November 2023 (Page 3)

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Yeovil Town defender Michael Smith has said that the Glovers’ dressing room felt like it had suffered a defeat after a late freak own goal, gave Chippenham a point on Tuesday night.
Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins the right back admitted, they may not have deserved the full three points.

“Probably, we didn’t deserve to win it, i thought they battled hard tonight and we just couldn’t find the right pass at the right moment to pick them off.

Fair play to them, they know it was a crazy OG, but yeah they battled hard probably deserved their draw in the end.

They set up well and it worked well, but it’s down to us to find a way to break them down and tonight we weren’t good enough and we know that but, I’m pretty sure all of us thought that we wouldn’t go through the league season winning the rest of the games so it’s a little test for us now, we have to go and win on Saturday.”

The visitors were faced with a narrow and compact defensive unit and despite creating chances, couldn’t find the goals to see off their hosts.

“The level is great and we come up against teams who set up and it’s down to us to play against them, fair play to the fans, travelled in their numbers again and just Sorry that we couldn’t get a win for them tonight.

I think we probably should have went more and tried to kill them off, but we did have a few chances throughout the game, it just wasn’t falling for us at the right moment, we eventually got the goal and we should have seen it out, but as I say, it’s a crazy OG and we can’t really blame anyone for that, we go again at the weekend.”

We’re in the changing room there and it does feel like a defeat, everyone’s heads are down,

The equaliser game just before the 90 minute mark as Ducan Idehern and Morgan Williams got in a mix up that ended up with the ball cannoning off Williams from the clearance and into Joe Day’s goal, Smith says they’ll both learn and move on from it.

“They’re (Williams and Idehern) two good lads and they’ve been around, I know they’re only young, but they’ve still been around men’s football and first team football, yeah, forget about things like that, I made a mistake a couple of weeks ago and you have to forget about it pretty quickly if you want to stay in the team – it moves quickly and Saturday comes around pretty quickly and as I said it’s no-one’s fault, it’s just one of those crazy OG’s.”

Reflecting on the result, the Northern Irishman admitted the changing room was a quiet place, but that Saturday was an opportunity to bounce back… and that the Glovers are still in a very good position.

“We’re in the changing room there and it does feel like a defeat, everyone’s heads are down, but the gaffer spoke brilliantly about going through a tough period and picking ourselves up and getting ready to go again Saturday.

Nine clear, it’s nice, I think if you’d have said to us at the start of the season we’d been nine clear at this stage we’d probably bite your hand off for it, but it’s down to us to – you know – we need to pick teams like this off more easily, move the ball a bit better and find those final passes a bit better, it’s down to us on the pitch, the manager sets us up and we go out there, if we can’t break them down, it’s our problem.

Some teams have set up like that against us, sit on the ball and try and counter because we’ll be a big scalp for them and tonight, seeing them they celebrated like they’d won the league and fair play to them, I thought they were brilliant, it wasn’t our night tonight.”

You can listen to the full interview below

 

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Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper admitted his side had enough chances to have won last night’s National League South match at Chippenham Town.

But the Glovers’ boss was in philosophical mood after seeing his side pegged back by a late own goal from defender Morgan Williams see them settle for a 1-1 draw at Hardenhuish Park.

Having gone ahead when substitute Jake Hyde headed home from close range after 77 minutes, a mistake in midfield led to a break which saw Bristol City loanee Duncan Idehen head the ball against his defensive counterpart Williams with just one minute of normal time remaining.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins after the game, Cooper said: “We didn’t play brilliantly well, but we had too many chances not to win the game. We would normally take more than one of those but we were a bit awkward in front of goal and we didn’t make the right connection or pick the right option. Their keeper has made some really good saves and one he probably shouldn’t be given the chance to make the save, but when you get 1-0 up you have to see it out. I expect the experienced players we put on the pitch to see that out, but we make a really poor mistake and we have to take the point.

“We scored the goal and then the mentality was ‘we’ve won, we’ll take a step back’, I think it was that much of a relief that we had scored a goal that they thought we’d take it and try and see it out. We were never really in any danger until we make a horrendous tackle in the middle of the pitch and Duncan (Idehen) can’t quite adjust his feet and heads it at Morgan (Williams) instead of clearing it and it is in the back of the net.”

The statistics show the Glovers had 11  shots on target – with nine of them coming in the first half – with Chippenham keeper Will Henry pulling off a point blank save from Matt Worthington early in the second half and top-scorer Murphy spurning a number of opportunities.

Despite dropping points, draws for second-placed Aveley and fourth-placed Bath City at Tonbridge Angels and Hemel Hempstead Town respectively means Yeovil actually restored their nine-point advantage at the top of National League South. Third-placed Maidstone United briefly reduced the gap to eight points with a 1-0 win over Chelmsford City on Monday night.

