August 2023 (Page 4)

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Yeovil Town boss Mark Cooper expects to use a number of his squad players as they prepare for two games in 48 hours over the Bank Holiday weekend.

The Glovers host Tonbridge Angels at Huish Park on Saturday before travelling to Havant & Waterlooville – and their artificial surface – for the National League South fixture on Monday.

The manager reported a clean bill of health for his squad with the exception of midfielder Jordan Stevens who he said was “doing his last bit of rehab” as he looks to return from injury, and captain Josh Staunton who will miss the Monday match due to the surface.

Speaking on Thursday ahead of the visit from Tonbridge, he said: “The idea if we want to be fresh in both games. We have 16 players we can use, but the most important thing is winning the next game and that is what we are targeting.

“If you have got six or seven good players that have not played on Saturday and you have the opportunity to freshen up the team 48 hours later, you are going to look at that.”

Olly Thomas battles for the ball.

In the 1-1 draw at home to Maidstone United last weekend, Cooper made a triple change with Olly Thomas, Rhys Murphy and Jordan Young in the 64th minute and it was Murphy who grabbed the equaliser late on.

The boss praised the impact of both Thomas and Young and admitted “it might be time to make a change” in his post-match interview.

Asked about his options he said: “If you are a sub now you know that if you are coming on with 20 minutes to go, you are playing a third of the game with the extra added time.

“We have made subs quite early in games, it was bang on 60 minutes on Saturday (against Maidstone), so those boys have played almost as much as the boys who have come off.”

In a reference which presumably was about Thomas, he added: “If there is a sub which keeps coming on and doing well, that player has to be at the front of your mind. But that player might be at the stage of his career where he has to build in to 30 minutes, 60 minutes and build him up.

“At the start of the game everything is tight and there is less room for him to run in to and the people might say he’s not done as well and I need to put him back on the bench.”

Jake Hyde
Picture courtesy of Iain Morland.

Cooper confirmed that captain Staunton would miss out on the Bank Holiday Monday fixture at Havant, but suggested there was a possibility that striker Jake Hyde might feature.

Hyde had sat out the opening day defeat on the 3G surface at Hemel Hempstead, but the boss suggested he could play: “We are not ruling Jake out yet, but definitely Josh because of his knee.”

Meanwhile, on Stevens who has has been missing since pre-season, he added: “Jordan Stevens is just doing his last bit of rehab but he is not far away now and he will be a massive asset to us because of his ridiculous pace and that is something difficult to defend against.”

Jordan Stevens celebrates his goal in the 4-0 pre-season friendly win at Buckland Athletic.
Picture courtesy of Iain Morland.

Yeovil go in to the weekend in sixth place in the National League South table – not that anyone looks at it for at least another month – with seven points from their opening four games. 

Cooper said: “If we can get a positive result Saturday, that will be a positive return for us (from the four home games we have had). If you can get a return of two points per game, you usually win the league so that is what we want to target.

“The fans have on the whole backed the team. The most difficult thing for a fan to be is positive all the time. When you have been the fan of a club you can be negative and I understand that, but the more positive they can be the more positive outcome they will get. Players, fans, staff need to be together to achieve and get this club where it needs to be.

“If you take seven points from every three games, you are probably on target. If you do that over the course of the season, you will probably win the league.

“So we have to keep perspective and, as I have said before, Rome was not built in a day but we are heading in the right direction.

“If we had got over the line last Saturday we would have been top of the league, we are one win off the top of the league. Everyone has to be calm, focused and we will be fine.”

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Player interviews

Yeovil Town skipper Josh Staunton has said he’s confident that the Glovers are heading in the right direction.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the double header against Tonbridge and Havant, he confirmed he wouldn’t be available for Monday’s game but that Saturday’s was the first port of call.

“It’s a bit of a different one for me knowing I wouldn’t play on Monday but it’s it’s a good opportunity for us, we have the squad to be able to rotate which is is always crucial, it might give us an edge over some teams in the league with the quality we have in depth it’s a good opportunity for us to hopefully go back to back and really stake our claim and and get right up the league.”

