Five Conclusions: Yeovil Town 1 Notts County 4
2023-02-19
Yeovil Town fell to a 4-1 defeat at the hands of National League leaders Nott County yesterday afternoon. Here’s Ian Five Conclusions from Huish Park…
The score line did not reflect the performance. If you weren’t at Huish Park yesterday you’d have seen that score and thought it was a hammering, but it didn’t tell the full story. Notts County’s manager Luke Williams said he felt very lucky to come away from Huish Park with three points. Many expected the Glovers to sit back and absorb a 90 minute blitz, but despite conceding in the first five minutes, Yeovil went toe-to-toe with table-toppers but in the hunt for a second equaliser left too much room for Macauley Langstaff inside the 18 yard box in the 94th minute.
Mark Cooper set up his side with a plan to stifle Notts County and a big part of that involved Morgan Williams, who kept Ruben Rodrigues out of the game. Williams seems capable of doing every job asked of him. Yesterday he lined up as part of the midfield, tasked with following Rodrigues everywhere and preventing him from impacting the game and Williams did just that. Rodrigues barely got a sniff of the ball without Williams breathing down his neck to dispossess him. At one point in the second half Rodrigues celebrated a sliding tackle on Williams by the touch line which Williams laughed off – he clearly enjoyed the agitation of his opponent. Ultimately, Rodrigues made the difference from the spot, where Williams couldn’t shadow him, however the centre back, turned full back, turned wingback has shown he can also do a job in midfield too.
While the performance didn’t match the result, to gift the top goal scorer in the league was a cardinal sin. When Langstaff was allowed freedom of the six yard box to head home, it gave the Glovers an even bigger mountain to climb, and although they nearly managed it, its clear Langstaff is operating on another level. The striker is in the form of his life and is absolutely lethal in front of goal. His first was good positioning to spot space in the area, his second was less instinctive but a real poachers effort after good spell of patient possession and the third was the hunger to take home the match ball as Yeovil’s defenders switched off.
Despite going behind, we didn’t change our approach. It was clear that the plan was to allow the Notts County defenders to knock the ball about and bring it forward, but once they made it past the halfway line, Cooper, Worthington and D’Ath engaged and launched the counter attack. In the second half it felt like the momentum was with Yeovil and with the introduction of Andrew Oluwabori, Notts County had genuine pace up against them. Slocombe’s didn’t anticipate Oluwabori’s pace in the 65th minute and he nipped in to pinch the ball and was left with work to do to score a great equaliser. Slocombe was stretched again by Oluwabori and Jordan Young, but it was Jamie Reckord who should have levelled it before County’s stoppage time double.
Ytfc v Ncfc nearer rugby than football pic.twitter.com/425uKVd0Gv
— Colin (@YorkshireGlover) February 18, 2023
We’re down to the bare bones again. For the third season in a row, we’re playing without a full bench and asking players to play through the pain barrier to get us through games. Mark Cooper mentioned the absence of a physio again yesterday, clearly a pointed message. We’re going into two huge games this week that we need to win. The sides below are picking up points and if were going to keep our heads above the water we need to do the same at Maidenhead and York City. Make no mistake, we are in a relegation battle and our players are going above and beyond for the green and white shirt. Everyone (okay, maybe not everyone) at the club is mucking in.
Loan Watch: Leamington Win, BRE Scores
2023-02-19
Another week another Loan Watch and there’s finally some good news to talk about.
We start in Scunthorpe where Ben Richards-Everton scored and was awarded Man of the Match on his debut for the Iron as they won 3-2 against Dagenham to move within four points of safety in the National League
Elsewhere, there was a first win in over 100 days for Leamington and Ollie Hulbert, Hulbert might not have scored but he played the full match as former Glover Ted Cann saved a penalty with two late goals ensuring a win over Darlington.
On to Truro, where Ollie Haste played the full 90 minutes in a 1-1 draw against Hartley Witney.
