July 2023 (Page 2)

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Sonny Blu Lo Everton is a Yeovil Town player for the second time after his signature was confirmed ahead of the 2023/24 season.

Announced with significant theatrics, the midfielder joins a Mark Cooper squad packed with attacking talent and with the opportunity to really step on with his career and show his quality.

Having previously spent the 2021-22 season on loan at the Glovers from Watford, he returns to Huish Park on a permanent spell after a short trial with the club.

Speaking to YTFC.net, Lo-Everton said: “I’m really happy to back, really happy. It’s such an exciting time for the club and everyone involved in it. I’m just really excited to get back and get the club where it’s meant to be.”

“When I was here before we had a good six-month period and then it kind of whittled off a bit towards the end. I’m definitely here to win.”

“I’m so happy to back, if I’m honest with you. To play in front of the Yeovil fans; it was such a special thing back then and it makes it even more special now.”

The 20-year-old was released by League One Derby County at the end of last season and appeared as a trialist in last week’s 5-0 win at Dorchester Town and as a second half substitute in the 2-1 victory at AFC Totton on Saturday.

Lo -Everton was a regular under Darren Sarll during his first stint, scoring a memorable goal away at Wrexham in a 2-0 win and assisting Charlie Wakefield for the FA Cup giant killing of Stevenage.

Welcome back, Sonny!

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Callum Hallett made his way to Totton yesterday for another Yeovil Town preseason fixture. Here’s his review of the game…
 
Not the prettiest game of football we will see Yeovil play this season. But a win is a win, and in pre season, getting minutes in is what matters most.
 
It’s a great little stadium down at AFC Totton and I think they will be up there at the top of the 7th tier.

HOW WE LINED UP FROM THE START

We started with the two wide centre halves that were to be expected, Jake Wannell and Morgan Williams, with Josh Staunton rested, Jamie Sendles-White came in for him. The two wingbacks/wide midfielders, Alex Whittle and Zac Bell, provided the width of the team in and out of possession.
 
The midfield two of Charlie Cooper and Matt Worthington lined up with Cooper sat in-front of the defence, dictating the pace of the game, and when out of possession, winning the ball with tackles and interceptions. This allowed Worthy to be more adventurous and bring the ball forward.
 
Jordan Maguire-Drew was the main creative asset of the team getting on the ball on the half turn looking to get shots off, or link up with Rhys Murphy and Frank Nouble in tight spaces creating chances. Once again involved in a goal – JMD could rip this league apart if he continues his form.
 
We have to get used to naming these two as a pair instead of on their own I think. Murphy and Nouble always seem to look dangerous up front together. Both are able to come deep or spin in behind and I think their clever touches and link up with each other will create serious goals!

THE FIRST SIXTY MINUTES

As Cooper said himself the first half was “disappointing”. We started so brightly with a classic Murphy goal, but the first half soon dragged on with chances coming few and far between. In the first 45 minutes Wannell was rather poor compared to what we have seen from him in previous games. He seemed to take a very long time to get comfortable in the game, misplacing passes and struggling with his first touch. However, by the start of the second half he had dramatically improved and the defence became very solid.
 
I think we have to expect to concede some sloppy goals this season from this style of play Cooper is adopting, where we play risky passes through the opposition lines. We as Yeovil fans get to worried over a small issue. It will be dealt with for sure!
 
The attacking build up in the opening 15 minutes of the second half was a joy to watch for Yeovil fans. Totton couldn’t get out of their half as we kept getting the likes of JMD, Nouble and Whittle on the ball. The patterns of passing in the attacking third was brilliant.

HOW WE LINED UP BY THE END

As always with our pre season, the subs started flowing with half an hour left on the clock. Only three of our starting squad played the full 90 – Worthington, Wannell and Williams. (I think I know Mark Coopers favourite letter!) The formation didn’t change much until the front three – instead of having 2 upfront with a player just behind – we had Olly Thomas upfront on his own with Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and Jordan Young both playing in the number 10 role either side of Thomas. This really worked well to kill out the game as showed instantly.
 
Olly Thomas, number 40 (much to Ben’s disgust), celebrates his goal with his new team-mates.
 