Speaking to BBC Somerset, Staunton said that the situation, form and division of the team may have changed since last season, but that leadership was still throwing up it’s challenges.

“It’s a different challenge, I’d much rather be dealing with this situation than last year, but everything puts its own challenges up, we’ve been more focused on the things we haven’t done as a group and and how we can build and and about trying to build some momentum and confidence reallyand keep us on a level playing field; never too high when we win and and don’t feel like the world is going to end when we lose or draw so it’s been a different challenge but every every game is a different challenge and we’re trying to build as a group so it’s kind of like a work in motion”

Mark Cooper in discussion with captain Josh Staunton: Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

With two wins, a draw and a single loss on the record, Staunton was adamant the side are gelling and working towards getting into a full flow sooner rather than later. 

“I think that fans have turned out in their numbers and it’s been brilliant and hopefully throughout the season we’ll give them plenty of reasons to come back and those who have stayed away still, we’ll hopefully entice them in.

“It’s an exciting thing to be a part of, I think the fans are probably anxious when we’re not not ahead and understandably so, I think it’s going to take a bit of time for us to kind of get used to this positioning in the league and come to terms with the fact that we’re going to have to be probably a bit more patient in terms of the way teams are going to set up against us, I think it’s clear to see we’re all in it together, I think of us as one big community now and look to be focusing and trying to do things in the right way on and off the pitch and long may tit continue and and hopefully we’ll give them something to cheer about.

“We understand our shortcomings in the first four games we’re by no means a finished product and um yeah we’ll just look forward and it’s about looking ahead really isn’t it and I think the longer the club can do that rather than focus on kind of looking over at shoulder which has been the case for several years, it’s nice to be able to try and just focus on the football and and look forward to what’s ahead.”

There was plenty of chat about the differences between playing part-time and full-time teams and even about how they can go about scouting and preparing for each opponent, but Staunton was sure it was down to us to implement our game plan and dictate the games. 

“I think we’re making steps in the right direction, I thought the first half on Saturday was a progression I thought we implemented some of what we wanted to do, and understanding a bit more (about) each players movements and where people need to be on the pitch, I think it’s going to take time.”

“It will take time because we’re making the manager’s lives harder than it should be because we’re not implementing ourselves as we should do, we’ve had to change shape a lot of times, that’s the players on the pitch’s responsibility in terms of sticking to the plan and doing what’s expected to us but in terms of personality wise the group is very good, 

I feel like we’re going the right right direction.

When we have a performance which doesn’t quite represent what we want to be, regardless of the result, we’re very honest with each other and strive for better. It’s not ‘okay so let’s just paper over the cracks with a 2-1 win on Tuesday night’ we we understand we need to be better in certain aspects and implement ourselves further up the pitch, I think that’s clear to see, more penetrating passes and be a bit braver in that final third and we’ve been working hard to to make sure we rectify that and get ourselves ready for the upcoming games.”

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News
Yeovil Town Badge

Yeovil Town will be looking to build upon their impressive start to the season as they play host to another team from Kent in Tonbridge Angels.

After four games this season the Glovers are sitting sixth in the league having not lost since the opening fixture. Goals have been hard to come by though for the Somerset side, only finding the net five times so far this season, but Town have found strength in wearing teams dowm, to score late on.

However, Saturdays opposition, Tonbridge Angels, are no lightweights and will be wanting to extend their winning run to three games with a victory at Huish Park.

Yeovil Town News

Manager Mark Cooper feels his team are “heading the right way” after the last three fixtures. He said: “If you’re taking seven points from every three games you’re on target. So if we do that over the season, you’ll probably win the league, so we have to keep perspective.”

He continued: “We’re getting enough points…if we had got over the line last Saturday we’d have been top of the league, so were one win from being top of the league.”

The ex-Swindon town boss believes The Angels will be “just as fit as his players” but feels the “sharpness of being a full time team will show” as it has done in the latter stages of previous games.

