October 2023 (Page 2)

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Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper heaped praise on his defence for a battling performance as they picked up another three points in horrendous conditions against Braintree Town at Huish Park.

The Glovers had to scrap on a surface which got increasingly sodden as the rain continued to pour and having gone ahead through Matt Worthington’s first half strike, sealed the victory with a late goal from substitute Jake Hyde.

The victory moves them six points clear at the top of the National League South table and means they have now racked up tens consecutive wins in all competitions.

Speaking after the match, Cooper said: “I have never witnessed rain like that from start to finish in two consecutive games, the pitch was under water at the end and we just had to get it done.

“There was no football played after the first 20 minutes. I thought we were quite good in the first 20 minutes and we could have been a couple up, Joe Day made a couple of good saves and then the second half was a non-event.

“They gambled but the pitch was under water so we just had to get the game won.”

The Huish Park pitch cut up badly as the match went on.

He added: “When the conditions are like that it is just heads down, sleeves up. I thought our two big centre halves (Jake Wannell and Morgan Williams), (Alex) Whittle, Michael Smith and our goalkeeper (Joe Day) were amazing. They headed, competed, tackled and they were the reason we won today.”

Cooper admitted he was worried that referee Samuel Read could abandon the fixture, adding: “Once you score the second one it is difficult for them to call it off.”

Having gone ahead with a neat lob from Worthington after an error from Braintree keeper Vicente Reyes, the manager brought on experienced heads in strikers Frank Nouble and Hyde after the hour mark. 

He said: “I thought we needed two big lumps up there because the pitch was impossible to play any real football on.

“So I put those two on to get it up to and let them get on with it. They didn’t start great when they came on but we grew in to it and started to hold the ball up for us. Today was a game for physicality and whoever made the least mistakes was going to win the game.”

Cooper admitted the “biggest bonus” was he was able to give top-scorer Rhys Murphy the game off meaning he will be available for the trip to Torquay United in ten days time. The frontman is currently one booking away from a one-match suspension and the manager was pleased not to have to bring him on today.

Cooper said: “That was not the plan, the plan was to get him on for half-an-hour, but that surface would not have suited Rhys. So we get our top scorer freshened up and available for Torquay.”

Rhys Murphy fires in a shot.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

The manager admitted the Huish Park pitch is at the mercy of Mother Nature with the under-investment by the club’s previous owners meaning the club could only do “the bare minimum” of repairs to it in the summer.

He said: “We could only do limited renovations on the pitch in the summer because the owner (Martin Hellier) had not taken over, it was the previous regime where we did the bare minimum.

“There’s no length to any of the roots on the pitch, no drainage, so the groundsman is dependent on the weather. You can see how many divots there are and that is because there is no root on the grass.

“It is not conducive to how we want to play but, like you saw in the last 20 minutes today, if we have to bring two big lads on and bash the ball up to them and get the second balls then we will do it.“

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Yeovil Town goal-scorer Jake Hyde believes his team-mates ability to win in all conditions will help keep them in the promotion race in National League South this season.

The experienced frontman came off the bench to score for the second time this week as he netted the second in a 2-0 win over Braintree Town at a rain-soaked Huish Park.

He appeared as a 60th minute substitute alongside fellow frontman Frank Nouble and had to slog it out on a sodden surface before the pair combined to seal the three points which move the Glovers six points clear at the top of the table.

Speaking after the match, Hyde said: “It was very difficult conditions. It was not a pretty game and you can only play the conditions and the fact we are finding a way to win whether that is footballing or direct and we are managing teams and conditions is really pleasing. It was tough out there but I think we handled it well.

“The best teams at any level find a way to win, that might be away from home or at home, and sometimes your Plan A is not always going to work which may be due to conditions. So today was a really tough but disciplined performance.”

Jake Hyde celebrates his 90th minute goal at a rain-soaked Huish Park.
Picture courtesy of Debs Curtis.

The former Southend United and Wrexham player had a similar impact on Tuesday night when he arrived to kill the game with a goal deep in to stoppage time and today’s goal brings him to three goals for the season.

He told our man Ian Perkins that watching from the sidelines whilst the likes of Rhys Murphy and Nouble start matches and find the net has not been easy.

Hyde said: “That is when character comes in to it, when things are against you that is when you find out what sort of character you are. All you can do in that situation is get your head down and start working hard and when you do get your opportunities you have to start taking them.

