October 2023 (Page 5)

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Yeovil’ve won eight in a rooooooow! Yes, another three points on the board and the Glovers are now three points clear at the top of the National League South table.

They left it late to clinch them with defender Morgan Williams rising highest to head home a Jordan Maguire-Drew free-kick with seven of 12 minutes of second half injury time played at Worthing to earn a 2-1 win.

Here’s now Dave saw it from his vantage point in the away end at Woodside Road….

 

The hoodoo is over. Our ability to stick by the latest podcast rule of not speaking about <REDACTED> pitches is going to get a whole lot easier after this performance. Having been at Hemel and Havant & Waterloovile where we suffered our only defeats of the season (I don’t need to tell you what is similar about those two stadiums, do I?), this performance felt like a statement. There were bobbles, overhit passes and the odd error, but overall we looked as different as night and day to our previous two outings on……well, you know.

It may look like grass…..

Mark Cooper got his tactics spot on. This was not a rampant Yeovil Town performance as we have seen in recent weeks, this was the controlled, patient, we know what we’re doing, just trust us Yeovil Town. For a huge amount of the game, not an awful lot happened and the home side enjoyed an awful lot of possession, but Mark Cooper got his tactics absolutely spot on. In the first half, Worthing did very little to threaten Joe Day’s goal and, whilst we had only a handful of efforts on goal, we always looked the more likely to score – and did, of course. The second half saw both sides have more opportunities, but I never felt like we were not in control. It might not always be swashbuckling and entertaining, but the Mark Cooper way feels like the way we’re going to get out of this division.

It looked like we’d be punished for our wastefulness. When Ollie Pearce’s 86th-minute penalty hit the net, it was difficult not to feel like we had shot ourselves in the foot. If there was a negative about this performance it was that we had the chances to have made it a lot more comfortable. Jordan Young had a few opportunities, Jordan Stevens was denied by legs of the hosts’ keeper and don’t even get me started on the referee and his inability to see Rhys Muprhy getting wrestled to the ground inside the box. If this had ended as a draw, we’d be talking a lot more about that, I suspect.

Rhys Murphy’s shot come cross heads towards the incoming Matt Worthington.

If there was one player who didn’t deserve to be a villain, it was Jake Wannell. Just a few minutes before he was the victim of what appeared a soft penalty (even through my green-tinted glasses) was given against Jake Wannell, I had messaged my fellow Gloverscasters to say he was “absolute class.” Forgive me a little bit of a love in, but this lad is powerful, so assured on the ball and his partnership alongside Morgan Williams is becoming as important to us as any other part of this team so far. If his collision had led to us losing two points, it would have been a real injustice to him.

Jake Wannell.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

It’s only three points, but… It’s also eight wins (nine including the Somerset Men’s Premier Cup) wins in a row, it puts us three points at the top of the table and it’s a win over a side who you’d fancy to be in the play-off discussion come May. It is only the end of October and no-one ever won anything at this stage of the season, but these type of performances and results are the ones which we’ll look back on come the end of the season……if we end up doing something good, thank is. Now where did we put those seagull botherers?

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Loan watch is getting busier by the minute these days!

Let’s have a wrap up of where we stand.
Firstly, still no Malachi Linton for Taunton as he continues to recover from injury – he’s a regular appearance maker in YTFC’s training clips on HP Source, so he must be close.

Right, off to Sherborne Town, the Zebras went down 3-0 at home to AFC Stoneham (remember them?). Aidan Skiverton was named amongst the substitutes – evidence is light as to whether or not he came on.

Over at Tiverton, Lewis Williams was in goal as Tivvy gave up a 1-0 lead to lose 2-1, the equaliser described as “too good for probably any goalkeeper”, so we’ll probably let him off that one.

How about Dorchester? Well, they fell foul to a 90th minute Hendon winner to fall 1-0.

Ollie Haste was in the line up from the start, it appears Benjani Jr was an unused sub.

Charlie Bateson played 75 minutes for Shepton Mallet in a 1-1 draw against Buckland Athletic

A new addition to Loan Watch now as we pop to Gillingham, where we have quite a lot of involvement.

The Gills won 5-0 against Keynsham Town (remember them?) and a couple of the Young Glovers starred.

Josh Haskett scored twice, Jack Bareham bagged a header. Fin “brother of” Haste also made an appearance from the bench as did Harry Lock. 

 

Jack Bareham (9) scores for Gillingham – Pic Mark Gourlay

Bareham was taken off at Half Time with a slight knock, whilst Josh was awarded half of a MOTM – shared with Josh Josey. 

