September 2022 (Page 3)

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  • Chris Hargreaves irritated at refereeing during Chesterfield match
  • Feels his side are in a false position and need a bit of momentum
  • Says there are a couple of injuries ahead of the visit of Boreham Wood

Chris Hargreaves broke rule one of the Gloverscast at his pre-match press conference this afternoon, complaining about the officiating during last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Chesterfield.

While he admitted the poor defending was the reason for conceding, he said he felt the Chesterfield were taking freekicks ahead of where they should have been.

He said: “I was consistently trying to pin point where free-kicks were taken and they were consistently incorrect, I can accept two or three yards but I can’t accept 15 or 20 yards. It’s something (officials) have to be better at because it’s unacceptable, if there’s a free-kick taken 20 yards away from where it happened, that’s not good enough.

“I’m not saying that’s why we conceded because we didn’t defend it properly. There are rules in place for a reason and if it’s two yards, I’ll accept it and that’s irritated me to say the least. It’s a small point, but it’s a huge detail where you are talking about a transition of play which changes the dimension of the play. It doesn’t take away we have to do our job from set pieces.”

Gime Toure fires in a shot. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

As Yeovil welcome 5th placed Boreham Wood to Huish Park this weekend, the manager said his side were in a positive frame of mind after Chesterfield, despite the disappointing set pieces.

“We are preparing for another good test against a decent side. We’ve had a good week’s training and some chats about the Chesterfield game and we feel in a positive frame of mind.

“You go through periods where you have chances and have to kill teams off because teams are dangerous especially from set pieces. The disappointment was there were several scenarios where we even concede the corner (from which Chesterfield scored their second equaliser) where we can affect the play and that was something we’ve discussed.

“To put these situations as best we can in practice, it’s different in matches than training but we have run through it a few times. We take a lot of time on set pieces and sometimes an individual can switch off and when they do it costs you. Even though they are riding high, we played well. That was us back to what I want from my team and that’s why I was so disappointed for them. What I need is to rely on people in those critical moments to see something out.” he added.

Hargreaves, who’s searching for his second win as Yeovil boss, said that Boreham Wood present a ‘massive test’ but that his side are in a false position in 19th.

He said: “We need a bit of momentum to get a run going and we know it can soon change. We feel we are in a false position but we are where we are and we have to deal with it.

“We have to make sure we are robust and determined enough to get higher up the league. We go in to every game wanting to win it and it will be no different this weekend. It’s a massive test, but we want those tests, we want to pit ourselves against everybody, but it’s a game to look forward to.”

Owen Bevan heads away. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

One player who’s made a big impact since joining the club on-loan from Bournemouth is Owen Bevan. Hargreaves praised the defender and also squeezed in an Hargreaves-ism to keep the youngster on his toes.

“For Owen it’s a fantastic experience, he’s shown he’s got that strength and determination with a bright future. For now, it’s good luck to him but we’ve got to deal with the opposition and there’s players champing at the bit that’s for sure.”

Yeovil have a couple of unnamed injury concerns ahead of the weekend, but Hargreaves is happy with the depth on offer but admitted the club are ‘actively open’ to players joining.

“We are competitive with our training and there may be one or two that are fighting on the edge of it, but we don’t want someone to be a hero and be out for six weeks. We have enough depth for someone to come in and take a chance, but we are still actively open to players coming to the club. The lads know that, we want to be successful.

It’s touch and go but we have players champing at the bit. We will review it (on Friday) in training and a decision will be made.”

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Highlights of National League matches can be published on the same day as matches, the league has confirmed.

The changes mean that club’s can publish match highlights after the league’s broadcast partner, BT Sport, has shown its highlights programme.

A statement from the National League on Thursday said timings “may vary” but the shows are “typically scheduled at 10pm, finishing at 10.30pm” on a Saturday, but anyone who has waited up for them knows they can be much later.

The statement said: “Whilst the timing of the BT Sport highlights show may vary – they are typically scheduled at 10pm, finishing at 10.30pm, with this being the case for the forthcoming weeks.

“Should there not be a weekend highlights show, highlights cannot be uploaded until after the blackout in accordance with Article 48.

“In relation to midweek highlights, these can be shown immediately following the completion of the game.”

If you remember from the recent live streaming debate, Article 48 of the UEFA Statutes says that games cannot be broadcast between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on a Saturday.