Gillingham Town also picked up a 1-0 win. Their game against Hallen FC was decided on the hour with both Rob Hollard and Sam Hodges involved, the win means Hollard keeps a well earned clean sheet, with Hodges praised for his relentless work and ball retention after coming off the bench.
Charlie Bateson was on the bench for Tiverton, but to our knowledge didn’t make the pitch in a tightly contest game against Chesham. Tivvy winning 2-1 with their keeper saving a 96th minute penalty!
Finally, Toby Stephens wasn’t in the Plymouth Parkway squad, whilst Sherborne didn’t have a game.
That didn’t stop Benjani and Jake Graziano though, they were both on the scoresheet for the Glovers Under 18s in a 3-2 victory.
Returning Graziano at the double
2023-02-18
A brace from captain Jake Graziano was enough to earn Yeovil Town Under-18s a 3-2 win at BRS Coaching Youth in the South West Counties Youth League at the weekend.
The midfielder was joined on the scoresheet in Bournemouth by striker Benjani Junior with both players back in the line-up for the Underr-18s with Sherborne Town, where both have been on loan for the past few weeks, without a fixture this weekend.
That keeps the young Glovers in second place, five points behind leaders Bridgwater United having played one game fewer.
In the Junior Premier League, the club’s Under-12s picked up a win over South Somerset Regional Talent Centre but the Under-13s went down to defeat against Taunton Town.
Staunton: We have to start picking up points
2023-02-18
Yeovil Town captain Josh Staunton said the side’s performance in the 4-1 home defeat to National League leaders Notts County was evidence of their struggles this season.
The Glovers had golden opportunities to pull level for a second time through defenders Jamie Reckord and Edwin Agbaje having after fallen behind to a penalty from Reuben Rodrigues six minutes from time.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the game, Staunton said: “Those chances are chances we should score and it has changed the game and (if we score) it switches the momentum again and we probably come away with at least a point but that is why we are where we are.
“It is a testament for how far we have come, but it shows where we are shooting ourselves in the foot because we are capable of performances like that.
“That is a reflection of a team which is in 19th place and we have to find it in ourselves to turn good performances in to results, because at the end of the season (good performances) do not mean a great deal.”
The defeat sees Yeovil drop to 19th place in the table, three points off the division’s relegation places with relegation rivals Torquay United and Scunthorpe United both picking up important wins.
They travel to Maidenhead United, who sit two places and one point above them having played two more games, on Tuesday night and Staunton admits that game is more important in the context of the season.
He said: “The most important thing about today, which most people probably class as a free hit, is that we re-group for Tuesday.
“That is where have to look seriously at targeting points, we had a lot of physical exertion today and Tuesday is a massive game for us, we need to start picking up points.
“We can take some heart from today, but Tuesday is going to be a completely different challenge. We have to roll out sleeves up and make sure we are in the best physical condition to do that.
“We owe it to each other, the club and the fans to make sure we are in the best condition. There is no reason why a group of young lads should not be able to play Saturday and then Tuesday.
“We can all sit here and make excuses but that is not the character of the team and the squad, we try and take ownership and we try and look at ourselves because it is down to us and take responsibility.”
Cooper: We did not get what we deserved
2023-02-18
Mark Cooper said his Yeovil Town side picked up a “moral victory” despite being beaten 4-1 at home to table-topping Notts County at Huihs Park on Saturday.
Having fallen behind to an early goal from the National League’s top scorer Macauley Langstaff after just four minutes, the Glovers pulled level when substitute Andrew Oluwabori equalised after 65 minutes but a penalty from Reuben Rodrigues and another two for Langstaff completed the scoring.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the game, Cooper said: “I thought we were magnificent from start to finish. At 2-1 (down) I gambled looking to get back in it, pushed people forward hoping that we would get a chance and we did, we had a great chance more or less on the goal line but put it wide.
“I think it is a moral victory for us and we have expended a lot of energy today and got nothing, we didn’t get what we deserved.”
He added: “I thought second half we were brilliant, we had a game plan which was clear for all to see, people were sat behind me shouting ‘go and press them’ but we knew exactly what we were doing.
