September 2023

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Substitute Bobby Hilton scored a second half double to earn Yeovil Town Under-18s a 3-1 win over Wimborne Town on Saturday.

The young Glovers took the lead through a header from Aidan Skiverton with 33 minutes gone at the Alvington Playing Fields.

But the visitors pulled level three minutes in to the second half only for Hilton to put them ahead again on 67 minutes and then added a third with five minutes remaining.

The result was the first win of the South West Counties Youth League season for the Under-18s who are in a major rebuild with a number of last season’s squad now either on loan for in the first-team set-up.

They moved up to eighth and travel to Mangotsfield United next weekend.

Yeovil Town Under-18s: Travers, Johnson, Foster, Ansell, Shore, Skiverton, Alden, Padmore, Dyer, Koerner, Stevens.
Substitutes: Bareham, Nanev, Alexander, Haskett, Hilton.

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Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper was glad to see his side through to the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup – but admitted there was not much else he could get excited about!

First half goals from strikers Rhys Murphy and Frank Nouble earned a 2-0 home win over Didcot Town, but the boss described the second half as “a non-event.”

He revealed that a hamstring injury sustained by Jordan Stevens in training on Friday saw him replaced by Jordan Maguire-Drew and that defender Michael Smith and midfielder Charlie Cooper were also doubts.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Josh Perkins, the manager said: “Jordan Stevens pulled his hamstring yesterday (Friday) morning, Michael Smith was a big doubt, Charlie Cooper was a doubt and obviously Worthy, Hyde, Whittle were injured.

“We should have sealed the game early in the second half, it should have been four. I have just seen (the Jordan Maguire-Drew chance) it’s never offside and a blatant penalty on Maguire-Drew which would have made it more comfortable – but we’re through.”

Having broken through a resilient Didcot, who dug in to make it difficult for the Glovers, continued to frustrate without forcing goalkeeper Joe Day in to too much action during the second half.

The game was, however, the on-loan Newport County keeper’s first clean sheet since arriving in Somerset a month ago.

Asked about his advice at half-time, the manager said: “I just said ‘keep going’, there were a few tactical bits to try and make us a bit more threatening in the final third. They came and sat really deep to start with which, whoever you are playing against, is difficult to get through.

“These games are just about getting through, we know it was not a fantastic performance but we had a few issues and we need to make sure we get players rested up for a massive game on Saturday.”

Their next opponents, high-flying Aveley who have had an impressive start to the National League South season, will face a third qualifying round replay against Isthmian League Premier Division side Horsham on Tuesday night after being pegged back to 2-2 courtesy of an injury time draw.

Cooper admitted that getting the likes of full-backs Alex Whittle and Michael Smith, who went off after 64 minutes against Didcot, back fit were the most important activity of the next week – alongside a midweek scouting mission to West Sussex.

He added: “Aveley drew in the FA Cup, so it gives us a chance to get eyes on them, and make sure we are prepared. But the biggest thing is making sure we get our players back quickly, Whittle, Stevens, Smith, Cooper, we get Worthy back Saturday.

“We have taken three or four players out of them which put in probably our best performance of the season (against Hampton & Richmond) last weekend, so it is going to disrupt things.

“They are big players for us and we know that and, as I say, we have got through which was the aim of today, to be in the hat and get closer to the first round.”

The Glovers’ progression to the fourth qualifying round means the National League South visit to Bath City will be postponed. The Romans also made it through with a 2-1 win at W*ymouth on Saturday.

The draw for the next round is scheduled for Monday.

As always, the manager also had a post-match interview with the club’s press officer Dan Howell after the match which is available to watch here….

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Yeovil Town skipper Josh Staunton has said that the 2-0 win over Didcot Town represents a ‘job done’ for the Glovers.

“I thought first half we were pretty good, second half, we weren’t really firing, we had way too many turnovers, but I think in those games it’s just a case of getting the job done and, 2-0 – it probably could have been more if we’d have just been a bit more clinical in the final third.”

Yeovil Town captain Josh Staunton in action against Didcot Town,
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

“But, we’re happy with that, job done, into the next round of the cup, (the) most important thing at 3 O’clock was being a name in the hat, which we are, happy with it.”

Both the Glovers’ goals came in the first half and to their credit, Didcot did make more of a match of it in the second 45, Staunton believes whilst their opponents do deserve a mention, they maybe could have done better themselves in possession.

“I think sometimes you just lose that fluidity, they obviously came out with a different (style), first half they sat eleven men behind the ball, which is always difficult to break down, with the wind we got caught forcing it a couple of times, we just needed to be patient and wait for the holes to come.

Any team who come and stick eleven men behind the ball, it’s difficult and second half when they played a different way and attacked and stepped on us, it was probably a bit more challenging.”

