson D’Ath, at least) manager Darren Sarll urging his side to get the ball to Tom Knowles and Charlie Wakefield in wide positions.

On ten minutes, Knowles received a short free-kick and had a go but his effort was easily held by Josh Bexon in the visitors’ goal.

If that was a half-chance then a clear cut one fell the way of Wakefield eight minutes later after good play by Adi Yussuf found him at the back post but he could not turn it home.

Despite having the elements against him, Dale Gorman was still willing to have a shot (surprise, surprise, eh?) but his free-kick from range was deflected wide.

There was no real threat from Dover, albeit Dan Moss did make a superb intervention to deny fellow Millwall youngster Junior Tiensia late in the half, but equally Yeovil seemed riddled with bad decisions and a lack of pressure on their opponents.

The half-time whistle sounded with some jeers from the Huish Park crowd. Things can only get better, eh?!

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Dover Athletic 1

Second half

The Yeovil Town players returned for the second half ahead of their visitors suggesting manager Darren Sarll had left them in no doubt as to his opinion.

The manager made a change to a diamond formation with Josh Staunton at the base, Knowles at the tip behind Wakefield and Yussuf , allowing Jordan Barnett and Moss the opportunity to get forward.

Attacking the Thatchers’ Stand, an early free-kick from Gorman was turned aside by Bexon. From the following corner, Luke Wilkinson got a head on a Gorman corner but the ball was cleared off the line by Dover.

On 57 minutes, the Yeovil defence got caught out by a long ball forward and Aaron Cosgrave found himself one-on-one with Smith who did well to deny him before Bramble shot in to the keeper’s hands.

Sarll responded a minute later by bringing Morgan Williams on for Max Hunt as part of a double substitute which also saw Sonny Blu Lo-Everton replace Matt Worthington.

After 66 minutes, Knowles and Wakefield combined to force a corner and from Barnett’s ball, Lo-Everton forced Bexon in to a save.

Staunton poked one wide soon after and Yussuf did have the ball in the back of the net on 75 minutes but was adjudged to be offside.

That led to another change of personnel and shape on with 15 minutes of the half remaining. Alex Bradley replaced Moss as the Glovers reverted to a back three of Wilkinson, Williams and Staunton giving Bradley and Barnett an invitation to push forward.

A minute later the home side were level. Barnett’s free-kick in got a slight touch from YUSSUF – or was it Wilkinson? Or perhaps Barnett’s free-kick went straight in.

Barnett was at the heart of it again with a fine delivery from a corner which flashed wide before neat play between Wakefield and Lo-Everton was turned wide.

As the game ticked over in to injury time, a clash between Knowles and a Dover player led to the winger going off and not returning.

The ten men could not find a winner in the dying seconds and the game finished a point apiece.

Full time: Yeovil Town 1 Dover Athletic 1