“It is new for me because I have been lucky with the clubs I have played for to not sit on the bench too much, so that is new for me.

“But it is important that you do what is right by yourself, so it’s all about being as professional as possible and when you do get your opportunities, take them, hard work and things will change for you. That is what I have been trying to do.

“We have got some good competition in my position here, we have got experienced players, goalscorers, lots of options and I think that is going to be a big part in making this group successful.”

The three points coupled with a defeat for second-placed Bath City means Yeovil extended their advantage at the top of the table – but Hyde is under no illusion that the side has only just started.

He said: “It is a fantastic start and it is still early for us as a group of players because we are still getting to know each other and building as a team.

“I think that to be where we are so far is a good start, but it is only a start because it is a long season and a lot can still happen.

“On and off the pitch it is a brilliant group of lads and we are very tight knit which you are going to have to be if you want to be successful.”

 

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Yeovil Town stretched their winning run to double figures in all competitions with a 2-0 win over Braintree Town in atrocious conditions at Huish Park.

It was on-the-pitch captain Matt Worthington who opened the scoring with a superb lob after a blunder by visiting keeper Vicente Reyes after 29 minutes following a bright start from the visitors.

The second half saw Braintree continue to press, but manager Mark Cooper introduced Frank Nouble and Jake Hyde on the hour mark and in the final minute of normal time the pair combined for Hyde to round Reyes and score his third of the season.

In front of a crowd of 3,708 supporters – many of whom were decked out in pink for the Paint The Park Pink appeal to raise money for Yeovil Hospital Charity’s drive to raise money for a new breast cancer unit – the three points moved the Glovers six points clear at the top of National League South.

Here’s how it unfolded in the rain at Huish Park.

First half

Mark Cooper three changes from the 2-0 home win over W*ymouth in midweek with top-scorer Rhys Murphy, Frank Nouble and Josh Owers replaced in the starting line-up by Sonny Cox, Will Dawes and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton.

But it was the visitors who made a start as bright as the kits worn by the two sides. After just two minutes, it was Shaquile Coulthirst, signed in the week from National League Ebbsfleet United, who had the first sight of goal as he turned well inside the box and flashed a shot just wide of the post.

On nine minutes, a nice one two between Coulthirst and Will Davies cut through Morgan Williams and Jake Wannell in the middle of the Glovers’ defence. Goalkeeper Joe Day had to come out quickly and get a leg on the effort from Davies and collected the follow-up effort from the Iron frontman.

Then three minutes later, Aaron Blair’s cross in to the box skimmed across Day’s crossbar. Braintree definitely living up to manager Angelo Harrop’s pre-match promise that his side would “have a go.”

For Yeovil, Jordan Young was at the heart of everything which was good about their attacking play in the opening exchanges with Cox looking bright, but not able to force visitors’ keeper Vicente Reyes in to meaningful action.

Jordan Stevens had the hosts’ first meaningful effort having been rolled the ball from a free-kick, but his chance was blocked after 20 minutes.

On 26 minutes, Young showed his quality from set pieces again with a ball in from a similar position to the one which led to the first goal against W*ymouth four days earlier. Will Dawes connected with it but his header went wide and the flag was up for offside anyway.

In the pouring rain, you always felt it was the side which made a mistake first would be the difference and that mistake came from Braintree goalkeeper Vicente Reyes. The Norwich City loanee inexplicably came to the edge of his box to try and punch though a crowd of players, but his connection ball dropped to Matt WORTHINGTON who did superbly to loft the ball over the stranded keeper and in to the net ahead of the visiting defenders rushing back (in vain) to try and rescue Reyes. That looked lovely from the Thatchers’ Stand.

That gave Yeovil confidence with some great passes from Young and Lo Everton splitting the visitors’ defence, something picked up by manager Harrop who made a change in the 39th minute as attacker Tom Blackwell replaced midfielder Ben Watt. That change saw Braintree go like for like in midfield against Young and Lo Everton with Alfie Payne and Reggie Lambe sitting deeper in midfield.

The final action of the match saw Day forced in to a phenomenal stop to keep his side ahead at the interval. A ball in to the box from a free-kick was met by a neat header from Will Davies and the on loan Newport County keeper had to get down quickly to deny him.