“it’s a win and in a cup competition, that’s all that matters”

“I don’t think it was an intention to take the foot off the pedal because we wanted more goals, kill the game off, simple as that, but when things aren’t quite falling for you, we just kept turning the ball over needlessly.

We didnt really have any good spells of possession in good areas of the pitch, when you do that teams are always going to grow into the game, especially when they’ve got nothing to lose. “

Staunton, and the defence in behind him, recorded their first clean sheet since beating Tonbridge Angels in late August, which was something which pleased the captain;

“You respect the opposition, you respect the game and I think the clean sheet was important to us, off the back of not having one for a while, we kept a clean sheet and that’s a positive to take out of today.

It’s ticked another box, it’s a building block, when we’re not quite at our best we didn’t capitulate and concede a soft goal we just kept going and like I say it’s a win and in a cup competition that’s all that matters”

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Yeovil Town and Bath City will have to rearrange their league fixture originally scheduled for 14th October.

The Glovers and the Romans both progressed into the 4th Qualifying Round of the FA Cup following wins over Didcot and W*ymouth respectively.

As we told you when tickets went on sale; “the home side do point out that in the event of a postponement, tickets would be valid for the rearranged date… or you can opt for a refund.”

Once a new date has been set in stone for our trip to Twerton Park, you’ll be able to decide if you can make the new date and if you need a refund.

Both sides will find out their 4th Qual Round opposition on Monday 2nd of October – in theory, we could draw Bath City away… which would be interesting!

 

 

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Yeovil Town booked their place in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup with a comfortable 2-0 home win over Didcot Town at Huish Park.

The hosts opened the scoring when Rhys Murphy converted a dubious-looking penalty following a foul on Jordan Maguire-Drew before Frank Nouble scored with a deft chip on the stroke of half-time.

Didcot, who sit second-from-bottom of the Southern League Premier Division South, rallied after the break but could not find their way past Joe Day, who got his first clean sheet since arriving at Huish Park on loan from Newport County.

Here’s how it went…..

First half

Mark Cooper made three changes from last weekend’s league win at Hampton & Richmond with injuries to Alex Whittle (groin) and Jordan Stevens saw them replaced by Josh Owers and Jordan Maguire-Drew respectively. 

The visitors’ intentions were clear from the off with Didcot sitting deep and waiting for their higher division hosts to break them down. Yeovil dominated possession and with 15 minutes go a break forward by Rhys Murphy saw the forward beat the defence, but could not beat the offside flag.

A couple of minutes later, visitors’ keeper Leigh Bedwell got his first action as a good ball through from Jake Wannell saw Murphy and Maguire-Drew combine well for the later to force the stopper in to a save.

But on 20 minutes, a foul on Maguire-Drew by Didcot captain Adam Learoyd saw the Glovers handed a penalty kick and there was only one man who was going to take it. Rhys MURPHY stepped up to side-foot home his eighth competitive goal of the season in front of the Thatcher’s Stand. Bit of a soft penalty? Probably. Do we care? Not in the slightest.

Rhys Murphy opened the scoring with a 20th minute penalty.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

 

On 25 minutes, Jake Wannell headed a corner over the bar and five minutes later Frank Nouble marauded forward again with a couple of step overs to make his way in to the box but his shot went over.

Yeovil were having joy down the right hand side and on 34 minutes Maguire-Drew got a cross in but it found Jordan Young – as opposed to Nouble or Murphy – and came to nothing. Young had another opportunity cutting in from the left hand side on 37 minutes but his right-footed shot went over.

But, with two minutes of added time indicated at the end of the first half, Yeovil doubled their advantage. Staunton won the ball, fed it through to Maguire-Drew who unselfishly played it through to Frank NOUBLE chipped a ball over Leigh Bedwell. Didcot felt there was a foul from Staunton, but referee Nicholas Dunn waved away the protests.

Bedwell had to be at his best to stop the game going 3-0 as the ex-Swindon Town keeper pulled off a remarkable point blank save to deny Maguire-Drew.

Half time: Yeovil Town 0 Didcot Town 2

 

Second half

The visitors came out with the air of a team with nothing to lose and looked impressive without being particularly threatening until the hour mark when Oliver Case’s header from a corner was over the bar.

Murphy almost added another but will have been kicking himself having made a good connection but could only direct it in to the arms of Bedwell in the visitors’ goal, and seconds later the striker almost got on the end of cross by Michael Smith but could not quite bundle it home.

That proved to be Smith’s last action who was replaced by Bristol City loanee Zac Bell on the 64th minute with Will Dawes also on replacing Jordan Young.

Murphy had the ball in the back twice, but despite beating Bedwell he could not beat the assistant referee’s offside flag. They don’t count I’m afraid, Bagsman.

Patrick Osborne had an effort blocked by Morgan Williams on 78 minutes before substitute Dawes had an effort blocked and the ball broke to Charlie Cooper who lashed an effort over with five minutes remaining.