Cooper said: “There’s loads of things for us to be disappointed about, but we have got a point tonight. No-one below us won, but no-one is going to roll over and make it easy for us, so we have to be realistic and there’s going to be some games where it’s not quite our night but we have to make sure we come out of it with something and we have done that tonight.

“They defended really deep and compact but we still had numerous really good chances. In the first minute, (Rhys) Murphy has a great chance, right after half-time Worthy goes clean through. It doesn’t matter what they do, we are going to have those chances, we have just got to be more ruthless at both ends of the pitch.

“It is always disappointing when you concede late on but we have had moments where we have scored that late. So we have to be realistic about it.”

Cooper also said he believed Chippenham midfielder Luke Spokes should have been sent off for a lunging tackle on winger Will Dawes on the hour. Referee Shelby Elson adjudged the tackle as only worthy of a yellow card.

The Yeovil manager said: “That is horrendous tackle, it’s a red card. I don’t think the lad meant it, but he’s caught Will from his groin, down his kneecap to his shin and the referee says to me ‘it doesn’t matter where he caught him, it doesn’t mean it’s a red card.’ I’m not sure you can get any higher than that and I thought it was a really dangerous tackle. The referee has to see that is a red card, but he will be alright.”

 

As is the case this season, the post-match interviews include a separate chat with the manager conducted by the club’s press officer Dan Howell and here is what Mark Cooper had to say to the club’s YouTube channel.

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Yeovil’s winning run in National League South came to an end in at Chippenham Town this evening. Despite peppering the Chippenham goal in the second half the profligate Glovers failed to convert numerous chances. Substitute Jake Hyde gave the Glovers the lead in 76th minute, but a Morgan Williams own goal in the 90th minute earned Chippenham a point. 

The Glovers remain nine points clear at the top of National League South.

Here’s how Ian saw it on National League TV….

 

First half

Mark Cooper made plenty of changes to the Yeovil side which lost to Torquay the weekend in the FA trophy. Michael Smith, Morgan Williams, Matt Worthington, Frank Nouble and Rhys Murphy all returned to the starting line up. Glovers supporters travelled in their numbers once again.

Chippenham had an early effort in the 6th minute with Freddie Grant’s low, left-footed shot saved comfortably by Joe Day.

Yeovil gained a foothold in possession and began to control proceedings and probably should have taken the lead on 10 minutes through Rhys Murphy. The striker could only fire wide after getting into the penalty box. Moments later, Murphy had a good freekick planed wide by Chippenham’s keeper.

The game opened up and the hosts had an effort from distance through Spokes, who could only fire wide.

Michael Smith very nearly scored his first goal in green and white after being played through by Sonny Blu Lo-Everton. The Northern Irishman was flagged for offside which drew few complaints from Yeovil players.

The Glovers had to be patient with the ball, with Chippenham proving difficult to break down and having their own spells of pressure.

Some intricate play saw Yeovil find Murphy inside the box, but the striker couldn’t get the ball out of his feet to get a shot away.

As the half wore on, Chippenham stood firm and had some good spells of possession while the Glovers huffed puffed.

Half time: Chippenham Town 0 Yeovil Town 0

Second half

Chippenham came out of the blocks fast at the beginning of the second half and Tom Mehew struck a left-footed effort agonisingly wide of Joe Day’s left hand post.

Matt Worthington should have opened the scoring shortly after. The midfielder broke into the box and found himself one-on-one with Henry in the Chippenham goal and shot straight at the keeper. Big chance!

Yeovil had a shout for penalty as a defender slapped the ball away from Murphy as he was doing some keepy-uppies in the box, with his back to goal trying to set up an overhead kick.

The Glovers really started to show dominance and Will Dawes came so close to opening the scoring, but fired just wide. Murphy had a header deflected just wide shortly afterwards.

There was concern for Dawes when he went down under a rough tackle, but he quickly got to his feet while Mark Cooper introduced Jordan Maguire-Drew for Sonny Cox around the hour mark.

Maguire-Drew was in the action early and had a decent free kick saved by the keeper.

Henry was called into action again moments later, making a great low save from Murphy, who swivelled and shot at goal. How didn’t that go in? Henry caught another from Frank Nouble header straight afterwards. 

Yeovil finally broke the deadlock in the 76th minute. Nouble’s cross was headed at goal by Murphy, his effort was parried into the path of JAKE HYDE who tapped home! 1-0!

In the 80th minute, Murphy had another golden opportunity inside the six yard box in the and somehow couldn’t convert! It was not Murphy’s night…

Chippenham had a flurry at goal, with efforts straight at Joe Day but making the Glovers uncomfortable as time ticked away. 