“Olly Thomas is the exact player as I explained in my review of him after he signed”

He’s a quick, powerful forward who has the ability to take the ball with his back to goal or running in behind, with an eye for goal. This was showed perfectly when him and Sonny worked hard to win the ball off of the Totton holding midfielder and when Sonny played Thomas through he only had one thing on his mind – an early shot into the far bottom corner and brilliant goal. Those two linked up on many occasions to create a few chances for each other.
 
Jordan Young looked a lot sharper today than what he did on Tuesday in our 5-0 win against Dorchester. He still needs something to fall for him to score one, after he scores one he will get plenty at this level. He might be the unluckiest footballer I’ve seen at Yeovil!! Talent!

A NOTE ON MORGAN WILLIAMS

It has taken me a long time to realise what Williams brings to the team, it was great to see him, at such a young age himself, helping Jacob Shore get comfortable in the Wing-back position. He is quality himself and definitely up there as a future captain!
 
On to the next one this Tuesday and our proper test against Newport County at Huish Park. It’s a chance to show our quality against a struggling EFL side. We could cause a shock and it wouldn’t surprise me.

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Yeovil Town boss Mark Cooper admitted there is still work to be done despite seeing his side pick up another pre-season friendly win at AFC Totton.

The boss said he was “not overly pleased” with his side’s performance in the first half of the 2-1 win of a rain-soaked encounter with a side one tier below the Glovers in the footballing pyramid.

He was also unhappy at conceding “a rubbish goal” from the hosts after a fine strike from substitute Olly Thomas had doubled the advantage following Rhys Murphy‘s opener in the second minute.

Speaking after the game, Cooper said: “I am pleased we got another 90 minutes in to some (players) and 60 or 70 minutes in to others.
We had a great start scoring early, but after that we did not play as well as I would have liked.

“The conditions were difficult but the pitch was great, Totton really came on to us and they are the best team we have played so far in pre-season and more of a similar standard to that we will be facing week in and week out.

“I was not overly pleased with the first half, but second half we started great and controlled the game in the first 15-20 minutes and then we made some changes and the game just descended in to being very patchy and bitty.

“We conceded a rubbish goal which I was not pleased with, but there were some pleasing aspects with no injuries and a great goal on his debut from Olly Thomas.”

The result means the Glovers have now got four wins from their five friendly matches – with a 2-1 defeat at Wimborne Town being the odd one out – as they prepare to face higher division opposition for the first time when League Two Newport County come to Huish Park on Tuesday night.

Of the performance at Totton, Cooper added: “I said to the boys (in the dressing room after the game) that if it was perfect now it would be really boring for us.

“We have got two weeks to make some little tweaks, it is just about the right selection of pass at the right time, when teams are stepping on to us is what we need to really improve.”

The manager picked out teenage striker Thomas, who joined on loan until January from Championship Bristol City in midweek, and impressed after coming on for Murphy.

Cooper said: “There were some really pleasing aspects including Olly Thomas who scored one and had another great effort and was exactly what we needed to complement Frank, Hydey, Murph, Young and give us some really good attacking options.”

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Goals from strikers Rhys Murphy and loanee Olly Thomas was enough to help Yeovil Town to another pre-season friendly win at AFC Totton on Saturday.

It took less than two minutes for Murphy to open the scoring combining well with Frank Nouble and Jordan Maguire-Drew, a front three which repeatedly rotated positions as the game progress, and Bristol City forward Thomas added a second with his first touch after 66 minutes.

The hosts pulled one back through Matt Burrows on 71 minutes, however, despite not being a vintage performance in atrocious weather conditions on the South Coast, the Glovers did enough to hold on for the win.

Callum Hallett was once again in the stands to provide us with updates and here is how it went……

 

First half

How many times did we hear about Yeovil Town wanting to start ‘on the front foot’ last season? Well, this was the most front foot of front foot starts as the Glovers took the lead after less than two minutes.

The ball dropped to Frank Nouble who played a nice ball through to Jordan Maguire-Drew who who had a shot blocked and the ball dropped to Rhys MURPHY. He fired home the opener in to the top right-hand corner.

The match started with Murphy down the left of a front three with Nouble on the right and Maguire-Drew down the middle, albeit they constantly rotated during their time on the pitch. You’d fancy that trio to get some goals next season, wouldn’t you?