This appears to be a fairly new renewal of the relationship with the Gills although Josh has been with the team a little while and had already found the net before yesterday’s game. 

Good work, all.

 

 

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Mark Cooper felt his side should have been out of sight in the second half but enjoyed the scenes (see also: limbs) in the away end with Morgan Williams’s late late winner.

Speaking to BBC’s Sheridan Robins he said: “It was very dramatic and it’s great for the fans, great scenes for the the fans at the end when we score with 98, 99 minutes gone. But the game should have been out of sight. [In the] second half, we should score, if I’m being conservative, three. In the box where we’re usually clinical. Whether that’s the surface I don’t know, but credit to the players they kept going.”

Cooper was critical of the referee Dean Skipper, for the decision to award a penalty to Worthing.

“The referee’s tried to even the game up. It’s a horrendous decision for the penalty. I thought it was an easy game to referee, he’s booked seven players and he’s given a horrendous penalty. Jake Wannell’s just tried to win the ball and the lad’s run into him and he’s tried to even the game up.

“We’ve had to really push towards the end and the decision was do we settle for a point or do we go and try and win it, and we put another attacker on to go and try and win it. We just have that belief that we can score at any time, even if its late. First minute, last minute. Maybe it was a bit of justice after the penalty.

“We weren’t ruthless enough with our chances but we were relentless in our desire to win the game,” he added.

Despite the Glovers going clear at the top, Cooper said he was not getting carried away and was optimistic about the availability of Michael Smith and Will Dawes ahead of the visit of W*ymouth on Tuesday.

“I just hope our fans stack it out and we have a brilliant atmosphere.” 

You heard the man.

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Match winner Morgan Williams has said he never doubted his Yeovil Town team-mates had it in them to pick up three points at Worthing this weekend.

The defender headed home the winner seven minutes in to 12 minutes of second half stoppage time to move the Glovers three points clear at the top of the National League South after an 86th minute penalty looked to have snatched a draw from the jaws of victory.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the game, he said: “It is crazy, it should never be a penalty. I think the referee said (Jake Wannell) hit him with his elbow, it’s not right. But as soon as they scored I looked at Wans and said we’ve got enough in this team to win the game.

“We have said the game is played until the end, 100 minutes today, and we know we have got enough in the team to go and win it. It doesn’t matter if we go 1-0 down or 2-0 down we feel like we can win the game.”

The defender’s goal, his second of the season, triggered #scenes in the away end and he admitted the feeling of scoring was a sweet one – but breaking the hoodoo of playing of non-traditional surfaces (he said it, not us!) was even sweeter.

Yeovil have lost their previous two matches – away at Hemel Hempstead Town and Havant & Waterlooville – when playing on a pitch other than grass.

Morgan said: “It doesn’t get any  better than that. I would have loved a 1-0 and the clean sheet and an easy game, but these games are never going to be easy so I am absolutely delighted to get that goal. It was a great ball in from Jordan Maguire-Drew and we know he’s got that talent.”

“In spells I think we were really good today. It is going to be difficult on this surface because we have lost our last two games on it, so it was about changing that. We don’t want teams to think we cannot play on an astroturf, so it was good to get the win today and the three points – and now teams will be thinking ‘crikey, they can play on both surfaces.’”

The 24-year-old admitted he is enjoying playing in the middle of defence having been used in a number of positions during his time at Huish Park, and enjoying playing alongside Wannell.

He added: “We help each other a complement each other and it is good to get a partnership with any defender. If he makes a mistake, I help him and if I make a mistake, I help him. I am really enjoying playing in the middle of defence I think it is three years since I have played there.”

With second-placed Taunton Town and third-placed Bath City both losing on Saturday, Morgan admitted the win was important, but said his focus was on the next game – the small matter of a visit from the seagull bothering old enemy (W*ymouth, if you were wondering) to Huish Park on Tuesday night.

He said: “It is massive, but we just have to keep winning games and taking it game by game. We just have to focus on Tuesday night which is a big one and get three points there. Those (derby) games are always massive and the atmosphere is always incredible and we just have to focus on that and get three points.”

 

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A Morgan Williams header seven minutes in to second half stoppage time earned Yeovil Town a late win at Worthing.

The Glovers looked like they had been pegged back by a 86th minute penalty from the home side which cancelled out an early Matt Worthington goal in the first half.

The result moves us three points clear at the top of the National League South with second-placed Taunton Town and third-placed Bath City both losing.

Here is Dave’s match report from the terraces at Woodside Road….

