August 2023 (Page 5)

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Slim pickings for Loan watch fans this week, with just two of the five loanees in action.

Let’s start with the ones that weren’t involved;

Malachi Linton wasn’t in the Taunton squad for their 1-0 over Welling, Shepton Mallet didn’t have a game so there was nothing for Charlie Bateson to do, and finally, Ollie Haste played for the Glovers’ U18s in a pre-season friendly so wasn’t involved at Dorchester.

But, two of the loan Glovers did get some game time.

Firstly, Benjani Jr got his first start of the season for Dorchester, but the Magpies were on the wrong end of a 6-3 scoreline, the game was something of a rollercoaster, but Walton & Hersham ran out winners.

Benjani played the full 90,

Jacob Shore has been a tad short of game time at Tiverton thus far, but he did make a cameo appearance from the bench as Tivvy also played in a goal fest, but the Yellows won theirs 5-3 over Didcot Town.

 

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Yeovil Town defender Jamie Sendles-White has said that the side are taking the positives, but are working to put things right after the Glovers were held 1-1 by Maidstone on Saturday.

Speaking to the Yeovil Town Youtube Channel, the central defender praised his side for getting back into the game from 1-0 down, but admits the team wanted more.

“There’s quite a bit of disappointment in the changing room, but that’s because of the standards we’ve set ourselves, i think, we’ve spoken in there and said it’s important not to overlook the positives; we’re unbeaten at home, that’s seven points in three games we’ve got at home.

“We didn’t lose today, we got back and got another late goal, I think in the first half we had spells where we looked much better, but we didn’t probably take our chances, or maybe create enough chances as we should have done, there’s disappointment, but we don’t want to beat ourselves up too much, because we know we can get back on the training ground, we know the players we’ve got and it’s a work in progress, we’re confident we can build on it and we can put things right.”

JS-W was back in the side having been on the bench for the wins against St Albans and Truro, but said that he (and his long throw) were happy to be back in the side, even if the result didn’t go the way he wanted.

“As a player you want to play every game, from a personal point of view, it was a little bit of a disappointment that I wasn’t playing but the boys went and won the two games which was the most important thing.

Jamie Sendles-White.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Long throw ins are so hard to defend against, so it’s nice to be able to add that to the team, there was one (chance from a long throw_ today, from where I was, that looked like it was over the line, so it’s another threat that we’ve got, but we can improve bits in our open play that will help and we might rely on the long throw as much.”

With the game drawn, for former Welling man said that on the whole Yeovil’s dominance deserved more and there are ways they can improve to see teams off.

“On the whole, they (Maidstone) had no chances, I don’t recall any other chance today other than that one goal and that’s where we need to be more clinical, as a team, to put our chances away, so when we concede, if we concede one like that, we’re not on the back foot and chasing the game again.”

It would have been extremely unfair to have at least not got a point.
If you reflect on the game as a whole, we probably deserved the three points.

“You’ll get an idea after ten games, like most leagues, but It’s important we take the positives from today that we’re unbeaten at home and we’ve got seven points from three games, we’ve got another home game coming up on Saturday and hopefully we can keep that home run going and put some things right in training this week and go again Saturday.”

—-
 

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Defender Morgan Williams pulled no punches as he described the performance of himself and his Yeovil Town team-mates as “terrible” after 1-1 draw against Maidstone United at Huish Park on Saturday.

The 23-year-old, who recovered from a dead leg suffered in the midweek win over Truro City to start today, said he was annoyed that they had not been able to replicate what they had practiced in training in the week leading up to the match.

Wiliams came closest to scoring when his header was superbly turned away by Maidstone keeper Lucas Covolan in the first half and it was left to substitute Rhys Murphy to come off the bench to grab a late equaliser to salvage a point.

Speaking with BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the game, Williams said: “We know that was way below our standards, were terrible today. There were a few spells where we tried to create but, if you can’t win them, don’t lose them. We got the point and we just have to move on now.

“We lacked a lot of quality, we got the ball in to the final third and we know we did not create enough. Our crosses were poor and we just did not have that killer instinct.

“It is annoying because we work all week to create chances and get in good areas to put balls in to the box and we just did not do it. We lacked quality, myself included.”