On eight minutes, Jake Scrimshaw, who had a fairly unfruitful spell at Huish Park last season, had an effort after a good move from the hosts down the right hand side, but Scrimshaw shot over. Sounds familiar.

Moments later JM-D and Murphy combined nicely and the latter saw his effort well saved by Lewis Noice in the Totton goal and then it was Will Buse who was in action on 12 minutes. He reacted well to get down to a header from Luke Hallett from an Ethan Taylor corner.

First half action at AFC Totton.
Picture courtesy of Marcus Duncomb.

In fairness to the home side, who play a level below Yeovil in Southern League Premier Division South, they did not allow the early goal impact them and caused the visitors problems.

Conditions were not that summery with driving rain making the pitch at the Snows Stadium somewhat heavy, so much so that both sets of players warmed up on a pitch outside the stadium. It made for a couple of ‘tasty’ tackles in the first half with Totton captain Mike Carter putting in a particularly heavy one in on Murphy leading to a talking to from the referee.

The hosts continued to have the better of the chances as the first half progressed and on 34 minutes hosts’ midfielder Adam Tomasso forced a routine stop out of Buse after a smart one-two from the Stags with a Taylor free-kick going over soon after.

On 43 minutes, good combination between Murphy and Maguire-Drew saw the latter go through only to be denied by a fine tackle from experienced hosts’ defender Sam Magri, who picked up an injury for his trouble and had to be substituted.

After a bright start it was not a vintage first half from Yeovil in conditions more akin to mid-November than mid-July, but equally we lead the match. So there’s that.

Half-time: AFC Totton 0 Yeovil Town 1

Second half

There were no changes at half-time and the second half began as the first ended with the home side having chances. With four minutes of the second half gone, Scrimshaw got through one-on-one with Buse and the keeper did well to save with his feet. You could call that a good save or a reason why we cancelled Scrimhsaw’s contract, we’ll leave that one up to you.

Two minutes later, on loan Bristol City wing-back Zac Bell won the ball back well, got past his man and got a shot in, but it was high and wide.

After a half-time ticking off from manager Mark Cooper, the visitors grew in to the game and just before the hour mark Maguire-Drew twisted and turned the Totton defence but his effort to the back post was just about cleared away.

A minute later good link-up between Maguire-Drew, Nouble and Alex Whittle saw Nouble beat his defender and smash in a shot-come-cross which was blocked.

The changes arrived soon after the hour mark with Olly Thomas, who joined on loan from Bristol City in the week, replacing Murphy and then trialist Sonny Blu Lo-Everton replaced Maguire-Drew on 63 minutes.

It took just three minutes for the new arrivals to combine for Yeovil’s second goal on 66 minutes. Lo-Everton showed great strength to win the ball back and fed THOMAS who had a great touch to set himself away and then hammered a fantastic effort off the post and in to the bottom corner.

Olly Thomas, number 40 (much to Ben’s disgust), celebrates his goal with his new team-mates. Picture courtesy of Marcus Duncomb.

But the home side pulled a goal back on 71 minutes after a mistake from Morgan Williams saw Totton break away down the left, a great ball across from Jordan Ragguette and Matt BURROWS beat Jamie Sendles-White to the ball and pulled one back.

Thomas was in again a minute later when substitute Jordan Young, who had replaced Nouble, set the striker away, but this time he dragged his effort wide. Matt Worthington followed suit pulling one past the post after a great ball through from Lo-Everton on 79 minutes.

Despite the horrendous weather which did not get any better as the match progressed, Lo-Everton continued to press his case for a deal with an impressive performance.

On 85 minutes, Charlie Davies seized on a mistake from Jake Wannell just outside the box, but put his effort over the bar.

 

Full time: AFC Totton 1 Yeovil Town 2

 

Yeovil Town: Will Buse (for Lewis Williams, 75), Morgan Williams, Jamie Sendles-White (for Josh Staunton, 75), Jake Wannell, Alex Whittle (for Will Dawes, 67), Zac Bell (for Jacob Shore, 80), Matt Worthington, Charlie Cooper (for Josh Owers, 75), Jordan Maguire-Drew (for Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, 63), Frank Nouble (for Jordan Young, 69), Rhys Murphy (for Olly Thomas, 60).