The 54-year-old, also gave a call to supporters to stay positive during games. He said: “The most difficult thing for a fan to do is be positive, I understand that. But the more they can get behind the players the more positive outcome they will get.”

All players will be available for selection with the exception of Jordan Stevens who is in the last stages of rehab.

Tonbridge Angels

Tonbridge boss Jay Saunders spoke to Angelstv, after their win at Chippenham Town, about the long trip down to Somerset. He said: “I don’t mind the away games, the support will be fantastic…It will be a different task Yeovil, obviously they’re one of the fancied sides but today my team looked good. We just have to keep improving.”

Angels midfielder Lewis Gard also spoke to Angelstv about the bank holiday weekend fixture. He said: ” I know a few of the boys they’ve signed, they’re some big signings. But at the end of the day anything can happen, so we’ll go there and give them a good game.”

Tonbridge will be without midfielder Tommie Fagg after dissmissal for an off the ball incident against Chippenham Town last weekend.

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

The National League TV schedule has now updated to show the Havant & Waterlooville v Yeovil game on Bank Holiday Monday, 28th August.

For those of you not heading to the South Coast, National League TV streams will be available as the game falls outside the “Saturday 3pm” black out.

A “Match Day Pass” in order to watch that game is available from HERE and will set you back £9.50

For those of you who are going;

The match WILL BE SEGREGATED, away supporters can BUY TICKETS HERE and you can of course read our AWAY GROUND GUIDE from Huish Hugh. 

 

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Yeovil Town Women FC

Yeovil Town Women have had their fixture list confirmed ahead of the new season.

Playing in the Somerset County Women’s League Division One they will begin their season with back to back home games in early September.

The Glovers will play their home games at Somerton Recreation Ground – A Map can be found at the bottom of this page.

We’ll make a more permanent home for this list somewhere on the site soon.

If there is anyone out there who plans on attending the YTWFC games and wants to report back for the Gloverscast, please get in touch on Gloverscast@gmail.com – we’re on the hunt for images, match reports, whatever!

Date / TimeHome TeamAway TeamCompetitionStatus / Notes
03/09/23 14:00Yeovil Town Women FCVSSydenham Rangers Ladies BlueSOMERTON RECREATION GROUNDDivison 1
17/09/23 14:00Yeovil Town Women FCVSBanwell Ladies FirstSOMERTON RECREATION GROUNDDivison 1
24/09/23 14:00Wells City Ladies FirstVSYeovil Town Women FCWELLS CITY AFC ATHLETIC GROUNDDivison 1
01/10/23 14:00Yeovil Town Women FCVSPaulton Rovers Ladies ReservesSOMERTON RECREATION GROUNDDivison 1
08/10/23 14:00Bishops Lydeard Ladies ReservesVSYeovil Town Women FCBISHOPS LYDEARD AFCDivison 1
15/10/23 14:00Yeovil Town Women FCVSWellington (Women) WildcatsSOMERTON RECREATION GROUNDDivison 1
29/10/23 14:00Nailsea United Women FirstsVSYeovil Town Women FCGROVE SPORTS CLUBDivison 1
05/11/23 14:00Sydenham Rangers Ladies BlueVSYeovil Town Women FCKINGSDOWN PAVILIONDivison 1
12/11/23 14:00Yeovil Town Women FCVSIlminster Town Ladies ReservesSOMERTON RECREATION GROUNDDivison 1
19/11/23 14:00Banwell Ladies FirstVSYeovil Town Women FCBANWELL FOOTBALL CLUB (1 OF 3)Divison 1
26/11/23 14:00Yeovil Town Women FCVSWells City Ladies FirstSOMERTON RECREATION GROUNDDivison 1
03/12/23 14:00Wellington (Women) WildcatsVSYeovil Town Women FCWELLINGTON PLAYING FIELDDivison 1
10/12/23 14:00Yeovil Town Women FCVSBishops Lydeard Ladies ReservesSOMERTON RECREATION GROUNDDivison 1
17/12/23 14:00Ilminster Town Ladies ReservesVSYeovil Town Women FCARCHIE GOOCH PAVILIONDivison 1
07/01/24 14:00Yeovil Town Women FCVSPortishead Ladies ReservesSOMERTON RECREATION GROUNDDivison 1
14/01/24 14:00Yeovil Town Women FCVSNailsea United Women FirstsSOMERTON RECREATION GROUNDDivison 1
21/01/24 14:00Paulton Rovers Ladies ReservesVSYeovil Town Women FCPAULTON ROVERS FOOTBALL CLUBDivison 1
28/01/24 14:00Portishead Ladies ReservesVSYeovil Town Women FCPORTISHEAD FOOTBALL CLUBDivison 1