First half

The opening opening exchanges were dominated by the home side, seemingly more familiar with the surface, but they created nothing more than a bit of catching practice for Joe Day in the Yeovil goal.

And with the first meaningful attack of the game, the visitors went ahead. Will Dawes won possession in midfield and fed Rhys Murphy down the left, his shot (cross?) went across the face of goal where Matt WORTHINGTON was on the spot to tap it home. Worthy at Worthing – it was meant to be!

Rhys Murphy’s shot come cross heads towards the incoming Matt Worthington.

Worthing’s first danger came after 15 minutes as Nick Wheeler caused problems down the right side, but flashing one across the face of Day’s goal was as good as it got.

A minute later strong running by Murphy down the left saw him try to find Jordan Young, but his pass had too much on it. Then, with 20 minutes gone, Jake Wannell’s header across goal tried to find Murphy at the back post but the frontman could not quite get on it.

The possession stats for the opening half-hour would have comfortably been in the home side’s favour, whilst Yeovil seemed happy to watch them play it about without creating an effort of any note.

A long range smash over the bar by Aguiar following a corner generated by a good block from Morgan Williams to deny Ollie Pearce a shot on goal.

Before the game, Yeovil boss Mark Cooper had spoken of the risks taken at the back by Worthing and Murphy was obviously listening. He nipped in to rob the ball off a Rebels’ defender who proceeded to embrace him strongly inside the box, leaving the Glovers’ frontman on the floor. Surprisingly (not) the referee adjudged the wrestling move not to be a foul.

A minute before the end of normal time, good play down the right involving Worthington and Young led to the captain firing an effort in which was diverted in to the side netting.

Worthing had a great chance to go in level at the break after some sustained pressure on the Yeovil penalty area. The ball broke to Joan Luque who smashed his effort the wrong side of the post.

Half time: Worthing 0 Yeovil Town 1

Second half

A Jake Wannell header over the bar, a booking for Worthing’s Aguiar…..and that was about it for the opening ten minutes of the second half.

Then Matt Worthington got involved. Having battled well on the edge of the box to win possession his shot from 18 yards was turned on to the post by Worthing keeper Rocco Rees.

(Super) Joe Day comes to claim a cross in the second half.

On the hour mark, Frank Nouble cut in from the right and unleashed a shot which fizzed wide before Young did the same after good link-up play with Murphy.

What few chances there are in this game, the majority of them are falling the way of Yeovil.

The game fell a bit flat with neither side really doing much to threaten. Both sides made changes with Jordan Stevens replacing Murphy on 68 minutes. Bit of electric pace to spark a change?

The substitute was involved in a great chance which fell to Young on 75 minutes. Stevens kept a ball which looked to have gone alive and played it in to Nouble managed to get it to Young who lifted his effort over.

Three minutes later, Stevens was in the thick of it again. His effort after a scramble on the box was blocked by the legs of Rees. We could really do with a second to put this one to bed.

On 79 minutes, Aguiar proved the above assessment correct when he fizzed another shot from the edge of the box just past the post. Eek.

I hate being right but seven minutes after writing this Worthing drew level. A ball in to the box saw Wannell, who had been excellent all game, clash with Joel Colbran and referee Dean Skipper pointed to the spot. After what seemed like an age, Ollie PEARCE slotted home.

It looked as if that was going to be that with referee Skipper living up to expectations of National League officials – booking substitute Zac Bell for taking less than ten seconds on a throw in but allowing the clogging of Young and Smith to go unpunished.

But, in a move which will disappoint him, the day was not about the referee thanks to WILLIAMS. A free-kick whipped in from the right side found the defender rising highest to silence the highest pitched home end I have heard in 30 years watching football. 

There was still time for (super) Joe Day to be called in to action again, turning Aguiar’s free-kick from the edge of the box around the post with the last kick of the game.

It was controlled, it wasn’t pretty at times, we looked like we had paid the price of not taking our chances – but that’s what you need to win titles.

Full time: Worthing 1 Yeovil Town 2

Match Details

Venue: Woodside Road
Saturday 20th October, 3pm kick-off

Pitch: <REDACTED>
Conditions: Having rained for 24 hours solid before the match, barely a drop fell all game.

