August 2022

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Earlier this week, Ryan Reynolds kicked off on Twitter about not being able to stream Wrexham games in the US so that a new audience, off the back of their FX/Disney+ documentary which was released this month, can watch live.

The co-owner of Wrexham posted to his 20.1m followers: “After months of maximum effort, the decision (through inaction of the @Vanarama National League) to not allow domestic/international streaming of matches of Wrexham and the other clubs in the league is truly baffling. It deprives every team in our league of the chance to expand the fanbase, while adding to league revenue benefits everyone.”

Timing on this one’s all a bit odd isn’t it?

Anyway, the National League Board, on which YTFC owner Scott Priestnall sits, have issued a joint statement on the National League website today.

Many will be aware of the recent comments regarding streaming, and it is important we set out the current position of the Vanarama National League.

Firstly, it is important to remember that we already have a Broadcast Partner, in BT Sports, who currently have the contractual rights to all National League games in a deal that has served the whole league and all its 72 clubs well.

BT are keen to work with the National League to support opportunities for our clubs to generate extra income, as they did during the Covid Pandemic, in the form of streaming.

We have been working intensely for some months to finalise a proposal launch a centralised, fully tested Vanarama National League streaming platform. This proposal goes to the Board for consideration at their meeting on 15th September.

The proposal will recognise that we must respect and protect the status of the league and also BT Sport’s high production values and ensuring an approach which guarantees quality of service and the needs of all our clubs and their fans.

We understand the desire from some clubs, who find themselves in a position to stream independently and we respect that, however there is a requirement for the League to protect and provide a solution for all three divisions.

We will always take into account the views of individual clubs, but it is imperative that we look after the interests of 72 member clubs and doing as much as we can to deliver income, profile and support for all.

The commercial arm of the League have been simultaneously seeking partners for the delivery and commercialisation of a streaming platform. The League has the support of Vanarama and BT Sport in ensuring we deliver the needs of all our Clubs.

There are challenges in supplying a product that can be used by everyone, whilst ensuring compliance with Article 48.

The Board will consider the proposal in full, and that will include the timetable for its introduction.

Basically, we’ve got a partner, we’ve got a lot of clubs to think about, the quality needs to be the same across the three leagues, we’ll think about it.

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A goalless draw away at a table-topping Wealdstone could be a positive result on the face of it, especially after picking up a win at home just 48 hours earlier.

But, whether it was from manager Chris Hargreaves or his players, the mood in the Yeovil Town camp at the end of Bank Holiday Monday was one of frustration,

We forced Dave to Rule 2 (Gloverscast Rule 2: Always sleep on it before judging a result) it, and here are his conclusions….

We have to credit our opponents. I’ll get to us in a minute, I promise, but I have to start by giving credit to Wealdstone. There was a mood of celebration around Grosvenor Vale at kick-off with the Stones top of the league, so going a man down after just nine minutes would not have featured in their plans, I’m sure. That said, they looked organised in those first nine minutes and in the 81 that followed, they had a plan and they stuck to it. And, no, this conclusion was not in the original five – but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t have been!

The answer can’t always be Lawson. From the ninth minute, the opportunity was there for us to play a bit of HargBall (yes, I now accept that as its name), play it quickly, switch wings and frankly just have a go at our ten man opponents. Instead, we seemed to methodically passing it across midfield, the game was crying out for someone to grab the ball and do something. It’s too easy to say “well, if Lawson D’Ath had been there“, that simply cannot be the answer to everything – and, no, Sam Pearson can’t be the answer to everything either! There were players out there who can do more and should have done more. Even when Charlie Wakefield came on at half-time there didn’t seem to be an urgency for him to get at the Wealdstone defence enough.