 

 

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

The Somerset Men’s Premier Cup Tie against Keynsham Town has been been switched to an AWAY tie.

The game, scheduled for Tuesday October 10th (19:45pm), will now take place at the AJN Stadium – and its 3G artificial surface…. 

Sorry Brenda, yes another one… any way, details on the directions, travel and some very specific parking notices can be found HERE

Ticket details to follow. 

 

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

Here at the Gloverscast, we’ve always really appreciated the support you Yeovil fans have given us – and to be honest, that’s what really matters.

But, do you know what? Sometimes, it is nice to have something of a pat on the back and when we get nominated for an award, that’s just lovely too.

We’ve been nominated before in the Football Content Awards, and it would be really nice to be nominated again. 

Should you wish to do for 2023 so you can CLICK HERE

It’s a simple process, there’s no signing up, or even leaving email details (unless you want to), but all we’d ask is that you make the Non League Section look like this…

Or, if you’d prefer to send a Tweet copy and paste this text and send it, as a tweet directly to @The_FCAs

“I’m voting in @The_FCAs for the @Gloverscast in the Non League – Podcast category” … and that’s it.

Voting is open until September 3rd after which, we may call upon you again to actually vote for us to win… or at least come a bit further up the voting now there aren’t three Wrexham and Notts County podcasts to worry about!

Thanks for everyone’s continued support. 

Team Gloverscast

 

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News, Podcasts

 

On this episode of the Gloverscast, Dave and Ian couldn’t be bothered/had real life things to do (delete as appropriate), so Ben had to channel his inner Mark Cooper and make a double sub to change the game.

Chris Fox and Sheridan Robins played the roles of Rhys Murphy and Olly Thomas to chat about the Glovers 1-1 draw with Maidstone and take those GCQs

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Leave us a review and share the pod with a pal.

We’d love to welcome some local businesses into the Gloverscast family through advertising. If you’re a business that would like to speak to a dedicated audience of more than 1000 monthly listeners, please get in touch. Find out more about advertising with us here.

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.

By:
On:
In: Latest Yeovil Town News

So, matchday 4 has been and gone, and not a 0-0 in sight at all this season, I could get used to this! As Yeovil drew 1-1 with Maidstone yesterday, let’s see what else went down in the National League South.

We start in Weston-super-mare, where Slough Town got their first points on the board with an emphatic first half performance landing them a 3-0 win against the 10 men hosts, George Alexander firing home a first half hattrick.

It was a good day if you were on your travels, with all but one win in the division coming away from home, a lot of them being 2-1 victories too. 10 man Tonbridge Angels held on to beat Chippenham Town, Bath City continued their goalscoring by beating Eastbourne Borough, W*ymouth defeated Hemel Hempstead, Hampton & Richmond got the better of Yeovil’s midweek opponents Truro City, and Aveley made it 3 wins in a row to end Worthing’s 100% winning start.

There were some draws around the grounds too, all ending 1-1, these came at Chelmsford City, where they clawed a goal back against 10 man Havant & Waterlooville, a 98th minute penalty rescued a point for Farnborough away to Dartford, and nothing could separate Dover Athletic and Braintree Town.