Some inside Huish Park believed that Williams’ 38th-minute header crossed the line including the man himself, he said: “From my angle I am obviously got to say it was in! But I spoke to the linesman and he said he could not see it from there, so he could not give it. We had enough time to get another goal, but it just did not come today.”

The former Coventry City youngster said his team-mates were having to get used to playing against a mix of part-time and full-time sides in National League South and the different levels of fitness which they each come equipped with.

He added: “One week you are coming against a full-time team and then a part-time team when we should be able to run riot. We are still getting used to it a bit, but sometimes we have to mix it up like today when we went a lot longer. We are just trying to find that balance of when to play and when not to play.“

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Yeovil Town boss Mark Cooper has told his strikers he is considering making changes after they failed to fire in today’s 1-1 draw with Maidstone United at Huish Park.

The Glovers started with strikers Jake Hyde and Frank Nouble alongside playmaker Jordan Maguire-Drew for the fixture but none of those three could find the net and it was left to substitute Rhys Murphy to come off the bench and grab an equaliser.

Cooper praised youngsters Olly Thomas and Jordan Young, who appeared in the 64th minute as part of a triple change alongside Murphy, and admitted they were now in his thoughts for a start.

He told BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins: “We did not fire as an attacking force today and we have to be better in the front areas of the pitch.

“I put the young boys (Olly Thomas and Jordan Young) on towards the end and they ran and caused problems.

“They came and sat in and made it difficult (for us) and what they want is for you to give them a goal and that is what happened and then we are scrambling.

“We have to keep making changes to get a reaction and we are not right, we have work to do. We have boys on the bench who are desperate to play and it might be time to make the change.”

Olly Thomas, who is on loan from Bristol City, has appeared off the bench in all four of Yeovil Town’s matches this season.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Maguire-Drew and Nouble are yet to score in National League South action despite having started the first four matches whilst Hyde has one from his three appearances. Murphy’s 83rd minute leveller was his second of the season.

Maidstone took the lead ten minutes in to the second half when substitute Levi Amantchi was given a free header from a corner in front of the Thatcher’s Stand.

Cooper said: “We looked comfortable without threatening and I thought it would be a matter of time until we wore them down. But, like we did the other night (against Truro), we gave them a soft goal from a corner and then it makes it hard.

“When you get the ball in to forward players in and around the box, they have to produce. That is where individual ability comes in to it and that is why the top boys get paid the most money because they can create. We were flat in those areas today.

“People moaned that the midfield players went sideways and back, but we have to do that to drag them out. We just did not have that spark in the final third.

“We have a week to get things the way we want it and there will be some tough work on the training ground this week.”

One player who has not yet featured is Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, who rejoined following a trial in the summer but has not featured since appearing as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat at Hemel Hempstead Town on the opening day of the season.

Asked about whether the ex-Watford youngster was an option, Cooper said: “Sonny only had a really short pre-season with us, so he is still playing catch up. He trained really well on Thursday and Friday, so he is definitely in my thoughts.”

Sonny Blu Lo-Everton. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Mark Cooper was speaking to Sheridan Robins after the game – his interview with the club might be slightly different and can be viewed below.

 

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A second half equaliser from substitute Rhys Murphy saw Yeovil Town come from behind to get a draw against Maidstone United at Huish Park on Saturday.

The frontman, who came off the bench after 64 minutes, reacted quickest to stab home a Jordan Young corner kick with seven minutes of normal time remaining.

Yeovil had fallen behind to a header from another substitute, Maidstone’s Levi Amantchi, with 56 minutes on the clock and the hosts were forced to settle for a point.

Here’s how it went down at Huish Park…..

First half

Manager Mark Cooper made just one change from the midweek win over Truro City as Jamie Sendles-White came in to a five-man back line with Morgan Williams overcoming a dead leg to line up as right wing-back.

Striker Rhys Murphy, who had started the previous three matches of the season, dropped to be the bench with Jake Hyde, Frank Nouble and Jordan Maguire-Drew lining up as a front three.

Having won a free-kick within seconds of the start with the team shooting towards a noisy Thatcher’s Stand, Charlie Cooper hammered an effort just wide of the post.

