September 2022 (Page 4)

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Yeovil Town boss Chris Hargreaves said he was “furious” after seeing his side conceded an equaliser from a late corner to have to settle for a point from a 2-2 draw with National League leaders Chesterfield at Huish Park.

The Glovers were leading with three minutes of the match remaining when they failed to pick up Spireites’ substitute winger Jesurun Uchegbulam inside the box and he smashed home a second equaliser to nick a point.

Chris Hargreaves in conversation with BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the match, Hargreaves said his counterpart, Chesterfield boss Paul Cook, had told him the hosts “didn’t get what they deserved and you were the better side.”

He said: “We made some fundamental errors at the wrong times and that can’t happen, so I am delighted with the performance but it’s tempered with a bit of annoyance.

“I can’t step on to the pitch and lock on to a man myself, I did as a player but I can’t from the touchline, so it will be hard work training next week to try and put it right.”

He added: “We didn’t want to sit back, we wanted to win the game and I expected us to because we have some very good players in there, it’s just sickening you can’t see a game out.

“I’m furious about the manner in which we conceded from a set piece, but I have to give the players an immense amount of credit. They are giving everything for the badge, but just not seeing a game out when it’s there to be won.”

Gime Toure, who returned to the starting line-up in place of Alex Fisher who was out of the squad on compassionate live, opened the scoring for Yeovil after just three minutes, before a needless free-kick conceded by goalkeeper Grant Smith gifted the visitors an equaliser just four minutes later.

The performance was a vast improvement from recent matches including a 1-0 defeat against York City in the last outing at Huish Park where Hargreaves’ side was booed off the pitch.

The boss said: “The players gave everything and were outstanding in listening to our game plan and creating chances, they did it all but in both boxes is where it matters.

“I don’t think it’s luck, it’s a bit of (a lack of) experience, realising the danger but I’m pleased the fans saw us play well, played the team that’s top of the table off the park for the majority of the game.

“We didn’t get what we deserved, but we have got to change that. We know we are a very good side in the making, but I can’t accept that at the moment.”

With more than 850 appearances among the six men who made up their defence when Uchegbulam struck, inexperience is an excuse perhaps only on loan Owen Bevan, making just his third professional start, can claim.

Gime Toure. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Hargreaves was full of praise for Toure who looked a threat all game as well as chipping in with his second goal since joining shortly after the season.

He said: “Gime was fantastic every time he got the ball, he was a threat, he was brave getting in to pockets and looked like he was back to his best. It was a good moment for him to score, he’s got goals in him, we just have to keep them fit.”

There was also praise for Finley Craske, the versatile Plymouth Argyle youngster who looked impressive after coming on as a 67th minute substitute for Sam Pearson.

The boss added: “When you have been out of the team you can become frustrated and disillusioned and your attitude can drop off and it’s been the reverse with Fin.

“He’s been the epitome of what a young professional should be which is determined, behind the lads who are playing in his position, but when he gets his chance he shows bravery and fight.”

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Yeovil skipper Josh Staunton was disappointed the Glovers didn’t pick up all three points today against Chesterfield but felt there were positives to build on.

The Glovers led twice but were pegged back by frustrating goals and Staunton, who was awarded the sponsors Man of the Match, said he was hurting after being ahead twice.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins he said: “On the balance of play today, it’s actually really frustrating. It feels like we should have come away with all three (points) really and we were five minutes away from doing so.

His memory lapsed on the first goal but on the second he said: “It’s a set piece and we’re really really disappointed with how we’ve conceded it, because it was a nothing ball in and it was lucky miskick straight to their man who’s taken it well to be fair to him.

“But, we should have dealt with it a couple of phases before. That one really hurts to be honest, it’s a disappointing feeling when you concede two like that.”

There was certainly an improvement for the Huish Park faithful after the dismal loss at the hands of York two weeks ago, and Staunton affirmed the resilience of the group and praised the reaction of the supporters in attendance.

“It was definitely a good reaction after Saturday against York and then Tuesday against Eastleigh where we were poor, so it shows the group is definitely resilient and we want to turn them (draws) into wins.

“If we put a Yeovil performance on, a proper Yeovil performance one of guts and blood and determination, the fans will always back us. You’ll get no qualms from me, when we don’t do the basics well and we don’t get that support because, ultimately, we have to earn it. 

“After the last two results, today everyone in the stadium was right behind us. Every one at Yeovil will back us if we put on a proper Yeovil performance and play for them.”

Obviously, the overwhelming feeling today is of disappointment to hold on to the lead, but the performance was a massive improvement on previous outings and skipper said it was important to use the performance as a platform to build on.

