February 2022 (Page 3)

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

There was no footy for the Glovers, but Ian, Ben and Dave managed to fill an hour of not totally nonsensical chat.

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.

WANT TO ADVERTISE ON THE GLOVERSCAST? Send us an email for our rate card.

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: Latest Yeovil Town News

Unusually these days Notts County don’t sell tickets to away fans through their own on-line portal, so to buy on-line in advance you’ll need to go to the Yeovil Town ticket portal for our visit on Saturday March 5th, 3.00 p.m. kick-off.

If Notts designate a match as “advance ticket only” there will be no sales on the day to away fans. They have not so designated this match as far as I can see, so as it stands (at the moment) tickets will be available for purchase on the day of the game from the away supporter’s ticket booth located at the back of the Jimmy Sirrel Stand (cash only), or from the main ticket office (card payment).

Away fans get as many sections of the Jimmy Sirrel (East) Stand as are deemed necessary (filling up from the North-East corner). This has a side on view of the Meadow Lane pitch.

Prices:

Adult: £20.00

65 and over: £14.00

18-21: £14.00

Under 18: £7.00

Under 16: £5.00

Under 12: £1.00

Under 7: Free*

[* Must be accompanied by an over 18.]

Go to the Yeovil Town portal to purchase – here.

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Hartlepool United manager Graeme Lee has confirmed there is a recall clause in the loan deal which took striker Olufela Olomola to Yeovil Town.

The former Southampton youngster returned for his third spell in Somerset last week having been out of favour in the North East, featuring just five times under the new boss.

He joined Pools in the summer, signed by then-manager Dave Challinor who has since joined Stockport County, having impressed on trial.

Striker Olufela Olomola.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Lee told the Hartlepool Mail: “The conversations with players are difficult when they’re not playing.

“He had two fantastic games in the cup, he was exciting. But then he comes out of the squad.

“So it was a one of them where he got an opportunity and I said ‘I can be selfish and keep you with us’ because he can impact in the formation we’re playing now, but I don’t want to be selfish.

“I said ‘if you want to go and do this and get some games in [you can].

“The only stipulation I had was to get a call back on him because if we need him then I’ll call him back because he could be one who could impact the team, and he was happy with that.”

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News
Huish Park will be the venue for the Somerset Premier Cup quarter-final with Cheddar.

Yeovil Town have confirmed that tomorrow’s home fixture with Dagenham & Redbridge has been postponed due to safety reasons as Storm Eunice carries through to Saturday.

In a statement released moments ago the club said: “Yeovil Town can confirm that tomorrow’s fixture against Dagenham & Redbridge has been postponed.

This is due to the adverse weather conditions forecasted to continue into tomorrow afternoon. The safety of all in attendance is at the upmost importance to us, therefore we have had to make the difficult decision to postpone the fixture. We apologise for any inconvenience caused. 

Further information regarding a rearranged date will be issued in due course.”

Better find something to do tomorrow then…

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Darren Sarll is hoping to keep central defender Ben Barclay on loan from National League rivals Stockport County until the end of the season.

The 25-year-old has impressed in his five appearances since being brought in to fill the void left by an injury to Max Hunt at the end of January.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s home game with Dagenham & Redbridge the manager said he was happy with the recruitment he had done this season not least the former loan signing of Millwall full-back Dan Moss.

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

Sarll said: “The recruitment has had to be good because we can’t afford to waste a penny. There was a framework around our recruitment to bring in young, athletic players with something to prove and an ambition to play higher.

“We are very tight in terms of capabilities and I’m happy with all our recruitment. Ben has been fantastic and I’m hoping he will be with us until the end of the season.”

Unfortunately, due to his own work commitments our Gloverscast roving reporter Ben Barrett could not attend today’s press conference, so that closing remark is as much as we know about the manager’s ambition to keep Barclay at the club.

Defender Max Hunt will definitely be missing for the weekend as he makes his way back to fitness from an injury which has put him out since the 2-1 defeat to Wrexham last month.

Midfielder Dale Gorman is out through suspension and will also miss next Tuesday’s trip to Maidenhead United.

Of other injuries, the manager added there would be a couple of late checks on players including on-loan defender Jack Robinson who was not involved at Eastleigh last weekend.

Sarll said: “It’s touch and go for one or two of them, Jack Robinson is one of them, I won’t say the other one.”

The anticipated windy conditions with Storm Eunice expected to be hanging around in the Westcountry over the weekend could decide the way Yeovil set-up against Dagenham.

Sarll said: “With the conditions, it is going to be a massively difficult task. If there’s one condition that everyone in football hates, it is wind.