Two more wins to tell you about, both coming from sides in the South West – St Albans City fell to a 1-0 defeat at home to Torquay United, and Welling United are the only team yet to register a point as they lost 1-0 to Taunton.

 

National League South results – in full

Chelmsford City 1-1 Havant & Waterlooville
Chippenham Town 1-2 Tonbridge Angels
Dartford 1-1 Farnborough Town
Dover Athletic 1-1 Braintree Town
Eastbourne Borough 1-2 Bath City
Hemel Hempstead Town 1-2 W*ymouth
St Albans City 0-1 Torquay United
Taunton Town 1-0 Welling United
Truro City 1-2 Hampton & Richmond Borough
Weston-super-mare 0-3 Slough Town
Worthing 1-2 Aveley

By:
On:
In: Gloversblog, Five Conclusions, Latest Yeovil Town News

In what was almost a cut and copy of Tuesday night (except the three points, of course), Yeovil Town managed to clutch a point from the jaws of defeat yesterday against Maidstone United.

Another point on the board and three matches unbeaten now, let’s see how Tom saw it from his seat…

Did it go over the line? In the first half, a wonderful ball came into the box and landed on the head of Morgan Williams, who fired it into the bottom corner of the ne…wait, that wasn’t given?! At first glance, it appeared to be a truly mesmerising save from Maidstone stopper Lucas Covolan, and while it was still a brilliant save, it should’ve been for nothing as the ball had definitely crossed the line (no bias here I promise). A talking point for weeks to come, as the wait for a first competitive goal in front of the Thatchers Stand for Yeovil this season goes on.

Morgan Williams.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

A very familiar feeling. Lots of wonderful build up play, followed by great chances that aren’t taken by the front line, or others for that matter. Chances for Morgan Williams, the previously mentioned Frank Nouble and Jake Hyde all came and went, and yet Yeovil went into half time at 0-0 when perhaps they shouldn’t have. For all the possession and quality Yeovil showed, it still left them a mountain to climb when, like on Tuesday against Truro when they climbed it better, a goal in the 55th minute from substitute Levi Amantchi gave Maidstone a lead from a well-worked corner routine. Yeovil managed to get one-goal back this time, but falling behind after dominance is not a pattern we want to be experiencing this season.

Frank Nouble.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Yeovil can feel hard done by when all factors are thrown into the equation. A dodgy goal line call, some questionable offside calls, a drop ball that was called poorly, and some gamesmanship going under the radar, Yeovil can feel hard done by here with a refereeing performance that didn’t exactly set the world on fire. To add on to that, Maidstone’s corner was well worked but unfortunate for Yeovil to drop behind, as Will Buse did make a good reaction save but could only send it into the path of Levi Amantchi. They made the best of what they could though, and recovered an important point against one of the fellow relegated sides who will be hoping, like Yeovil, to bounce back at the first opportunity.

Get behind Mark Cooper. He may not be your favourite manager you’ve had at Yeovil, but you can’t fault the changes he made in the second half to get Yeovil back into the game. Following the opener by Maidstone, Yeovil looked deflated until he made a raft of changes, bringing on the trickery of Jordan Young, the power and pace of Olly Thomas and the man who scored the equaliser, with his clinical finishing, Rhys Murphy. Like Tuesday, he made the right call, which helped Yeovil back into the match. We’re unbeaten in 3 games now, something we haven’t seen January where funnily enough, Maidstone were the third game in that run. Yeovil are (without looking at the table Ian!) in a good spot to open the season, with a freak goal costing us 3 points in the opener, and 2 important wins before a solid recovery today, let’s give him his credit where it’s due!

Make the most of the momentum we have. We’ve seen over the past couple of years that positive momentum is hard to come by. This is a great chance for us to generate exactly that. Four home games on the bounce, undefeated in the three we’ve played, and we’ve looked pretty good in the process, with the small point of needing some goals now. Let’s build off this and back the players, the manager, the owner, everything to do with the club, as there’s a real buzz and excitement right now, we can capitalise on this! It’s only been 4 games so far, there’s still a long, long way to go…