“We kept winning the ball back in the middle of the pitch, we had numerous chances and at 1-1 we looked like we could have won it and then I don’t know if it’s a penalty.”
The boss had praise for debutant defender Ryan Law about whom he said: “He was calm, no drama. He was a 7/10 and improves us down that left hand side definitely” and Oluwabori, adding: “It was a great goal from Andrew and we need more of them.”
Having started the game with strikers Alex Fisher and Malachi Linton, the boss said he believed his side had tried to entertain the Huish Park crowd. He said: “I think we had a duty at home to try and entertain our hands. We played two strikers, played a little wider which was part of the game plan to try and stretch them and I thought it worked really well.”
Yeovil were without the creative forces of Jordan Maguire-Drew and Jack Clarke against Notts and named just four substitutes, and Cooper said he was hopeful of having Maguire-Drew back in time for Tuesday night’s trip to Maidenhead United.
He added that he did not think Chiori Johnson would be available for the midweek match.
Of his team, he said: “They are fit, we have some real athletes in the middle of the pitch and if we play with that endeavour in the middle of the pitch on Tuesday we will be competitive.”
Team News: Notts County (H)
2023-02-18
Yeovil Town have named just FOUR substitutes for their clash against Notts County.
Jordan Maguire-Drew misses out and there is a full debut for Ryan Law in what we expect to be a five-man defence.
Jamie Reckord is back at left back after serving his suspensio and there is a reunion up front for “Fish ‘n’ Mal”… the four man defence includes a goalie, the returning Will Dawes and two attackers…
That team in full.
Bateson on loan at Tiverton
2023-02-17
Yeovil Town’s most prolific goalscorer is heading out on loan.
Charlie Bateson has joined Tiverton on a dual registration deal which will see the attacker eligible to also represent the Glovers’ U18s.
Bateson has clocked up plenty of goals in the academy set up including back to back hat tricks a few weeks ago.
He was in the Somerset Men’s Premier Cup squad for the defeat to Paulton and now heads out for more first team experience.
We will do our best to keep you up to date with Charlie’s form with our regular loan watch feature, starting tomorrow when Tiverton host Chesham in the Southern League Premier South.
Go well, Charlie
Gloverscast #231 – “I’ve rescinded Lilt”
2023-02-17
Off the back of Somerset Men’s Premier Cup heartbreak at Paulton Rovers, Dave, Ian and Ben are back to talk YTFC and preview Saturday’s big match against Notts County. We welcome Chloe from the Magpie Circle Podcast for a view from the top of the table.
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Cooper relying on ‘remarkable’ players
2023-02-16
Mark Cooper is relying on the robustness of his younger players for the Glovers fixture pileup.
Speaking at today’s press conference the manager praised his remarkable players amidst ongoing uncertainty. When asked about the signing of Ryan Law and his versatility for the rest of the season he said: “That age group is usually more robust. We’re relying on a lot of players playing a lot of games. We’re trying to stay fit and be durable.
“It’s difficult, we don’t have a physio at the moment. Some players don’t know if they’re injured or not injured, they’re just going through it and giving it everything they’ve got. They could give me so many excuses at the minute, but they come in every morning. just get on with it and put themselves forward to play. Full credit to them, its a remarkable effort.”
How we’re in this position with injured players playing through the pain barrier, a depleted squad and no physio is anyone’s guess. For the second season in a row, uncertainty reigns supreme and after the departure of Ben Richards-Everton to Scunthorpe and an injury to Max Hunt and presumably eluding to the ongoing takeover situation, Cooper said he wouldn’t be able to bring anyone else in.
Speaking on Richards-Everton’s loan move he said: “I think its difficult when you know you haven’t got the support of a lot the crowd and that can really effect your confidence. That was an issue for him. Great Pro, lovely lad and also wanted to move back further North.”
“Max Hunt’s injured, he twisted his ankle over a week ago now. It is what it is. We cant bring anyone in and the minute and we’ve just got to get on with it.”