Hyde had a couple of decent chances soon after. On five minutes, he went through on goal, rounded visiting keeper Lucas Covolan, but could not beat the offside flag, and then six minutes the striker headed a great ball from Maguire-Drew just wide.

The possession was certainly in the home side’s favour but, following those early chances, clear-cut opportunities were few and far between with Bivesh Gurung’s run and shot after 24 minutes easily held by Yeovil manager Will Buse.

Two minutes later, a glorious free-kick delivery from Maguire-Drew found the head of Nouble seven yards out from goal but the big forward got under it and it went over. The best chance of the game by a margin.

The visitors’ best chance of the half so far came ten minutes before half-time when Sam Corne’s free-kick was cleared as far as Gurung whose effort fizzed past the post.

On 38 minutes, Covolan was the difference between Yeovil Town a 1-0 lead. A long throw from Sendles-White found the head of Williams whose effort was superbly turned away by the ex-Torquay United stopper.

Better possession, better chances, but still nothing to put Yeovil Town in the ascendancy.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Maidstone United 0

Second half

The second half started in a less controlled fashion for Yeovil Town than the first half and, as it was in midweek against Truro City, the visitors took the lead with just ten minutes after the break.

A corner from Corne was flicked on by winger Lamar Reynolds, Buse pushed it away but straight on to the head of striker Levi AMANTCHI, just on as a substitute, and he headed home the opener after 56 minutes.

Looking back on the chances which the Glovers had in the first half and the visitors’ improved performance, it was a case of what could have been. Can’t argue that there’s not enough goal-scoring talent available to the home side.

Yeovil responded with a treble change on 64 minutes and an attacking one. Olly Thomas, Jordan Young and Rhys Murphy came off the bench to replace Jake Hyde, captain Josh Staunton and Jordan Maguire-Drew with the formation switching to a very narrow-looking 4-4-2 with Sendles-White and Wannell flanked by Williams on the right and Whittle on the left.

A weak effort from Nouble, a shot wide of the post by Worthington, it was all a bit powder puff from the home side, but – if you were in attendance at the Truro game, you know what’s coming next – with seven minutes remaining Yeovil were level. A corner from Young was not dealt with by Covolan and the predator that is MURPHY was on hand to stab home the equaliser.

Moments later Maidstone will be wondering how they did not regain their advantage on 86 minutes. A free-kick in to the box found the head of George Fowler whose effort went over the bar. *loud exhalation of breath*

Seven minutes of injury time added by the referee. With a couple of them gone, a corner came to Thomas whose effort was blocked, broke to Young, again blocked. 

It was all Yeovil in the closing stages, but they were left to rue the missed opportunities in the first half as they settled for a point.

 

Full time: Yeovil Town 1 Maidstone United 1

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Saturday, 19th August, 3pm kick-off

Pitch: Excellent
Conditions: Warm and sunny

Attendance: 2,899 (130 away supporters)

Scorers: Levi Amantchi 56 (0-1), Rhys Murphy 83 (1-1), 

Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Alex Whittle 63, Matt Worthington 72, Rhys Murphy 90+4
Maidstone United: Ogo Obi 41, Gavin Hoyte 46, George Fowler 90+4

Yeovil Town (5-2-3) 

Substitutes: Olly Thomas (for Jake Hyde, 64), Jordan Young (for Josh Staunton, 64), Rhys Murphy (for Jordan Maguire-Drew, 64), Zac Bell, Josh Owers.

Maidstone United: Covolan, Hoyte, Ezennolim, Fowler, Corne, Reynolds (for Wanjau-Smith  80), Aransibia, Obi (for Amantchi, 53), Bone, Sole, Gurung (for Kelly, 84). Substiututes (not used): De Graft, Earle, Amantchi.

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Yeovil Town chairman Martin Hellier has said he is happy to pay rent to landlords Somerset Council for Huish Park for the time being.

The owner holds the exclusive buy-back on the stadium and surrounding land at the site which runs until 17th May 2026, and will pay £195,000-a-year in rent until he activates that option.

Speaking to BBC Somerset ahead of Saturday’s home game with Maidstone United, Hellier said his priority was in investing in improvements to the stadium and the playing staff.