“That will change how we prepare and might change how we select the team, instead of being a bit more creative, we might be a bit more destructive.

“We will have to see, those decisions can be left to game day. We have been fabulous away, but we have to be better at home.”

The manager said he believed the return of Charlie Lee as his assistant manager will have “an impact on the dressing room” at Huish Park.

The former Glovers’ midfielder was confirmed as Sarll’s number two on Thursday having agreed a short-term deal which we assume is until the end of the season.

Charlie Lee controls the midfield
? Mike Kunz

The manager said: “No-one knows me better than Charlie. He’s been one of the toughest players I have ever manager in terms of how spiky he is, he’s a real sod at times!

“But I wanted that impact in the dressing room, he doesn’t suffer fools and he’s a winner if you look at his career, he’s a winner.

“The things I can give him is an exposure to this position. I’m two decades in and Charlie’s less than a year in, so first and foremost he’s a brilliant guy who wants to be part of the football club – and he can handle my tantrums!”

But the boss was keen to point out that Lee would not be a like-for-like replacement for his previous right-hand man, Terry Skiverton, the club legend who left to join League One Charlton Athletic’s coaching set up.

The boss had to stop himself from (perhaps) being critical of the decision to allow Skivo to leave the club saying: “Terry was Superman at Yeovil and unfortunately…..(pause, grimace, contemplation)…you realise what you had when it’s gone and we as a club were not in a position to protect that legacy.

“That’s a shame but as one door closes (another one opens) and it’s a big opportunity for Charlie to taste this world and how different is from playing.

“He has a good football brain, he’s seen a lot of things in football and he isn’t here to replace Terry, that’s impossible at this club.

“He’s here to bring something we have not had in recent weeks, it has been a tough four or five weeks without Terry, so I am delighted he’s with us.”

 

Striker Olufela Olomola will improve as he gets more matchday minutes, the boss added.

The Hartlepool United man made his third Glovers’ debut in last weekend’s goalless draw at Eastleigh having arrived on loan the previous day.

The manager said: “Every team has different levels (of fitness) and he’s probably playing in a different position to the one he’s had to play recently.

“For different positions, you need different physical attributes, so I think it will take a few weeks to get him back up (and running).

“It was a much better performance in terms of the types of chances, I’m still disappointed at some of the work we did in forward areas.

“But, the midfield had better control, and I thought we were good value (for the win) given the level of dominance we had.”

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News
Angelo Balanta in his loan spell at Yeovil Town in 2013. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Former Yeovil Town man Angelo Balanta is hoping success in the FA Trophy can spur his Dagenham & Redbridge team-mates on this weekend.

The Colombian seems likely to be missing this weekend as he makes his way back from a calf injury, but did tune in for their 2-0 win over Spennymoor United to book a quarter-final place last weekend.

The result was overshadow by a horrific injury to young winger George Saunders who suffered a double leg break, but Balanta hopes the result will pick up the Daggers who had lost their previous two league fixtures.

He said: “I watched the game on a stream and it was pleasing to get through to the next round, but devastating for George (Saunders) getting injured.

“Any team coming to our turf is a very good draw for us. We fancy our chances at home but York will pose a different challenge.

“Yeovil will be tough. They’re below us in the table but they gave us a good contest and made it tough for us.
“They’re very resilient the way they go about their business and defend their goal really well.

“I think it will be similar but we’ve got to do what we’ve been doing, performing well and hopefully get the result.”

In the League, our visitors have lost three and won one of their last four albeit the defeats came at home to leaders $tockport County and promotion-chasing FC Halifax Town and then on the road at Chesterfield in their last outing on February 5.

The victory came with a 2-1 win at W*ymouth after goals from strikers Josh Walker and Paul McCallum saw them come back from trailing at half-time.

Walker missed the reverse fixture in Essex in November through injury having had a prolific start to the season.

Ominously, he has got five in his last seven with both he and McCallum on the scoresheet last weekend.

FROM THE MANAGER

Daggers’ boss Daryl McMahon admitted the serious injury to winger George Saunders in last weekend’s FA Trophy win over Spennymoor United did affect his players.

But, having reported that the youngster had a successful injury on a double leg break, the squad has been able to focus on the weekend’s National League fixture.

The boss said: “It has obviously difficult after what happened Saturday with Georgie, but since we’ve had the good news in terms of his operation, the lads have been great in training.”

The manager has a lot of respect for his opposite number, Yeovil Town boss Darren Sarll, and is expecting a tough game in the anticipated difficult conditions of a wind-lashed Huish Park.