“We’ve got to build on today, we cant keep taking one step forward and two steps back. We’ve got to try and put the platform in place and keep building on them. After days like today and Wrexham, the foundations are there because you can see we’re a good side. It all comes down, now, to proving that we are (a good side) and going week-after-week getting results to back that.”

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Venue: Huish Park
Saturday September 17th, 3pm kick-off

Conditions: Sunny with a gentle breeze
Pitch: Heavily watered which made it slick but also cut up in places

Attendance: 2,672 (367 away supporters)

Scorers: Gime Toure 3 (1-0), Jamie Grimes 8 (1-1), Josh Staunton 80 (2-1), Jesurun Uchegbulam 87 (2-2)

Bookings: 

Yeovil Town: Grant Smith 6, Matt Worthington 33, Jamie Reckord 90+5
Chesterfield: Tyrone Williams 43, Calvin Miller 63, Michael Gyasi 90+5

Referee: Elliot Swallow


Yeovil Town : (3-4-3)

Grant Smith

Owen Bevan  Josh Staunton Ben Richards-Everton

                          Chiori Johnson                                                                       Jamie Reckord

Matt Worthington Lawson D’Ath

Sam Pearson (for Finley Craske, 66)

Malachi Linton (for Charlie Wakefield, 76) Gime Toure

Substitutes: Morgan Williams, Max Hunt, Jake Scrimshaw.


Chesterfield: Covolan, King, Williams, Grimes, Horton, Oldaker, Banks, Mandeville, Clarke (for Gyasi, 70), Miller (for Uchegbulam 66), Quigley. Substitutes: Maguire, Cooper, Akinola.

Match Report

A late leveller three minutes from time saw Yeovil Town denied a win against league leaders Chesterfield in a thoroughly entertaining encounter at Huish Park.

It appeared that Glovers’ skipper Josh Staunton had earned all three points when he bundled home his first goal of the season on 80 minutes, but the visitors’ equalised after Yeovil switched off from a corner to allow substitute Jesurun Uchegbulam.

The equaliser was harsh on Chris Hargreaves’ men who had gone toe-to-toe with their big-spending opponents and been the better side for much of the match – sadly, two defensive lapses mean we are still looking for our second win of the National League season.

 

First half

Chiori Johnson and Gime Toure came in to the starting XI in place of the previously ever-present Morgan Williams and the out-of-sorts Charlie Wakefield, who both dropped to the bench alongside Finley Craske, who made his first appearance in a match day squad. Alex Fisher was not named in the squad having been given compassionate leave.

Gime Toure is congratulated on his opening goal. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

And Toure made the most of his call up after he did not give up on a ball over the top and took advantage of a mix-up between visiting keeper Lucas Covolan and Tyrone Williams. Covolan came a long way off his line and TOURE nicked the ball around goalkeeper and defender fired in to an unguarded net.

But, less than five minutes later the visitors equalised. Grant Smith bizarrely came a long way out of his box and gave away a completely unnecessary free-kick for a foul on ex-Glovers’ striker Joe Quigley. From the set piece, the visitors broke down the right and fired in an effort which Smith only parried straight to Chesterfield captain Jamie GRIMES who turned home an equaliser.

Soon after a Lawson D’Ath corner was sent over the bar by a diving header from Owen Bevan, but it was the visitors who dominated momentum after that goal showing the confidence of a team who had won their last four matches while Yeovil wobbled like a team who had won just once all season.

There was a bright spot on 19 minutes when Johnson’s beat his man and slotted a ball across through to Sam Pearson who could not make the most of the opportunity.

That sparked a bit of pressure from Yeovil with Josh Staunton firing an effort straight in to the ‘non-core land at Huish Park and moments later Johnson, who looked in the mood going forward down the right, found Linton, but the striker fired wide.

Having soaked up some pressure, it was the Glovers who were in the ascendancy as the game entered the final 15 minutes and the more than 250 youngsters brought to Huish Park by the Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust had plenty to shout about – and shout they did!

Five minutes before half-time Calvin Miller dragged a shot wide and minute before the break a low free-kick from Matt Worthington forced a good save out of Covolan.

Having been booed off the pitch at the end of their last outing on home soil, Yeovil were applauded off at the interval having taken the game to their lofty opponents for much of the half. Is this the ‘HargBall’ of which we’ve been told?

Half time:  Yeovil Town 1 Chesterfield 1

Second half

The home side started brightly with Toure at the heart of everything that was good creating a good chance for Johnson on 52 minutes but his header did not have enough power to trouble Covolan.