I feel for Fish at getting hooked. I’ve been critical of Alex Fisher’s impact on the times I’ve seen him this season, but I felt he was impacting it more than many of his team-mates at Wealdstone. There was a look of disbelief on his face when he saw his number came up to be replaced by Jake Scrimshaw in the 72nd minute which suggests he felt he had more to give and. I know hindsight vision is 20:20, but letting him take the penalty would have been something more he could have given. As for Malachi Linton, it was not his day. After 68 anonymous minutes, it was brave of him to step up to take the penalty. It’s important he recalls the same mentality he did after missing a chance against Wrexham and the scoring a worldie. Channel that frustration, Mal, there’s a good player there.

We can’t be too nice about all this. I listened to Chris Hargreaves’ post-match interview (twice, in fact) and I hope I am reading between the lines here. “What I’ve said in the changing rooms will remain the changing rooms” and there had been “a few words” exchanged between players. I’m pleased to hear that. There’s always a lot of talk about ‘commitment’ and ‘giving everything’ which is well-placed and well-deserved, but if we’re going to improve on last season (which is surely the minimum) then we can’t be too nice about performances like this. With the best part of 650 appearances to his name, I’m sure the manager knows what needs to be said.

We’ve still got September. I’ve checked the Green Day lyrics and we don’t need to wake up until September ends.  It is still half-a-dozen games in to the season and we’ve still not lost more than we have lost, but they don’t get any easier. York City at home and then Woking and Eastleigh away (both of whom have started the season well) and then the small matter of Chesterfield and Boreham Wood at Huish Park. Not easy games to get the show on the road, but that’s what we’re going to have to do.

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Ollie Haste in action for Truro City. Picture courtesy of Cameron Weldon/Truro City FC.

Yeovil Town loanee Ollie Haste was back in the starting line up for Truro just 48 hours after hobbling off injured.

He played a full 90 minutes for the White Tigers in their 1-1 draw at Tiverton.

The midfielder has played a pivotal role so far for his adopted side and came close to getting off the mark for his new club in the 51st minute with a shot blocked from close range.

However, the points were shared after a late second half equaliser cancelled out Tyler Harvey’s opener for Truro.

Toby Stephens was an unused substitute in Devon.

Paul Wotton’s remain unbeaten so far this season.

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Josh Staunton. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Yeovil Town captain Josh Staunton has urged his side not to get too downbeat after a frustrating 0-0 draw with Wealdstone.

The part time outfit held the Glovers at bay for more than 80 minutes with ten men, but Yeovil did have their chances, missing a second half penalty and seeing multiple opportunities cleared off the line.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins the skipper praised the Stones’ defensive resolution and backed his team mates to come good.

“I think it’s always a challenge when a team sits in like that, especially when the pitch is quite sticky, and the fine margins didn’t go our way.

It’s very disappointing right now, but at the end of the day it’s one point away from home against a team which are right on form, so as a group we will try and look at the positives.

If someone had said to us at 3 o’clock at the end of the bank holiday we will win the home one and draw the away one I don’t think there would be too many complaints.”

“Obviously the situation makes it a bit more frustrating, but there’s a long season to go.”

Tactical changes and substitutions were all make with attacking alterations in mind, but Yeovil just couldn’t find a way through.

“When you’re chasing a game you’re searching a little bit. In the first half we were three at the back and we were ok, but we probably didn’t utilise the four at the back as well as we probably should have.

As players we kind of shot ourselves in the foot, I think we didn’t get high enough up the pitch.”

Malachi Linton fires in a shot. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Looking ahead the captain urged caution at getting too low at the early season frustration and backed Malachi Linton to come back from the disappointment at missing the penalty.

“It’s a long season so it’s about keeping the group level and not feeling like it’s the end of the world in there.”

“I’m sure Mal is very down in there, I don’t need to sit hear and try and say otherwise, strikers want to score goals, it’s never nice when you put yourself forward to take a penalty in a tight game like that… unfortunately today for Mal, it went the wrong side of the crossbar and he’s a young lad with a great future ahead of him and he’s started the season well.

At times like that it’s about rallying round him and make sure he picks himself up.”