He added: “Darren has done a terrific job down there. We know it’ll be difficult when we play against Yeovil. They’re well organised, competitive.

“The weather looks like it might be a challenge, looking at the forecast, but it’s one we’re looking forward to.

“We feel that we’re in decent form, we had a bit of good luck last weekend, getting bodies back as well, we feel like we’re looking forward to the run-in now.”

 

TEAM NEWS

Former Yeovil Town loanee Angelo Balanta is expected to be missing for the trip to face his old club.

The Dagenham winger, who had a six-game loan spell at Huish Park during the League One play-off-winning season in 2012-13, has not featured since a win at W*ymouth at the end of last month with a calf injury.

Boss Daryl McMahon said the Colombian is still expected to be out this weekend, but he is expecting experienced heads Matt Robinson and Dean Rance to be available despite carrying injuries.

Mauro Vilhete has returned to training this week alongside winger Myles Weston, who caused Yeovil’s defence all kinds of issues in the match at Victoria Road in November, is back after a spell with COVID.

Alongside winger George Saunders, who is out for the season having suffered a double leg break last weekend, the Daggers’ most high-profile absentee is defender Yoan Zouma.

The Frenchman has been suspended from playing whilst the RSPCA conducts an investigation in to an attack on a pet cat by his brother, West Ham United defender, Kurt, which was filmed by Yoan and posted on social media.

The Premier League player was seen kicking and slapping two pet cats in the video posted by Yoan at the start of this month and the Daggers responded quickly by suspending their player.

 

A FOOT IN BOTH CAMPS

Yeovil Town captain Luke Wilkinson and midfielder Josh Staunton seems likely to be the only players with experience of playing for both sides starting this weekend.

The central defender played 65 times for Dagenham following his release by Portsmouth in 2010.

He had a couple of spells on loan at Boreham Wood and one at Dartford during his time at Victoria Road before departing for Luton Town in 2014.

Staunton arrived in Essex following his release by Gillingham in the summer of 2016 and made 37 appearances as they reached the Conference play-offs missing out to eventual winners Forest Green Rovers.

Despite playing in most positions in defence, Staunton was allowed to leave and joined Woking for the following season and then moved to FC Halifax Town from whom he joined Yeovil in summer 2020.

Another possibility in the green-and-white corner is Lawson D’Ath, the playmaker working his way back to fitness after nine months out through injury.

He had a 21-game spell on loan in Essex in the 2013-14 season.

Likely to be missing through injury is the visitors’ talismanic forward Angelo Balanta who was an unused substitute in Yeovil’s 2-1 League One play-off final win over Brentford which secured promotion to the Championship in 2013.

If you’ve not heard it, check out our podcast with former Yeovil Town press officer Jimmy Healey for a great story about Balanta’s celebration – here.

The Colombian had a spell at Bristol Rovers, helping them out of the Football Conference in 2015, before moving to Carlisle United, Boreham Wood and eventually arriving at Dagenham in October 2018.

There is a possibility of seeing ex-Glovers’ midfielder Joey Jones who played the first half against Spennymoor last weekend before being replaced at half-time.

He spent his youth career at Arsenal and Leicester but having signed for Yeovil in 2013 after playing in a behind-closed-doors friendly he failed to make an appearance.

In January 2014, he was loaned out to Woking who he eventually joined permanently at the end of the season and when on to play 162 times for the Cards.

He arrived at Victoria Road, via Eastleigh and Salford City, in November 2020.

Other familiar faces to both sets of supporters include….

  • Rhys Murphy – Dagenham (2013-15), Yeovil Town (2019-21)
  • Mitch Brundle – Yeovil Town (2012-13), Dagenham (2019-21)
  • Jake Howells – Yeovil Town – loan (2015), Dagenham (2017-18)
  • Gavin Tomlin – Yeovil Town (2008-10), Dagenham (2010-12)
  • Matt Harrold – Dagenham – loan (2004-05), Yeovil Town (2005-06)
  • Kirk Jackson – Yeovil Town (2002-04), Dagenham – loan (2004)
  • Paul Terry – Dagenham (1999-2003), Yeovil Town (2003-07)

 

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

Elliot Watts joins Dave and Ian to talk SPC, Dagenham and listener questions on today’s episode.

Plus, Dave spoke to our friend Terry from the A Game of Headers and Volleys Podcast to talk all about Dagenham’s recent form.

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.

WANT TO ADVERTISE ON THE GLOVERSCAST? Send us an email for our rate card.