Day was called into a brilliant save four minutes from time. An effort from Tudolo fizzed across the surface and Day had to get down quickly to push the ball away. Nervy!

To top off Murphy’s evening the striker picked up his 5th yellow card and a one-match ban.

It went from bad to worse a minute later. A ball into the box was cleared headed away by Idehen but ricocheted off of Morgan Williams into Day’s net. Ugh! 1-1.

Full time: Chippenham Town 1 Yeovil Town 1

 

Match Details

Venue: Hardenhuish Park
Date: Tuesday 21st November, 7:45pm kick-off
Competition: National League South

Pitch: Pretty good, but a slope reminiscent of old Huish
Conditions: “F*****g Freezing” – David Coates 

Attendance: 1326

Scorers: Hyde, Own Goal

Bookings: 
Yeovil Town: Will Dawes, 71, Murphy, 86
Chippenham Town: Luke Spokes

Referee: Shelby Elson

Yeovil Town (4-3-3)

 

Substitutes: Jake Hyde (for Will Dawes 71), Alex Fisher, Charlie Cooper (for Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, 71), Jordan Maguire-Drew (for Sonny Cox), Josh Staunton

Chippenham Town: Will Henry, Freddie Grant, Craig Fasanmade (for Aaron Amadi-Holloway), Luke Haines, Dan Ellison, Matt McClure, Tom Mehew, Luke Spokes, Leighton Tudolo, Caine Bradbury, Ed Williams
Substitutes (not used): Marcel Lewis, Will King, Tom Owen-Evans, Nat WIlliams.

 

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Sonny Cox has been recalled to Yeovil Town starting XI has not one of a number of changes for tonight’s trip to Chippenham Town tonight (7.45pm kick-off).

The Exeter City loan striker will fill the role of the suspended Jordan Young in between Rhys Murphy and Frank Nouble with Will Dawes on the opposite flank.

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The Glovers are back in action following their FA Trophy exit and it’s back to League matters with an away day at Chippenham Town.

This is a Huish Park derby… of sorts, the home side’s ground is known as Hardenhuish Park… we can only assume for the reverse leg, we’ll change our stadium’s name to Softenhuish Park… might as well.

On Monday night, Maidstone United cut the gap at the top to just eight points with a win over play-off contenders Chelmsford City, and with others in the chasing pack including Aveley, Bath City and Hampton & Richmond all playing away from home on this midweek round of games, it could be an important night to get three points.

Chippenham needed penalties to get past Southern League South side Basingstoke Town in their FA Trophy clash at the weekend, Craig Fasanmade’s 100th minute equaliser sparing their blushes in normal time – he also took, and scored a spot kick.

The Chips (I assume they’re nicknamed ‘The Chips’ because, why wouldn’t they be?) are actually on something of an unbeaten league run though, with a 2-2 draw against Chemlsford , home wins vs Farnborough and Eastbourne all in November.

Northern Irishman Matt McClure tops their goal scoring charts.

Jake Wannell celebrates with Jordan Young.
Picture courtesy of Mike Kunz.

Yeovil Team News

The main headline here is that Jordan Young, who signed for Yeovil on a two-and-a-half year contract from Chippenham in January (yes, feels longer ago, doesn’t it?), is missing from the side through suspension. His fifth yellow card of the season means he misses one game, which just so happens to be against his former side.

This week represents the final full week of games before the ‘5 Yellow Card Cut Off’ so Charlie Cooper, Matt Worthington and Rhys Murphy can keep themselves out of trouble for a week (which includes the weekend’s trip to Welling United), we won’t have to worry about the accumulation of yellows until they get to 10.

It seems highly unlikely that Jake Wannell  will be risked following his injury seven days ago, Duncan Idehen will likely make his first league start since signing on loan from Bristol City.

Mark Cooper pointed to a couple of niggles among some of the players he rested for last weekend’s FA Trophy exit at Torquay United when he spoke to Three Valleys Radio‘s Football Bloody Hell podcast on Monday night.

The manager said: “Michael Smith is 35 and has been arguably one of our best players and he covers 12 kilometres every game, he started to feel a little bit of tightness in his hamstring and it made no sense for him to play another game and risk losing him for six weeks.

“Morgan Williams has played the last three games with a tight hamstring and hyper-extended his knee against Torquay in the league game. Jake Wannell tweaked his hamstring (against Farnborough) and was not fit. Matthew Worthington and a tight something and has played almost every minute of every game.

“Jordan Stevens pulled his hamstring, Frank Nouble and Rhys Murphy have been on fire, so we had to freshen it up and I make no apologies for that, it was the right thing to do. Even if we had won the game it would have been the right thing to do.”

Long(er)-term injury victims defender Jamie Sendles-White (Achilles) and midfielder Stevens (hamstring) are both certain to not feature tonight. 