Grateful to have (Super) Joe Day in goal.
? Those White Lines

Half time: Yeovil Town 1 Braintree Town 0

 

Second half

As the rain got heavier in the second half, it was the Thatcher’s end which of Huish Park which saw more of the action with Braintree not giving up on putting pressure on a surface which was churning up.

We may need to extend Rule 1* to cover assistant referees after this one. On at least two occasions, Braintree were inexplicably awarded throw ins. The Yeovil bench left all the officials in no doubt about their feelings on the decision.

As the game progressed, Yeovil switched to a back five which Will Dawes dropping back to a left wing-back position as the visitors piled forwards in to the box and the energy of Jordan Stevens and Sonny Cox looked to be lacking.

Mark Cooper reacted to this introducing Jake Hyde, who scored his second of the season in the midweek win over W*ymouth, and Frank Nouble in place of Young and Cox on 60 minutes. A bit of physical presence to put some pressure on the Braintree defence.

Frank Nouble was introduced on the hour mark.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

It was a terrific ball in from the box by Blair, who switched to the right side of the visitors’ front three, who cut inside and whipped one in towards the back post but there was (luckily) no-one to turn it in.

On the hour, Josh Owers replaced Jordan Stevens straight after the chance with Yeovil switching formation again to bring an extra body in to midfield with Nouble and Hyde as a front two.

On XX minutes, good play by Nouble got a ball and cut the ball back to Morgan Williams in an advanced position, but the defender could not quite open his body up enough to get a proper connection on the ball.

Until that point, neither Nouble or Hyde had much of an impact on the game looking fairly isolated at the top end of the pitch, but as the game ticked in to the 90th minute the pair combined to double the lead.

Nouble somehow in the left back position drove forward before finding Lo Everton in the middle of the park, he then  threaded a great ball through to HYDE who rounded Reyes to add the second. 

The Braintree Town official X (formerly known as Twitter) account will tell you Hyde “looked offside”, but the replay will prove to you that when Sonny played the ball, he clearly wasn’t.

Braintree’s number 3, Leon Davies, is clearly playing Hyde onside when the ball is played.

 

Full time: Yeovil Town 2 Braintree Town 0

* – Rule 1 of the Gloverscast – Don’t complain about National League referees, they are all useless.

Match Details

Venue: Huish Park
Saturday 28th October, 3pm kick-off

Pitch: Feeling the impact of its 12th match of the season, cutting up early and only deteriorating from then
Conditions: Did not stop raining.

Attendance: 3708 (57 away supporters)

Scorers: Matt Worthington 29 (1-0), Jake Hyde 90 (2-0)

Bookings: 
Yeovil Town: Jordan Young 22, Will Dawes 79, Jake Hyde 
Braintree Town: Reggie Lambe 29, Ben Mason 33, Ben Tompkins 40, Alfie Payne 50

Referee: Samuel Read

Yeovil Town (4-3-3)

 

Substitutes: Frank Nouble (for Sonny Cox, 60), Jake Hyde (for Jordan Young, 60), Josh Owers (for Jordan Stevens, 64), Zac Bell (not used), Rhys Murphy (not used).

Braintree Town: Vicente Reyes, Ben Mason, Leon Davies, Ben Watt (for Tom Blackwell, 39), Joe Grimwood, Ben Topping, Reggie Lambe, Alfie Payne (captain) (for Marvin Herschel, 89), Will Davies, Aaron Blair, Shaquile Coulthirst (for Gianni Crichlow, 68).
Substitutes (not used): Josh Blunkell, John White.

 

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Yeovil Town boss Mark Cooper has explained his decision to drop top-scorer Rhys Murphy, strike partner Frank Nouble and midfielder Josh Owers to the bench for today’s visit from Braintree Town.

The boss explained he was looking to keep his star players fresh with the trio having been regulars in the side’s winning run in recent weeks.

He handed starts to on loan Exeter City striker Sonny Cox, Will Dawes and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton for the fixture, with the three dropped named among the substitutes.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Tom Seymour, Cooper said: “We are trying to keep everything fresh and going with a lot of pace at the top of the pitch.

“Braintree are a high press, front foot team so we are going to try and expose the space behind them if we can.
Frank and Murph have played loads of minutes and we have got to make sure we don’t put them at risk of injury.

“Josh Owers has played eight on the trot and looked really tired the other night (against W*ymouth) and was really stiff, so we have to make sure he doesn’t blow up and give Sonny Blu a go.