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: Gloversblog

Another week at Huish Park passes us by and that means another Western Gazette column has been published.

For those of you who haven’t had chance to pick up the paper just yet, here is another chance to read our thoughts on how two key players could help us even out the form against the bottom sides to when we play the best teams in the National League.

Lawson D’Ath. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz

Yeovil Town’s season so far makes no sense.

If you told me there was a team that had beaten Wrexham, Bromley and Stockport away, dispatched Halifax on the TV and picked up a pair of draws against Solihull, I’d assume they were set for promotion.

Tell me there’s a team that has failed to beat King’s Lynn, Dover, W*ymouth, Maidenhead, Wealdstone and Altrincham you’d have a fair guess they’d be struggling towards the bottom.

But the Glovers fit both these categories and as a result sit slap bang in the middle of the National League.

We asked both Luke Wilkinson and Darren Sarll to try and explain our peculiar record and neither could quite nail it on the head.

It could be potentially a mental thing, against lower sides we have to enforce the pace and tempo of the play as sides sit back and invite pressure, whilst we do exactly the same to those above us with all the promotion pressure that the big spenders have.

But, at time of writing,just nine points separate the Glovers from the play off spots, it’s hard not to look at those results against the relegation fodder and dream of what might of been.

Quite how we overcome this hurdle is a tough question, but it may well boil down to two things; someone to unlock the defensive lines of those who shut up shop and someone to find the back of the net.

Lawson D’ath has the quality to unlock those pockets of space, and find the final quality ball we’ve so desperately missed, and if Fela Olomola can add the final touch then maybe some of the drab draws or dreadful defeats can be turned into wins and the momentum can build from there.

Those two have the ability to take the pressure off of the likes of Wakefield, Knowles, Yussuf and Reid who have had the focus firmly placed on them for the lack of goals in the side.

The Glovers have drawn 7 games this season, a stat only beaten by Chesterfield with 10, it feels like the holy grail isn’t all that far away, but if the Glovers are to make a late surge – much like Luke Wilkinson said they could – they need to find a way through quickly and definitely have to beat W*ymouth next time, too!

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News
Charlie Lee rises highest
? Mike Kunz

Yeovil Town have announced former midfielder  Charlie Lee has rejoined the club on a short-term deal as assistant manager to Darren Sarll.

Sarll has been looking for a new right-hand man since the departure of Terry Skiverton to join the first-team coaching set-up at League One Charlton Athletic last month.

Speaking about his return, Lee said he “can’t wait” for first time match on the Huish Park touchline as assistant against Dagenham & Redbridge on Saturday.

The 35-year-old said: “I’m really excited about it. It’s a great opportunity for me and I’m really looking forward to it.

“I’m going to learn so much, obviously there is a lot for me to learn. I’m new to the role but there’s a lot of things I know I can bring, whether that be day-to-day, with the team or away from the team. I’ll bring a lot of energy.

“I’ve been in football for a long-time, I’ve helped out before with things that the coaches are normally involved in, even when I was here as a player. For that to be my focus, it’s really exciting and I can’t wait for the game on Saturday.”

Lee has coaching experience with youth teams at some of his former clubs Leyton Orient and Stevenage and, as a player, has tasted promotion on five separate occasions with Peterborough United, Gillingham and Orient.

Darren Sarll said it took “a three-minute conversation” to persuade his former skipper to return to Somerset having retired from playing whilst at National League South side Billericay Town in December.

The manager said: ” I think the appointment of Charlie highlights so many wonderful things about the club. Firstly, Charlie was desperate to come back and work for me and really try and impact the players with his experience, winning mentality and character.

“Secondly, it goes to show how much he loves and has connected with this Football Club. This was a three-minute conversation and we had an agreement, I think that says it all about the man and his willingness to make a difference.

“Sure, there are certain aspects of the role he’ll have to learn, but who knows winning better than Charlie? Not many. He’ll be an excellent foil for me and a perfect bridge to a young changing room, his enthusiasm will help me continue the path this team is on. I am truly delighted he is back where he belongs.”

Nick Crittenden did help out for the derby against W*ymouth last month, but Sarll was keen to add someone on a full-time role until the end of the season.

Charlie Lee controls the midfield
? Mike Kunz

Lee played more than 60 times across two seasons in the Glovers’ midfield before leaving Huish Park at the end of last season and joining Billericay at the start of this season.

He announced his retirement from full-time playing citing back problems, but has been spotted playing Sunday League football in recent weeks.

Welcome back to Huish Park, Charlie!