Attendance: 583

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Yeovil Town and Maidstone United have announced that the venue for the two games will be switched for the upcoming season.

The Glovers were meant to travel to Kent on August the 19th, but the two sides will now face each other at Huish Park instead due to ongoing works at the Gallagher Stadium.

Flip that around, when it comes round to February 3rd, we’re all of to Maidstone instead.

This change means the Glovers have FOUR home games in a row between the 12th and 26th of August and a stint of consecutive away games in early February.

NEW VENUES
Yeovil Town v Maidstone Utd – Huish Park – Sat August 19th – 15:00
Maidstone Utd v Yeovil – Gallagher Stadium – Sat February 3rd – 15:00

Tickets will be available for the home game in due course. Please update your calendars accordingly and let your Glovers friends know (especially those with season tickets!!)

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Two new sponsors and a fresh new look to Huish Park has been unveiled as the first (and only) pre-season friendly of the campaign draws nearer.

On Friday, Commercial Director Mark Robinson unveiled car dealership Vertu Motors as the sponsor of a impressive new look for the dug-out area at the club and Dorset Vehicle Rentals as sponsors of the Copse Road away terrace and back of the shirt sponsor for the upcoming season.

It was the new dug-outs which really caught the eye of supporters when pictures were posted on social media with two rows of modern-looking seating replacing the old-style dug outs which have been at the stadium since it opened more than 30 years ago!

You don’t have to be a self-confessed fan of pitchside furniture to say they look lovely!
Picture: @teamrobbo39

The club’s announcement of the partnership with Vertu Motors, which has a Land Rover dealership just down the road from Huish Park, promises to bring “mutual benefits” for the two parties.

Robert McGarva, Head of Business at Vertu Yeovil Land Rover, added: “This collaboration allows us to further engage with our customers and showcase our commitment to excellence in both automotive and community-driven initiatives.”

We’ve no idea what an ‘automotive initiative’ is, Robert, but if it means anything like those dugouts, we’re all for it!

Dorset Vehicle Rentals has been a familiar face among the sponsors at Huish Park for a number of years and its branding now adorns the away terrace and the back of shirts which will be worn for the upcoming campaign.

Adam Young, the company’s Head of Rental Operations, described the agreement as “a proud moment” for the company which has bases in Yeovil, Dorchester…..and somewhere just south of Dorchester which we won’t talk about.

He added: “As a local brand, it is important for us to celebrate our community, and what better way than showing our support for Yeovil Town Football Club with such a big statement.

“We are great, long-term supporters of the team and we wish them the best of luck this coming season.”

On behalf of us here at the Gloverscast and, judging from the reaction of supporters on social media, we say a huge ‘well done’ to everyone involved in these deals – add that to the feel good factor pile!

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Yesterday Yeovil Town confirmed the loan signing of Olly Thomas. Our man Callum Hallett has done some digging in the youngster below…
 
Highly rated Bristol City forward Olly Thomas has joined Yeovil Town on loan until January. My guess is that he will give us more depth until Alex Fisher returns from injury. Mark Cooper also said how important game time is for Linton at the age of 22, hence his loan to Taunton Town.
 
A few quotes from Robins fans about Olly Thomas:
 
“Powerful centre forward who can play across the front line if needed. Very highly rated.” – @BristolCityFM
 
“Yep, got some Semenyo traits, powerful.  Can drop into pockets and run at the defence.” – @FevsFootball
 
“Very fast, and very powerful, got a very high ceiling in terms of his future.” – @ThePayne115
 
“Two of our brighter prospects” (Zac Bell and Olly Thomas) @BristolCityFM
 
Good to hear the positivity!!
 
We already know from most of Mark Cooper’s signings this season, being versatile is key. Being able to play all across the front line gives us more options of cover until Alex Fisher gets back from injury in January. It’s also good to have another style of attacking player to our name.
 

There is many things that impressed me about this goal from the movement, the control, the composure and then the quality of the finish.

THE MOVEMENT

One of the things that excites me is having a player who is willing to run in behind when the ball is with the defenders. He has the instinct to know when the defender gets the ball and start his run in behind straight away, pointing to where he’d like the ball.
 