Wise words from the captain, who went on to back up those thoughts, even further.

“Obviously we’re very downbeat right now, but on another day we could have had three or four and if we’d have got one in the first half when we were on top we make it a much easier game.”

“We’re understandably frustrated right now, sometimes when you’re like that it’s a kick for you, because if we’d have got six points out of the bank holiday weekend then it would have been a brilliant return.

In this league if you do well at home and draw your away ones, regardless of the situation, you’ll be OK.

Overall, however disappointed we are, it’s that old cliché of it being a marathon not a sprint.”

The next stop on the 26.2 mile journey that is the National League season is a home game against York City this coming Saturday.

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Chris Hargreaves. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Yeovil Town manager Chris Hargreaves has expressed a lack of ‘killer instinct’ in his side saw ten man Wealdstone hold the Glovers at bay for more than 80 minutes.

Yeovil, who actually extended a mini unbeaten run to three with the 0-0 draw, have been left wondering what might have been after a missed penalty and no fewer than four goal line clearances prevented a second win on the bounce.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the game he said;

“They [Wealdstone] played with 10 men on Saturday and beat Gateshead so we knew that they’d be dogged.

I’ve played in those games myself as a player and its sometimes difficult to break a really tight formation down. We just didn’t have that creativity to do that today.

I showed my frustration to the players after the final whistle, but again I said that in the main they’ve done things we’ve asked them to do in facts of physicality and running and pressing and closing but just not quite enough creativity in that final third.”

Hargreaves made a positive changes throughout with Charlie Wakefield introduced at half time with Jake Scrimshaw and Callum Rowe also brought on in attacking roles, but it wasn’t to be.

“Charlie’s had a really good start to the season and then been frustrated with injury. It is sometimes difficult to make a mark against a really organised, tight two banks of four, but we didn’t mix the game up enough by drifting in and asking the fullback a question.

That’s the disappointment that we didn’t have that guile to ask them a question with 2 v 1s when that’s the whole reason we changed the shape.”

“The messages at half time were to switch play quickly, hope that someone turns off, which inevitably they do when they’re tired and then you’re either in on goal or able to cross the ball. It didn’t materialise and were disappointed, definitely”

Best chance of all though, fell to the feet of Malachi Linton, who put his penalty into the car park, Hargreaves said he was happy to back his striker from the spot.

“I always have in my mind that if you’re the most confident person on that pitch to take a penalty and you believe you’re going to score then you take it.

What I’ve said in the changing room will remain in the changing room, but for Mal he’s scored two fantastic goals already, he wont stop running, he’s brave as a lion and he didn’t mean to miss it.”

“I’ve got no proiblem with him missing chances and missing penalties, he’ll be the most disappointed out of anybody so he doesn’t need reminding of that. If we do score, we win the game but its a point that we reluctantly accept.

There’s been a few words in the changing room from the experienced lads because they want more and im pleased to see that. There’s been a bit of anger in there, no problem, that means they care.”

The Glovers host York City next weekend and will be hoping to extend their unbeaten run to four.

 

 

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Venue: Grosvenor Vale
Monday August 29th, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Dry and warm
Pitch: Green all over

Attendance: 1,714 (251 away supporters)

Scorers: None

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Reckord 53, Wakefield 55, Pond 85, Scrimshaw 90+5
Wealdstone: Allarakhia 75

Sendings off

Wealdstone: Kinsella 9

Referee: Sam Mulhall


Yeovil Town : (3-5-2)

Grant Smith

Alfie Pond  Josh Staunton  Ben Richards-Everton

Morgan Williams Matt Worthington Sam Perry (for Charlie Wakefield, 46) Jamie Reckord

Gime Toure

Alex Fisher (for Jake Scrimshaw, 72)  Malachi Linton (for Callum Rowe, 84)

Substitutes (not used): Max Hunt, Chiori Johnson.