By:
On:
In: Green and White Goals, Latest Yeovil Town News

Yeovil Town 3 Scunthorpe 0 – Saturday 16th February 2013

Gary Johnson’s second spell at Yeovil was surely more successful than anyone could have expected. The Glovers had among the lowest playing budgets in League One, and for every season after the play-offs of 2006/07 avoiding relegation was an achievement and some years it was tighter than others. In 2011/12, Yeovil had been bottom in November before the arrival of Johnson in January turned the team’s fortunes around, as they ended the season in 17th.

A good start had seen the Glovers go top early in the 2012/13 season, but after that followed a horrific run of six defeats in a row. This was was halted by the arrival of a relatively unknown young Irish striker on loan from Carlisle. Paddy Madden was 22 at the time he signed, having been unable to make much impact at his first English club after moving from Ireland, scoring no goals in 14 appearances for the Cumbrians in 2011/12. But there was something about Gary Johnson that was able to bring out the best in Madden as he made an immediate impact, scoring twice on his debut against Colchester, and scoring six goals in his first seven starts. Yeovil’s form stabilised with Madden in the team, as he formed a productive partnership with James Hayter.

One game that Madden didn’t score in was the impressive 2-1 win away at Portsmouth at the end of December. This began a remarkable run of eight consecutive wins, which would lift the Glovers from 12th up to 3rd in the League One table, and in a position to challenge for the play-offs.

The goals were flowing during this period, with comfortable wins 3-0 over Leyton Orient, 3-0 over Brentford, 3-1 over Preston and 4-1 over Oldham. The Glovers brushed aside Scunthorpe 3-0 on 16th February, with goals from Webster in the first half, and two towards the end from Hayter and Madden. There was some controversy, as the visitors had an appeal for a penalty turned down for a challenge from behind from Webster on Sodje, and may have felt that the later penalty awarded for a foul on Foley after a marauding run into the box was also somewhat harsh.

Madden was particularly on fire at this time, scoring in eight consecutive games after Portsmouth. His final goal in that incredible run was in the 1-1 draw at promotion-chasing Doncaster which complete a spell of 11 goals in 8 games, a run that Messi would be proud of. His loan was converted to a permanent transfer in January, for an undisclosed fee thought to be around £50,000. With the addition of that extremely elusive 20-goal a season striker, the first at the club since Phil Jevons in 2004/05, Yeovil were able to push on. Madden scored 23 goals in 39 games, ending the season as League One’s top scorer. He actually had a dry spell of six games without a goal at the end of the season and didn’t score in either of the play-off games against Sheffield United, but did provide the assist for Ed Upson’s winning goal at Huish Park. He ended his run of blanks in spectacular fashion win an incredible goal in the opening minutes against Brentford at Wembley which set Yeovil on their way to a 2-1 win and Championship football for the first time in their history, just ten years after promotion from the Conference.

Paddy found life in the Championship somewhat harder and he did not score in the 2013/14 season, although to be fair he was handed very few starts, starting the first three Championship games before being dropped, and after that he struggled to get back into the team. He was surprisingly transfer-listed by Gary Johnson in November, and sold to Scunthorpe for a reported £300,000 in January, even though he still had a year and a half left on his contract. While Gary Johnson suggested that he might not be ‘Championship standard’, that seemed like a strange statement to make given that not many of the squad were, and surely Madden was at least good enough for League One, where Yeovil seemed to be heading.

Despite dropping to League Two his new club Scunthorpe were promoted that season, following which Madden proved he was indeed League One standard, where he spent the next seven seasons. He scored 17 and 23 goals in his first two seasons, and after a lean 2016/17, was sold to fellow League One outfit Fleetwood for around £150,000 where he scored 19 goals in 2018/19 and 19 again in 2019/20. He contracted Covid in 2021, and after recovering made the surprise drop from League One to the National League. High-spending Stockport splashed out an estimated £150,000 for the now 31-year old on a 3.5 year contract. At the point he left Fleetwood he was their all-time Football League top goalscorer, in addition to being the 10th highest ever scorer at Scunthorpe, having scored almost 200 goals in his career from Bohemians in lreland 14 years ago, to the National League with Stockport today.

Team that day: Marek Stech, Luke Ayling, Jamie McAllister (sub. Nathan Ralph 83), Byron Webster, Dan Burn, Joe Edwards, Ed Upson, Kevin Dawson, Sam Foley (sub. Lewis Young 82), James Hayter (sub. Kwesi Appiah 82), Paddy Madden. Subs not used: Gareth Stewart, Richard Hinds, Dominic Blizzard, Gavin Williams.