He said: “It is our exclusive option for a number of years. This is a club where we want to be sustainable and any fan or member of the community can rest assured that the stadium and any surrounding land will not be going anywhere to anyone as long as we are around.”

Asked whether that meant he was happy to pay rent, he added: “If necessary yes, we have no problem paying rent in the interim. We don’t want to put a big lump of investment in to something we have the exclusive buy-back on, I can buy it in five years, three years, whatever it is, but I am not going to do that to the detriment of the club.

“The stadium is going nowhere, the surrounding land is going nowhere and no-one is going to be developing on it. We are certainly not going to be building houses on it. We will be buying back the surrounding lands and the stadium and we will not be building a housing estate and trying to flip them for a quick buck.

Chairman Martin Hellier, centre, with manager Mark Cooper and captain Josh Staunton.

“What we would do is build a couple more 3G pitches which we would rent out privately, which you would get more yield from than a typical rental property.

“And anything we get from that development, those revenue streams are coming straight back in to the club to bring about the sustainability we have spoken about.”

The chairman was also asked about his thoughts on manager Mark Cooper and said that he believed the boss had the opportunity to show his qualities this season.

He pointed to the “intervention” of one-time ‘stewards’ SU Glovers, the group run by now-York City owner Matt Uggla, as the reason for Cooper not getting such an opportunity last season.

Asked if the manager had to win promotion, Hellier said: “I don’t think anyone can set it in a contract! But this is Mark’s first chance of having a clear run at it without any negative things interfering with that.

“Last year he didn’t have a clear run at it. The Eastleigh game we were seven points clear at that point and then there was some intervention with regards to player recruitment from the so-called stewards and everything went in to a spiral from there.

“Mark is under no illusion that this is the first season he can truly be judged on his abilities and we will review that come the end of the season.“

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Can the Glovers win three in a row? Today, the visitors are Maidstone United who we failed to be twice last season. Back on the Gloverscast to chat about the Stones is Maidstone supporter and commentator, Joe! 

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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.

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Two wins on the spin at Huish Park. Ian and Dave are joined by Sheridan Robins on this episode to talk through the 2-1 win over Truro City.

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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.

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Yeovil Town striker Rhys Murphy believes the momentum brought by the club’s first back-to-back wins in more than 18 months can give them a lift as they prepare for their third home game of the season.

The Glovers take on Maidstone United, who came down from the National League Premier with them last season, at Huish Park on Saturday looking to back up victories over St Albans City and Truro City in their last two outings.

Speaking on Thursday, the 32-year-old said: “Momentum is huge in football and it is those little things, a couple of minutes can be the difference between it being two losses and two wins, but that is six points on the board and we can take that in to the next game.

“The confidence we can take from that and knowing that we are never beaten, we can take that good feeling in to the next game and it in becomes a place where you want to be because you are unbeaten.

“That breeds confidence and makes other teams look at you and not want to play you and long may that continue.”

Rhys Murphy turns home Yeovil’s winner against St Albans City,
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Having returned to Huish Park after an injury-plagued two seasons away at Southend United, Murphy said he is pleased with the way he has started the season.

He said: “I worked hard in the off season and the end of last season came at a really good time for me personally, allowed me some time to get my body right and to come back in a good place to work hard for pre-season. Pre-season I think everyone worked well, so I feel in a really good place now.”

“I’m not surprised at the number of minutes I have played, the older I get, the more I want to play football because I realise I am in a very privileged position to be able to and I know I have to work hard to maintain fitness levels and, coming off the back of some injuries, it needed to be done.

“So it is not a surprise, but it is a nice to be fully fit, back in the team and able to contribute towards wins.”

On-loan Bristol City youngster Olly Thomas came off the bench to score his first goal since arriving at Huish Park in the 2-1 home win over Truro City on Tuesday night.

Murphy said he had been speaking with the 18-year-old: “He is a young, talented player, so it’s not a case of me telling him what he must do. He is a bright, intelligent young man who has an understanding of the game, but if there is any way I can help him then I will definitely do that.

“But the competition is good, no-one can rest of their laurels and it is what is going to bring the best performances out of everyone, whether that is up front, in goal or wherever.”