Wealdstone: Howes, Cook, Habergham, Kinsella, Charles, Allarakhia (Hutchinson 75), Ferguson, Sesay, Napa, Kretzschmar (Dyer 66), Browne (Mongoy 83). Substitutes not used: Young and Mundle-Smith.

Match Report

If we’d stayed out there all day, we still would not have scored. That sentiment summed up a day where “disappointing” just does not cut it.

Having seen their hosts Wealdstone (league leaders, yes, but a part-time side nevertheless) reduced to ten men after Lewis Kinsella kicked out at Malachi Linton after just nine minutes, the game should have been there for the taking.

But, though the opposition was organised and had a plan of what to do as they faced up to 81 minutes with a man down, Yeovil did their level best to make it easy for him.

There was even a ‘Get Out Of Jail – Free’ card printed and handed to the visitors in the form of a 69th minute penalty kick which Malachi Linton put out of the ground. That one moment summed up Yeovil’s day.

Here’s how Dave saw it from the away end in the London Borough of Hillingdon…..

First half

The only change from the first win of the season 48 hours early saw Sam Perry replace the injured Lawson D’Ath in midfield, whilst Charlie Wakefield returned on the bench.

After a bright start with Matt Worthington warming the palms of hosts’ keeper Sam Howes with an early sighter, the first incident saw Wealdstone reduced to ten men after just nine minutes.

Lewis Kinsella tussled for a ball with Malachi Linton and appeared to kick out at his opponent. When referee Sam Mulhall went for his pocket, a yellow card looked most the likely course of action – but it was red.

But, as we have seen on many occasions, a man advantage and Yeovil Town do not always mix well. Possession, we saw plenty of it but the 15 minutes after the dismissal only saw us probe at the home defence without much cut through.

The next meaningful chance actually fell to the home side when Napa was found by a ball in from the left and stabbed it wide. Moments later, Gime Toure weaved in from the left and flashed one across the face of goal.

Two minutes later, saw a golden opportunity arrive a both ends. First a quick break away saw ex-Glover Rhys Browne inside the box but his effort was well blocked by Alfie Pond and scrambled away. The play swung to the other end where Ben Richards-Everton’s header was cleared off the line.

The opening 38 minutes had not seen a great deal of Jamie Reckord, still our top scorer let’s not forget, but it was his ball in front the left that picked out Alex Fisher whose effort went over.

A minute later, Morgan Williams’ cross from the opposite side needed to be turned over by Howes, but the resulting corner saw the other side of Williams’ attacking play, smashing a shot high, wide and not so handsome from the edge of the box.

Half time: Wealdstone 0 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

Almost as if Chris Hargreaves had heard the half-time thoughts of the away end, Charlie Wakefield replaced Sam Perry at the start of the second half.

But if you’re going to play Wakefield down the wing , he needs the opportunities to get forward and for the first 15 minutes he didn’t get many. When he did, he won a corner and from Worthington’s ball in, Fisher’s effort was goalbound but without the venom required and it was easily cleared.

For all the plaudits Worthington has had in recent games, he went missing on too many occasions. Far from the all-action midfielder we have enjoyed so early this season, his only meaningful contribution was from corners.

On 68 minutes, a golden opportunity as Linton made a nuisance of himself to squeeze in between Howes and his defence and was pulled down. The young striker, who had not had his most effective game, grabbed the ball – but skied his effort out of Grosvenor Vale.

It certainly wasn’t Mal’s day and having headed a cross further away from goal that towards it, he was mercifully substituted Hargreaves after 84 minutes. Definitely not his day.

By that Jake Scrimshaw had come on and, for all his running and effort, did little to effect the game. In reality, we could have stayed out there until the next bank holiday and still not scored.

Full time: Wealdstone 0 Yeovil Town 0

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Sam Perry. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Chris Hargreaves makes just one change from the side that beat Dagenham as they take on National League leaders Wealdstone.

As expected, Lawson D’ath makes way after coming off with a knee injury on Saturday with Sam Perry taking his place in the starting line up.