A minute later, the visitors broke forward through Jack Clarke, who had an unsuccessful spell on loan at Huish Park last season, but his was denied by a superbly-timed tackle from Jamie Reckord and the ball dropped to Liam Mandeville whose shot was straight at Grant Smith.

Shortly after the hour mark, Pearson had a time effort in on goal and on 66 minutes he was replaced by Finley Craske, the versatile player on loan from Plymouth Argyle. It had been a frustrating afternoon for Pearson who was outmuscled by some of his more experienced opponents for much of this match.

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

Malachi Linton, who had another hard-working performance without finding the net, was replaced by Charlie Wakefield with 15 minutes remaining.

For all the disappointment of the past couple of weeks, this was a much improved performance from Yeovil and they deservedly regained the lead ten minutes from time. A Reckord corner from was met at the back post with a header back across goal which went through a crowd of bodies and Josh STAUNTON was there to turn it in – probably! No-one could really tell but the captain certainly claimed it.

But they were in the lead for just seven minutes as a defensive error saw a low corner was not picked up by the Glovers’ defence and the ball found its way to substitute winger Jesurun UCHEGBULAM who was unmarked to hammer home another leveller. Such frustration that two defensive lapses cost had undone an otherwise impressive performance from Yeovil.

Toure, who had been in the mood all afternoon, burst down the left in the next attack but his effort went over the bar.

Overall, a brilliant game which saw Yeovil go toe-to-toe with the league leaders. There were some ‘handbags’ at the end with a confrontation between Jamie Reckord and visitors’ substitute Michael Gyasi. Bookings handed out, but applause for Chris Hargreaves’ men at the final whistle.

Full time: Yeovil Town 2 Chesterfield 2

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Morgan Williams is dropped for the visit of National League leaders Chesterfield to Huish Park (3pm kick-off) as Yeovil Town revert back to a three-man defence.

Chiori Johnson comes in at right wing-back for his second start with Gime Toure, who was not involved in the 1-1 draw at Eastleigh in midweek, returns up front with Malachi Linton as Alex Fisher continues on the substitutes’ bench.

Williams is named on the bench alongside Plymouth Argyle loanee Finley Craske, making his first appearance in a matchday squad, and the out-of-sorts Charlie Wakefield, who is dropped after a quiet performance in midweek,.

There is still no place for new signing winger Will Dawes, signed for an undisclosed five-figure fee from Stratford Town, and Alex Fisher is also missing from the 16-man squad.

Former Glovers Joe Quigley and Jack Clarke are named in the visitors’ starting XI which is unchanged from a midweek win over Southend United following the overturning of a red card given to midfielder Ollie Banks.

 

Yeovil Town : (3-4-3)

Grant Smith

Owen Bevan  Josh Staunton Ben Richards-Everton

                          Chiori Johnson                                                                       Jamie Reckord

Matt Worthington Lawson D’Ath

Sam Pearson

Malachi Linton Gime Toure

Substitutes: Morgan Williams, Max Hunt, Finley Craske, Charlie Wakefield, Jake Scrimshaw.

Chesterfield: Covolan, King, Williams, Grimes, Horton, Oldaker, Banks, Mandeville, Clarke, Miller, Quigley. Substitutes: Maguire, Cooper, Akinola, Uchegbulam, Gyasi.

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The National League board has said it is aiming to have a service set up to live stream matches by the end of this season.

In a statement issued at 10.30pm on Friday night, the board said it was looking to set up a service to televised “non-televised matches” whilst “also respecting the need to comply with Article 48 restrictions.”

Article 48 is a UEFA regulation which prevents matches being televised in England and Scotland between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on a Saturday, which presumably means the new streaming service will only cover midweek, bank holiday fixtures and any rescheduled kick-off times.

Yeovil Town chairman Scott Priestnall is a member of the National League board.

In its statement, the National League said: “After several months of considering the options and appropriate due diligence the Board were presented with a detailed report which, having received proposals from a number of potential partners including market leaders and which also included speaking with organisations who have successful experience in streaming, a series of recommendations were made.

“The Board unanimously approved all recommendations and have tasked the Commercial Committee to immediately progress this work, finalise contractual arrangements and confirm timelines. The ambition is to have a fully functioning platform launch in the second half of the season.”

The statement follows – though we’re sure are totally unconnected to – a public spat at the end of last month with Wrexham owner Ryan Reynolds to the 20.2 million who follow him on Twitter about the predicament.