Attendance:  1874 

Scorers: Matt Worthington 8 (1-0),

Bookings: 
Yeovil Town: Alex Whittle 45, Matt Worthington 56, 
Worthing: Ricky Aguiar 51, Bailey Smith 69

Referee: Dean Skipper

Yeovil Town (4-4-2)

 

Substitutes: Jordan Stevens (for Rhys Murphy, 68), Zac Bell (for Will Dawes, 84), Jordan Maguire-Drew (for Michael Smith, 93)

Substitutes (not used): Will Buse, Sonny Blu Lo-Everton

Worthing: Rocco Rees, Kane Wills, Joel Colbran, Joseph Rye, Jake Robinson (for Bailey Smith), Ollie Pearce, Nicky Wheeler, Odei (Luque), Aguiar, Cashman.
Substitutes (not used): Starkey, Woodhouse, Vincent

 

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Yeovil Town name an unchanged starting XI for their trip to Worthing in National League South (3pm kick-off).

The only changes from the 2-0 FA Cup fourth qualifying round win over Southend United seven days ago comes on the bench with only five substitutes able to be selected.

As suspected due to the ‘non-traditional’ surface at Woodside Road captain Josh Staunton and striker Jake Hyde sit out, whilst there is no place for new loan signing Sonny Cox who is suffering with illness.

 

 

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We’re on the road to Worthing today. Here to give us the low-down on the the Rebels is Hayden Baker.

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.

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The minutes of the latest meeting of the Yeovil Town Supporters’ Alliance Group have shown further investment in security at Huish Park.

The meeting, held at the stadium on September 25th, show the club’s new Operations manager Keith Weston spoke to supporters’ groups about the investment and confirmed there had been “some club bans“.

In a response to a question from Glovers’ Trust chairman Roger Pipe at the meeting, the minutes show Mr Weston reported: “KW explained that there were no issues. He works closely with the police. There has been a lot of investment in security at the stadium including face recognition, some club bans, access control systems installed and bollards have been placed in various areas.”

In his opening remarks to the meeting, the chairman explained: “….that he acquired the club on 12 May and in 4 months had set up the fan zone, decorated Huish Park and sorted the finances. We have had the highest attendances in the league, both home and away, and the number of season tickets sold is up on previous seasons.”

Asked by Roger Pipe whether attendances had influenced budgeting, the minutes show: “MH replied that they had not. Cup games are a bonus.”

The owner also confirmed increased sales in the tea bars: “Card payment has been introduced and there is less wastage on hot food.”

Keith Weston also told the meeting the club was “looking at introducing new deals and Sunday lunches” having taken on a chef.

The minutes show: “The club is looking at growing hospitality events such as Xmas parties, weddings, conferences and meetings. The marquee will have a bar and there will be a catering unit on leaving the ground behind the Screwfix stand. New licencing procedures are being put in place.”

In a sign of the positive state of the club, questions about its financial stability and the ownership of the stadium by Somerset Council were limited.

Chairman Martin Hellier had led an overhaul of the club’s stadium since taking over in May.
Picture courtesy of Iain Morland.

The investment is the latest in a series of improvements led by owner Martin Hellier including a overhaul of the stadium and the establishment of the Ciderspace Fan Zone.

In his opening remarks to the meeting, the chairman explained: “….that he acquired the club on 12 May and in 4 months had set up the fan zone, decorated Huish Park and sorted the finances. We have had the highest attendances in the league, both home and away, and the number of season tickets sold is up on previous seasons.”

Asked by Roger Pipe whether attendances had influenced budgeting, the minutes show: “MH replied that they had not. Cup games are a bonus.”

The owner also confirmed increased sales in the tea bars: “Card payment has been introduced and there is less wastage on hot food.”

Keith Weston also told the meeting the club was “looking at introducing new deals and Sunday lunches” having taken on a chef.

The minutes show: “The club is looking at growing hospitality events such as Xmas parties, weddings, conferences and meetings. The marquee will have a bar and there will be a catering unit on leaving the ground behind the Screwfix stand. New licencing procedures are being put in place.”

In a sign of the positive state of the club, questions about its financial stability and the ownership of the stadium by Somerset Council were limited.

In the minutes, the chairman was asked if there was an progress on triggering the buy-back he holds on the land at Huish Park.

The minutes showed he “explained that he has the buy back rights and will do it when he feels it is right.”

 

The minutes of the latest Supporters’ Alliance meeting, held on September 25th, have been published by the Glovers’ Trust.

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An away match on a pitch that must not be named. The Glovers travel to Worthing tomorrow with a new striker in Sonny Cox. Ian, Ben and Dave chat about the week that was and we take your questions.

Image courtesy of ChatGPT

Thank you for your continued support of the Gloverscast. Remember to add Gloverscast.co.uk to your favourites and check the website daily for the latest news and views from Huish Park.

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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.