Taking his place on the bench, is a slightly surprising return to the squad for Charlie Wakefield, he was expected to miss this game, but has clearly recovered ahead of schedule, which is lovely.

There’s no goalkeeper on the bench with loanees, Matty Grivosti and Finley Craske both still missing from the squad as well as Bristol City stopper Will Buse, the squad is as follows…

Yeovil Town: Grant Smith, Morgan Williams, Alfie Pond, Ben Richards-Everton, Josh Staunton, Jamie Reckord, Matt Worthington, Sam Perry, Gime Toure,Alex Fisher, Malachi Linton. Substitutes: Callum Rowe, Max Hunt, Chiori Johnson, Charlie Wakefield, Jake Scrimshaw.

As for the hosts, former Glover – and in form striker Rhys Browne leads their line with enforced changes in their back-line.
There’s no place for Fela Olomola, who is out injured.

Wealdstone: Howes, Cook, Kinsella, Charles, Allarakhia, Ferguson, Browne, Sesay, Napa, Kretzschmar, Habergham
Substitutes: Young, Hutchinson, Dyer, Mongoy, Mundle-Smith

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The first win is on the board for Chris Hargreaves. It wasn’t pretty, it wasn’t convincing, but who cares?! They all count. Here are Ian’s conclusions from yesterday’s 1-0 win.

We showed that we’ve got defensive resilience. Chris Hargreaves made some changes bringing in Alfie Pond and Ben Richards-Everton and it worked. The second half was an exercise in attack versus defence and marshalled by the impressive Josh Staunton, the Glovers kept free-flowing Dagenham at bay. They defended resolutely against a barrage of of corners. It was talked about in the build up to the game about the importance of seeing matches out and the players delivered for the manager, keeping a clean sheet and getting that all important first three points!

Image courtesy of Mike Kunz

 

It was a captain’s performance from Josh Staunton. With Alfie Pond making his debut, and Ben Richards-Everton returning from injury after three matches out, all eyes were on Josh Staunton to be the rock at the back. His performance was probably the best of the season so far. He saw the danger that Josh Walker was causing in the first half and took it upon himself to make sure Walker wasn’t allowed to do it in the second half. When the Glovers had to defend successive corners, Staunton was in the thick of things, putting his body on the line ensuring that Dagenham didn’t get an equaliser.

We’ve got a player in Alfie Pond. There’s a long way to go in Alfie Pond’s career, and as an 18-year-old he will have bad games at some point, but yesterday he looked the part. He had an early duel against one of the League’s best strikers in Paul McCallum which set the tone for his day. He was calm in possession of the ball, won his battles in the air and looked more than ready for the rigours of the National League. Having kept a clean sheet with Max Hunt dropped and Morgan Williams at wingback, there is plenty of competition for places at Huish Park at the moment.

Alfie Pond. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.


We seemed to show a lack of urgency at times. I’m not sure if it was our defensive focus, but we certainly sacrificed some of the Harg-Ball in favour of being secure. Before we took the lead through Jamie Reckord, there were groans at the lack of urgency and unwillingness to play forward, but our patience paid off and we got what turned out to be the winner. But in the second half, when we were really under pressure, I felt like we never got going and when we did have the ball we took our time to move it forward. It paid off in the end and we got the win but it would have been a little more comfortable…wouldn’t it?

It’s time to push on. We’ve got the first win in the bank now, on Friday we secured two new signings and we’re at a stage where we’ve got genuine depth and competition in each position. We travel to Wealdstone tomorrow and welcome York to Huish Park this coming Saturday and if we’re going to be a side that flirts with the playoffs, we should be getting six-points from those two games. We’ll have to deal with the absences of Charlie Wakefield, Sam Pearson and possibly Lawson D’Ath, but as we showed today we’ve got options. Hopefully we can get on a bit of run, build some confidence and some convincing victories on the way.