THE CONTROL AND COMPOSURE

This is a great clip showing his pace to keep up with the ball, his awareness to know where the defender is and the composure to know what to do. The first touch is lovely to settle the ball and the second is a chop inside to set himself for a shot.
 

THE FINISH

The finish is sublime, having the ability to pick out the far top corner with a body in the way is class. He uses the defenders body to guide the ball into the far corner, which is a sign of a player with huge confidence and quality.
 

How he will fit into both of Mark Coopers tactics?

I think Cooper will probably stick with two tactics this season, A narrow 4-2-3-1 and a 3-5-2/5-3-2 with wide wing backs.
 
Here is a look at how Thomas may fit in to each formation.
 

3-5-2/5-3-2

This formation will probably be Coopers favoured formation going off of pre-season. This will most likely see Thomas be an option to play in the Murphy role alongside a target man looking to get on the end of flick-ons and running in behind using his pace and power.

4-2-3-1

Not so much a fan of this one as it means Nouble will probably play a bit wider as seen against Wimborne. In this formation Nouble is less of a target man and is more key to running at defenders getting balls into the box. This suits Thomas down to the ground!
 
A good signing for us and I look forward to seeing him play. Thanks to the City fans for the help on what type of player he is!

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Ian, Dave and Ben are back to talk about the last couple of weeks in Yeovil Town. Dorchester is on the agenda, along with trialists, goals and 3G pitches. Plus we talk about Malachi Linton’s move to Taunton and take your #GCQs.

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If you have an idea for the website, want to contribute or just want to send us a message, feel free to email ian@gloverscast.co.uk.

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Teenage striker Olly Thomas has signed for Yeovil Town on loan from Championship outfit Bristol City until January.

The 18-year-old was named on the substitutes’ bench for the Robins’ FA Cup fifth round tie against Manchester City last season and was one of six players awarded a professional contract at Ashton Gate in March.

He had a fairly brief spell on loan at National League South side Bath City last January, arriving at Twerton Park on January 6 and then being recalled 22 days later.

Speaking to ytfc.net, the young Bristolian said: “I’m excited to be joining the Glovers and can’t wait to show the fans what I can do on the pitch.”

Thomas, who has been at City for the past couple of years, arrives in the same week as Yeovil allowed forward Malachi Linton to joined National League South opponents Taunton Town on loan.

He bolsters the Glovers’ attack which includes Jake Hyde, Rhys Murphy and Frank Nouble, with the injured Alex Fisher targeting a January return to fitness – the same time that Thomas’ loan deal expires.

He joins fellow academy product full-back Zac Bell on loan from Bristol City and will presumably be familiar with Glovers’ goalkeeper Will Buse and midfielder Josh Owers, who both arrived on permanent deals having been released from Ashton Gate in the summer.

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Playmaker Jordan Maguire-Drew has said he feels like he is “on a similar wavelength” with Yeovil Town strikers Rhys Murphy and Frank Nouble.

The 25-year-old scored twice in the 5-0 pre-season friendly win at Dorchester Town on Tuesday night having arrived along with his fellow forwards as one of a flurry of changes on the 56th minute.

Speaking to the club’s Instagram channel after the game, he said: “We are on a similar wavelength, so it has been pretty easy, it just feels natural which is always a good thing.

“We still have a few matches left until the season starts, so hopefully we can build on that.”

The Glovers’ pre-season campaign moves on to Southern League Premier South side AFC Totton at the weekend before League Two Newport County arrive at Huish Park next Tuesday night for the only home friendly of the campaign.

They then finish with a trip to Plymouth Parkway on July 29th before building up to the opening National League South fixture of the new season at Hemel Hempstead Town on August 5th.

Maguire-Drew, who signed permanently in January having been on loan in Somerset for a month prior to making the move permanent, said the squad was starting to gel as the big kick-off approaches.

He added: “Everyone is really close knit and gets on really well which is a big thing and that will take us a long way next season and when you add the quality we have got on top, that can take us even further.”

The ex-Grimsby Town man dismissed an injury he appeared to pick up having scored an impressive first goal – his side’s third of the game – after 78 minutes at The Avenue as “just a little niggle“.

He certainly did not show too many side effects from whatever it was scoring his second four minutes later.