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Yeovil Town supporters have given the club a below average score across the board in the Gloverscast’s first ever YeoGov Tracker, which measures supporter sentiment across five areas on and off pitch.

219 supporters shared their views on the first month of the season and gave manager Chris Hargreaves a score of 3.37 out of 7 and scored the players performance at 3.60 out of 7.

Off the pitch, the scores were lower than on it, with the average score to the question ‘What would score the ownership/board this month?’ a 2.13 out of 7. With regards to communication the score was 2.32 out of 7 and supporters scored the matchday experience 2.76. 

Thank you to the 219 supporters who took part, keep an eye out for the September tracker at the end of the month.

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Gime Toure fires in a shot. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

What happens when you score the opening goal against the unbeaten table toppers?

You get in the team of the week, result.

That’s what’s happened to our very own French Maverick Striker, Gime Toure.

Congratulations, Gime!

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Josh Staunton celebrates his equaliser in the 2-2 draw against Chesterfield. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Goalscoring Skipper Josh Staunton has been named in the Non League Paper’s team of the day following the Glovers’ 2-2 draw with Chesterfield on Saturday.

He’s been named in a midfield three rather than as part of the back line, but I’m sure Mr Versatile won’t mind.

Congratulations, Josh

The team in full:

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So, the National League has taken a decision….well, kind of. After a tantrum from Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds about why he couldn’t live stream matches – presumably he doesn’t have a “little camera” like our own Scott Priestnall – it looks like matches might be streamed by the end of the season.

I say ‘might’ because, well, it’s the National League and they don’t have an exemplary track record and also it’s not really live streaming like you might first think. This isn’t going to be like the ‘lockdown season’ of 2020-21 when all matches will be available as it’s already been said that matches televised on BT Sport won’t be streamed and nor will any games with breach the ‘black out rule’ preventing the broadcast of matches in England and Wales between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on a Saturday.

So, in essence, it means midweek matches and games played on a bank holiday can be streamed. There was a few other dates in November and December which are exempt from the rule, or Article 3 – Transmission Rights’ of Article 48 of the UEFA Statutes, which would allow broadcast of matches during the winter World Cup in Qatar. Not that these really matter as the National League will unlikely have decided the date of its next meeting by November let alone anything else!

Today’s Non-League Paper suggests there’s likely to be a variety of ways to pay for streams, including per game, per month or in the form of a ‘season ticket’, which would see subscribers able to choose which match to watch, as opposed to being tied to a single team.

The big question comes down to – where’s the money going? The National League has said the finances will benefit the 72 teams in the three divisions and presumably this will need to support teams in National League North and South (Hi, W*ymouth!) to get set up for televising games. Do they even have fibre optic cables in South Dorset?

The decision was “unanimously” approved by the entire National League Board, which includes our own chairman, of course, at a meeting on Thursday and therefore we assume the lower division clubs have been given some kinds of assurances.

Surely  at least a percentage of the money needs to be equitably distributed to avoid deepening the financial gulf between the big spenders and the small spenders. In this instance, as a National League Premier club drawing crowds of more than 2,000 to home matches, we’re almost certainly a big(er) spender – can someone pick Scott up off the floor, please? It’s got to be about what’s fair for everyone, right?

The other thing is, are we going to see clubs buggering about with kick-off times to enable them to stream outside the 2.45pm-5.15pm window on a Saturday? Will Ryan Reynolds be insisting on evening kick-offs for Wrexham to allow him to tune in from Los Angeles? I’m sure all he needs to do is put a tweet out and the National League will listen.

But seriously, there needs to be a firm line taken on that or else we’re going to find ourselves at the mercy of those who want to broadcast.

I agree that Article 48 was brought in by Football League chairmen fearful of television companies in the 1970s and is therefore quite outdated, but there is more than a grain of common sense in its presence – let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater, eh?

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Programmes for the 2-2 draw against league leaders Chesterfield will be available for free after the club was “let down for the delivery.”

The printed versions were not available for sale at Huish Park on Saturday but presumably arrived in Somerset from…..wherever they are printed later in the day.

In a statement ahead of the game, the club said: “We would like to apologise to supporters for the lack of programme, and can say we did everything we could to have a programme available.

“Whilst we still await the delivery of the programmes, we remain committed to supplying a physical copy of this edition, which will be available for free with a ticket stub. We’ll issue a further update in due course.”

However, in the meantime, you can download the programme for free – here.