“It is a difficult job. We have got a small group but a really good group of quality. We just have to try and find the right formula for each game.“

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Yeovil Town boss Mark Cooper has made three changes to his starting XI for today’s National League South match with Braintree Town at Huish Park (3pm kick-off).

Exeter City loan striker Sonny Cox replaces top-scorer Rhys Murphy in attack with, Will Dawes back in the starting line-up in place of Frank Nouble and Sonny Blu Lo-Everton coming in to midfield for Josh Owers.

All three who have dropped out from the midweek win over W*ymouth are named among the substitutes.

The visitors, who have won their last two matches, also named a loan striker in Shaquile Coulthirst, who joined from National League Premier side Ebbsfleet United this week.

 

 

 

 

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Manager Mark Cooper has admitted he is “very concerned” about the state of the Huish Park pitch admitting that “a basic renovation” of the surface in the summer is starting to cost them.

With today’s match against Braintree Town being the 12th of the club’s opening 17 fixtures played at home and the recent wet weather, the pitch is starting to show signs of wear and tear.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah on Friday, Cooper said was asked if he was concerned about the surface, he replied: “Very concerned, but we have a good groundsman. When Martin (Hellier, the club owner) took over in the summer, the pitch renovation had just happened before he took over, so there was no money (to do the work) and we did a really basic pitch renovation.

“That means this year our pitch is not going to be as good as we would like it. We have issues underneath with the drainage and you can see it is coming out with big divots.

“We just need to be lucky with the weather and get through these next two games and then we have a bit of a breather.“

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It is a year to the day since Mark Cooper was appointed manager of Yeovil Town.

Having been handed a two-and-a-half year contract by then-chairman <NAME REDACTED>, the boss picked up five wins, 13 draws and 14 defeats as the club dropped out of the National League amid off-the-field turmoil at Huish Park.

Following his arrival, the Glovers lost just two of their first 11 matches with Cooper in charge and, following the announcement of the ‘stewardship’ of SU Glovers, the group led by now-York City owner Matt Uggla, at the end of February they went on a disastrous run winning just once.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah ahead of this weekend’s home game with Braintree Town, Cooper was asked if last season’s relegation had been his hardest job in football.

Cooper said: “I have had some difficult jobs and all managers will have periods in their career where it seems an impossible task and (last season) was about trying to maintain your dignity and tell as much truth as you could and hoping things would turn around.

“That’s not for the individuals but for the club, town and supporters and hopefully they are seeing I am not as bad a manager that they might have thought I was at certain periods.

“I will only feel vindicated if we achieve our end goal which is to get promoted. When you look back at when I came in, it was a really positive start and we never looked in any danger of getting relegated until there was a potential change in ownership which eventually didn’t happen.

“When that happened we didn’t win another game (well, just one, Mark), so you can draw whatever comparisons you want but I am confident we would not have got relegated. That is water under the bridge and we have to go forward.”

Mark Cooper in discussion with captain Josh Staunton during the 2-1 home win over St Albans City. Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

In National League South this season, Cooper has picked up 12 wins, two draws, and two defeats from the opening 16 matches in all competitions.

He added: “When you are allowed to do your job to the best of your ability you feel really good about it and I am really enjoying it.

“We have brought some good players to the club and the owner (Martin Hellier) has let me get on with it and trusted me to put a squad together and I think you can see that in the way we are playing and the results we are getting.

“But, you always know that in football there’s always a slap around the face waiting for you around the corner, and we have to make sure we get all the small details right and we are relentless in the pursuit of where we want to get to.”

You can listen to the chat with Mark Cooper in full on BBC Sounds – here – it starts around 22 minutes in to the show.

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In a short-but-sweet episode of the Gloverscast’s mini series – Foot in the Opposition Camp – we chat to Braintree fan and Media Assistant Lewis Catley about what the Glovers can expect from Braintree this Saturday afternoon.

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Yeovil Town striker Benjani Junior has been recalled from his loan spell at Dorchester after finding minutes tough to come by.

He was there along with Ollie Haste, but has been out of luck for getting important game time.

Benjani returned for the Men’s Somerset Premier Cup game and scored an important goal for the Glover’s first team in the win at Keynsham.

He how heads out on loan to Melksham Town to get those all important minutes (and goals) under his belt. We will keep you updated on his progress, through our Loan Watch articles.