 

Chippenham Team News

The Chips (we’re going with that) are reporting a long and winding injury list with winger Alex Bray the latest to suffer with a knock – he could be missing. They also have concerns over; midfielders Tom Owen-Evans, Aaron Amadi-Holloway, Tyreke Johnson and Will King, plus striker Owen Windsor who have all struggled to maintain a spot in the side of late.

A quick look at the FA’s suspension list, experienced defender Eddie Jones is listed as serving a one-match ban for this game too.

Keep an eye out for a feisty dug out too, both manager Gary Horgan and assistant Matt Coupe are both due to serve suspensions of their own at the weekend.

As an aside, the home team’s Goalkeeper, Will Henry is listed as one of the smaller ‘keepers in the league… I do hope we spot him off his line at some point and have been practicing our long range efforts… hopefully someone tries…. CHIPPIN’HIM….. 

I’ll get my coat…..

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Yeovil Town’s trip to Princes Park, to face Dartford, has been moved to Saturday 9th of December.

Follow this weekend’s results, both the Glovers and the Darts have a spare weekend, so the game has been shifted forward ten days from it’s original December 19th slot.

Tickets for the event are available to buy, HERE

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WWWWWWWWWWWWWWL.

Torquay ended the run on Saturday in the FA Trophy. We’re not too bothered though right? Tom Bailey joins Ian and Dave to talk through the afternoon at Plainmoor.

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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Yeovil Town Under-18s went down to a 1-0 defeat at home to Mangotsfield United as they return to South West Counties Youth League action yesterday.

The young Glovers fielded a side made entirely out of players from the Elite Player Development Programme (EPDP) it runs with Yeovil College in a fixture played at Gassons Lane, Somerton due to waterlogging  at Alvington.

A 25th minute goal for the visitors, who sit third in the place, was the difference between the two sides and mean Yeovil are second-from-bottom of the table having won one, drawn one and lost five of their seven fixtures this season.

Yeovil Town Under-18s in action against Mangotsfield United at Somerton.
Picture courtesy of Matt Partridge.

 

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The second round of the FA Trophy began yesterday, with National League North and South teams entering the competition. Plenty of games to discuss, so let’s dive right in and look at some of the highlights (and lowlights).

22 National League South teams were in action today, and there were a few all-NLS clashes (including Yeovil’s defeat at Torquay). The highlight of the round came at Dover Athletic, who played out a 4-4 classic with W*ymouth, who won 4-1 on penalties to progress, while Slough Town handed Farnborough their second defeat of the week with a 2-1 win. In the final all-NLS clash, Dartford fell to a narrow defeat at home to Maidstone.

There were cupsets-a-plenty too, with multiple NLS sides falling at the first hurdle to lower league opposition. Hemel Hempstead lost 5-3 on penalties to 8th tier Walsall Wood, Havant & Waterlooville continued their woeful season with a 2-1 loss to AFC Totton, while Hendon knocked out Eastbourne Borough with a 2-0 win. 8th tier Frome Town defeated Worthing on penalties, as did Hythe Town against Tonbridge Angels, while Hungerford Town got the job done in 90 minutes against Truro City.

There’s only one more fixture involving NLS teams, and it’s an all-NLS clash between Welling United and Taunton, which was played on Tuesday 21st November. An enthralling 2-2 draw (in which Yeovil loanee Malachi Linton bagged a late equaliser!) went to penalties, where Welling ultimately prevailed. Yeovil’s journey ends at the first hurdle in the FA Trophy, and will look to get themselves back on track against Chippenham Town on Tuesday (who defeated Basingstoke Town on penalties).

 

FA Trophy 2nd Round results (NLS teams in bold)

AFC Totton 2-1 Havant & Waterlooville
Aveley 2-1 St Ives Town
Bath City 1-0 Beaconsfield Town
Bishop’s Stortford 3-1 St Albans City
Chippenham Town 1-1 Basingstoke Town (Chippenham won 3-2 on pens)
Cray Valley Paper Mills 1-5 Hampton & Richmond Borough
Dartford 0-1 Maidstone United
Dover Athletic 4-4 W*ymouth (W*ymouth won 4-1 on pens)
Frome Town 2-2 Worthing (Frome won 4-3 on pens)
Gloucester City 3-0 Braintree Town
Harborough Town 0-2 Chelmsford City
Hemel Hempstead Town 1-1 Walsall Wood (Walsall Wood won 5-3 on pens)
Hendon 2-0 Eastbourne Borough
Hungerford Town 2-0 Truro City
Hythe Town 0-0 Tonbridge Angels (Hythe won 3-1 on pens)
Slough Town 2-1 Farnborough Town
Weston-super-mare 4-1 Cray Wanderers
Welling United 2-2 Taunton Town (Welling won 8-7 on pens)