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Yeovil Town Under-18s were forced to settle for a point having been pegged back by a late equaliser at Swindon Supermarine this weekend.

Striker Charlie Bateson made it two goals in as many matches with an early strike in what was described as “a controlled and positive performance” in the South West Counties Youth League fixture in Wiltshire.

However, a late equaliser from the home side means the young Glovers are in fifth place in the table (if you look at them in mid-September) after just two matches.

They face Bridgwater United at Alvington next Saturday 24th September with a 10.30am kick-off.

Their next opponents had an 11-0 home win over Ferndown-based BRS Coaching Under-18s, who look likely to be the division’s whipping boys having lost 7-1 in their previous match.

Yeovil Town Under-18s: Robert Hollard, Mason Hunter, Max Dyer, Jacob Shore (for Joshua Haskett, 75), Harrison Foster, Jake Graziano (for Joshua Sutton, 75), Sam Hodges, Jack Bareham (for Nathan Hart, 85), Charlie Bateson (for Aidan Skiverton, 55), Benjani Junior, Ethan O’Sullivan.

 

The teams representing the Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust got their Junior Premier League season underway on Saturday.

There were victories for the Under-11s and Under-12s against Bridgwater United and for the Under-14s and Under-15s against Exeter Regional Talent Centre (RTC) with plenty of goals on display, apparently.

The Trust don’t publicise scorelines because that’s not what it’s all about, but with four out of six age group sides winning sounds pretty good, right?

U11’s v Bridgwater United – Won
U12’s v Bridgwater United – Won
U13’s v Exeter RTC – Drew
U14’s v Exeter RTC – Won
U15’s v Exeter RTC – Won
U16’s v Exeter RTC – Lost

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The Glovers let two leads slip against the league leaders, but showed a big improvement on their last two matches. Here is Ian’s conclusions from the 2-2 draw with Chesterfield.

Chiori Johnson has waited patiently and taken his chance. Through no fault of his own, Morgan Williams missed out yesterday and patiently waiting in the wings has been summer signing Chiori Johnson. Johnson took his chance and was one of the bright sparks of the game. He provided an outlet going forward on the right and looked the most natural of the players who’ve played wingback so far this season. Jamie Reckord has been our main wide threat before yesterday and as a result we’ve ended up focusing our play on the left, Johnson gave us the opportunity to get it down the right too.

Josh Staunton was solid in the heart of defence. I know there’s still a debate about whether to play him in centre midfield, but his performances in midfield against Scunthorpe and Eastleigh haven’t inspired confidence so far. In the middle of a back three, he’s looked stronger in my view. Wrexham and Dagenham were highlights, and we can add Chesterfield to that too. He got a goal (I think) but he led in typical fashion and was a rock in defence. I think we can put to bed the midfield discussion.

Gime Toure was in the mood. He gambled early on and hassled the Chesterfield defence to earn an early goal and his afternoon was probably his best in a green and white shirt so far. He scared the Spireites back line with his direct running, hunted down loose balls and got himself in a dangerous areas that caused panic amongst the Chesterfield defence. Can he do it consistently? Can any of them? I don’t know, but I enjoyed what I saw from Toure.

We need to find a way to see these games out. We’ve let leads slip against Altrincham, Eastleigh and Chesterfield and got three points from those games rather than nine, which would make us all feel a lot more happier than we are. While we were resilient against Dagenham and hung on, albeit with our backs firmly planted in the wall, against Chesterfield we had a bit of everything but lacked the concentration in key moments. Shortly after the opener, Grant Smith decided to go on a walkabout and wiped out Joe Quigley, giving us a set piece to contend with, which we didn’t. Why he decided to cover Jamie Reckord’s position needlessly, only he can explain. The delivery on the corner for the second goal just seemed to catch the Glovers napping. The flat delivery to the edge of the box, the weak shot, the hashed clearance and poor marking. You can forgive worldies from distance and genuine class, but the equalisers yesterday felt of our own doing.

Gime Toure. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

We need to reproduce these performances against the rest of the league. The drastic improvement from York and Eastleigh needs to be more than a one-off. If this is what we can do, it needs to be the standard. Not just the level for the likes of Wrexham and Chesterfield. In our season preview podcast, Adam Virgo said how the big games look after themselves, it’s the ones you ‘should win’ that cause problems. If that doesn’t sum up our season so far, I don’t know what does. We need to make these passing, pressing, “blood and guts” (Staunton 17:9) performances the norm – not the exception.