He said the league not allowing streaming was “truly baffling” adding: “It deprives every team in our league of the chance to expand the fanbase, while adding to league revenue benefits everyone.”

The National League board, which counts Yeovil Town chairman and owner Scott Priestnall among its number, says it has been speaking with BT Sport which broadcasts live matches and highlights, mostly 5.15pm kick-offs on Saturday but also around bank holidays and occasionally midweek.

In its most recent statement, the league added BT Sport had been “incredibly supportive of the plan” and that, with full board approval in place it would “now be progressing matters to contractually cement that position“.

The statement finishes: “We are excited to move this forward promptly and will give regular updates as to the progress of the project.”

Watch this space for a streaming service coming to a television/laptop/tablet/mobile phone near you…….at some point, probably later this season although it is the National League, so who knows?!

 

What is Article 48?

If we’re getting specific, we’re talking about ‘Article 3 – Transmission Rights’ of Article 48 of the UEFA Statutes, which says:

Each member association may decide on two and a half hours on a Saturday or a Sunday during which any Transmission of football may be prohibited within the territory of the relevant member association. This prohibition shall apply only to intentional Transmissions. The two and a half hours period (or periods) must be decided on by the member association fourteen days, at the latest, before the beginning of its domestic season, at which time they will enter into force and apply for the whole season.

In summary, the rules of UEFA, which governs European football, says that any football association can pick a two-and-a-half hour window when games can’t be televised in. In England, that is between 2.45pm-5.15pm on a Saturday.

The so-called ‘black-out rule’ was introduced during the 1960s when Football League chairmen believed televised matches had a negative impact on attendances at matches being played at the same time.

Some of them might still do – anyone seen our chairman?

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Having had their opening day fixtures postponed due to the death of The Queen, teams representing the Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust get their season underway tomorrow (September 17th).

The Trust’s Under-11s and Under-12s will face their counterparts from Bridgwater Town in the Junior Premier League (JPL), with its Under-13s, Under-14s, Under-15s and Under-16s playing the Exeter Regional Talent Centre’s (RTC) sides.

Fixtures (all 10am kick-offs)

YTCST Under-11s v Bridgwater Town Under-11s
YTCST Under-12s v Bridgwater Town Under-12s
YTCST Under-13s v Exter RTC Under-13s
YTCST Under-14s v Exter RTC Under-14s
YTCST Under-15s v Exter RTC Under-15s
YTCST Under-16s v Exter RTC Under-16s

The Trust’s JPL teams are run in conjunction with its existing Talent ID Centre programme within the region as well as our Advanced Talent ID Centre’s which were established with the aim of developing local players.

The JPL is run in a very similar way to Academy level football with the only difference being the incentive to play for league points and participate in cup competitions.

All of the Trust’s players have the opportunity to represent Yeovil Town Community Sports Trust and Yeovil Town Football Club at a competitive level.

Fixtures are played on a Saturday morning and therefore do not conflict with local leagues who operate on a Sunday as we believe that it is important for the Trust to work alongside local grassroots clubs in order to help develop young footballers within the area.

For more information on the work of the Trust, visit its website – here.

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Benjani Junior in action for Yeovil Town Under-18s.
Picture courtesy of @ytfcacademy.

Yeovil Town‘s Under-18s have been drawn away at Bovey Tracey in the FA Youth Cup Second Qualifying Round.

The match will take place on Monday 26th September with a 7pm kick-off, unless both teams agree to change the time.

The Moorlanders, who play in the Devon Counties Under 18 South East Division, booked their place with a penalty shoot-out win over Plymouth Parkway in the competition’s first qualifying on Thursday night.

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To be honest, the headline kind of said everything you need to know, but you’ve scrolled down so I better pad it out a bit here.

Yeovil Town’s game against Woking (with him, that other fella and the other one) has been rearranged for Tuesday 1st November.

The game, scheduled for September 10th was postponed as the game paid its respects after the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The new date comes with a 7.45pm kick off and any pre-paid tickets are still valid. The Cards advised that any other ticket enquiries should be directed to tickets@wokingfc.co.uk. If you had a ticket for the original date and can’t make this one, you can get the cost refunded, just contact Woking and ask them.

Ticket prices are:

Adult: £20.00 (£22.00 walk up)
Concession (65+): £15.00 (£17.00 walk up)
Next Generation (aged 16-22): £12.00 (£14.00 walk up)
Under 16: £5.00

For anything else you need to know about visiting Kingfield, don’t miss the Ciderspace Away Travel Guide – here – once we’ve whipped Huish Hugh to update it with the new date and ticket details!