Jenson Wright put a long-range effort over the bar with a minute of normal time going but, whilst not disgracing themselves, they never looked like really troubling the home side.

The fourth qualifying round will be played on Saturday, October 18, meaning that the trip to Bath City in National League South will need to be rearranged to a midweek.

 

Full time: Yeovil Town 2 Didcot Town 0

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Saturday 30th September – 3pm kick-off

Pitch: Looking good despite some downpours.
Conditions: Dry but cloudy…..not cold though (with thanks to Andy Cleave for meteorological inputs)

Attendance: 1,999 (75 away supporters)

Scorers: Rhys Murphy pen 20 (1-0), Frank Nouble 45 (2-0),

Bookings: 
Yeovil Town: Josh Owers 65, Jake Wannell 82,
Didcot Town: Adam Learoyd 20

Referee: Nicholas Dunn

Yeovil Town (4-3-3)

 

Substitutes: Will Dawes (for Jordan Young, 64), Zac Bell (for Michael Smith, 64), Sonny Blu Lo-Everton (for Rhys Murphy, 79), Charlie Bateson (not used), Will Buse (not used).

Didcot Town: Leigh Bedwell, Josh Grant, Cameron McNeill, Oliver Case, Harvey Giles, Adam Learoyd (C), Ben Putland (for Jenson Wright, 75), James Glover, Seth Humphries, Robbie Gallagher, Patrick Osborne.

Substitutes (not used): Sam Barder, Timmy Mugall, Connor Barrett, Andre Bromfield, Andi Noka, Owen Smith.

 

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Jordan Stevens is missing with “a little bit of a niggle” picked up in training as Yeovil Town go in search of a place in the FA Cup third qualifying round at home to Didcot Town this afternoon (3pm kick-off).

The forward, who scored in last weekend’s 2-1 National League South win at Hampton & Richmond, is replaced by Jordan Maguire-Drew, who starts his first game since the defeat at Havant & Waterlooville on August Bank Holiday Monday.

Speaking to BBC Somerset reporter Josh Perkins ahead of kick-off at Huish Park, manager Mark Cooper confirmed his starting formation with midfielder Matt Worthington and striker Jake Hyde were both missing after their red cards seven days ago.

He said: “We’ve had a couple of niggles in training, so we are not going to take too many chances. We are without Worthy, obviously Hyde and Jordan Stevens got a little bit of a niggle, so we have had to make a couple of changes.

“Josh Owers comes in for Alex Whittle, who came off with a niggle in his groin last week, so we can’t risk him. Josh has played at left-back numerous times for Bristol City and he did really well there last week. 

“Josh Staunton comes in to midfield for Matt Worthington and Jordan Maguire-Drew comes in for Jordan Stevens.”

The boss also revealed the club did not find out if their appeal against Worthington’s red card for handling on the line in the dying seconds last weekend had been unsuccessful until late on Friday afternoon.

He said: “We appealed on Monday and were trying to prepare a team and we didn’t get an answer from the FA until 5pm last night, the night before the game, which is incredible. 

“I was sat with Kirsty, the club secretary, yesterday who tried to explain it to me and I still don’t understand it. If you get a red card, you just miss the next game as long as it’s seven days after the dismissal, but a yellow card today (in the FA Cup) does not count for a league game.”

Honestly, Mark the entire fanbase is as baffled as you are!

Didcot play their third game in the world’s greatest cup competition having beaten Tadley Calleva and Bristol Manor Farm in the previous two round and come to Somerset looking to reverse their recent poor form which sees them sitting second-from-bottom of the Southern League Premier South.

Cooper said: “Their league form is totally irrelevant. I am sure they fancy their chances and will be coming here to quieten the crowd down and try and cause an upset and they should think like that, it’s a big day for them.

“We have to be professional and perform as we did in the last round (against AFC Stoneham).”

 

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Yeovil Town have made three changes for the FA Cup third qualifying round tie against Didcot Town at Huish Park (3pm kick-off).

Captain Josh Staunton is back in the starting XI having started last weekend’s 2-1 league win at Hampton & Richmond, but does he go in to midfield or defence?

Alex Whittle drops out having gone off with an injury seven days ago, but quite who slots in at left-back is anyone’s guess.

It could be Josh Owers who makes the starting XI or it could be Morgan Williams moving across. We’ll have to wait until kick-off to get the answer.

The other change seems more obviously with Jordan Maguire-Drew coming in for Jordan Stevens, who is not named in the squad at all.

There are five of a possible seven substitutes named with young striker Charlie Bateson, who has been in fine goal-scoring on loan at Shepton Mallet, named on the bench.

He is joined by Will Dawes, loanee Zac Bell, forward Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and goalkeeper Will Buse.

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Didcot Town are today’s opponents in the FA Cup. Dave spoke to their manager Jamie Heapy for today’s ‘Foot in the opposition camp’.

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