Who was your Man of the Match for the first installment of the A358 derby?
One of the four goal scorers? One of the many fine performances from the defence and midfield?
We haven’t got enough space on the poll for all 6301 of those in the stands though.
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Yeovil Town took full advantage of the slip up by Hampton and Richmond earlier to go ten points clear at the top of the National League South, four goals, each from different players wrapped up the points in front of (another) National League South attendance record.
Here’s Gloverscast Ben’s match report.
The Glovers started brightly and did find their way into the Taunton penalty area with just a couple of minutes on the clock, but it was Taunton who first had a proper opportunity to force a save out of Joe Day.
Ross Stern, stood over a free kick 25 yards out, but instead of shooting, he dinked the ball into the area where a couple of Taunton players, challenged for the ball in an offside position.
Will Dawes sought medical attention soon after, a few Glovers players asking the referee if he intended to do anything further regarding the situation, he wasn’t, Dawes was fine.
… that was until he wasn’t.
Despite coming back onto the pitch, Dawes was to be replaced by Rhys Murphy, that would move Jordan Young into a wider to bring Murphy along side Frank Nouble up front.
The opening ten minutes resembled a passing session between the two goalkeepers, neither side able to get their foot on the ball.
Once someone did, a chance was created, Rhys Murphy crashed his way into the box on the right hand side and fizzed a ball across for the waiting Courtney Senior, but it was scrambled away.
It seemed to wake the Glovers up, Alex Whittle and Senior were teaming up nicely, but the crosses weren’t finding their men.
Senior failed to bring one down with the goal gaping, Charlie Cooper had a shot from distance that somehow, via at least one, if not two deflections skipped just wide.
At the other end, Stern and Nat Jarvis were attempting some of the game’s dark arts with former Peacock Jake Wannell their main target.
Dan Ball brought Jordan Young down with the Glovers man in full flow after picking up a loose ball, the set piece was being lined up by Charlie Cooper.
25 yards out, just to the left hand side of the area, it may have favoured the right footer, but Young pulled rank, but would sky the ball over the bar.
The Glovers would have their goal soon enough though, Morgan Williams picked out Jordan Young through the middle of the park, the winger skipped past one, sped past another and fed Michael Smith whose inch perfect cross ball was placed home from 12 yards by Frank NOUBLE.
The Peacocks were on the ropes early, their restart went straight out of play and then a loose pass through the midfield nearly gave Nouble another chance to run at the defence.
Nouble and Young got their wires crossed on 18 minutes, good work from Courtney Senior coming to nothing as Nouble couldn’t slide Young through on goal.
Rhys Murphy forced a great save from the Taunton keeper, a sensational pass from Charlie Cooper set the front man on his way, the keeper to his credit stayed big and just got a big toe on the shot, to send it round the post.
20 minutes gone and the Glovers had the ball in comfortable possession, Matt Worthington sent a long ball forward to Nouble, he brought the ball down and found Michael SMITH who slide the ball home as smoothly as only with a man with his silky voice could. 2-0 Gorgeous.
Frank Nouble picked the ball up on 25 minutes, ran the full length of the pitch with no-one in white able to get near him, his final touch was just a smidgen too heavy and a desperate defence could mop up.
Taunton were trying to find a way back into the game, with less than half an hour on the clock they were planning a change, but before they could make it, both Whittle and Young causing havoc down their respective wings.
Young was in full flow by this point, he drew a foul out of Zac Smith in the left wing back area, right by the corner flag.
Young whipped it in himself, some head tennis ensued and Taunton could make a break away, Stern forcing a throw in which would lead to a Glovers goal kick.
Stern – with short sleeves and gloves – claimed for a spot kick, but was waved away.
The change originally planned by Taunton was seemingly canned, the Glovers were looking for a third, Jordan Young was bundled off the ball in the area, but nothing doing there, Senior continued to snap at the heels of anyone in the Taunton defence, and there were chances beginning to flow.
Michael Smith was flying down the right hand side and he whipped a ball in to the six yard box where Rhys Murphy, who started the play off 50 yards further back, somehow missed the target. It looked easier to score.
Dan Ball didn’t like what he was seeing and told someone, and then proceeded to tell the referee his name. Yellow.
Murphy lashed another shot over the target, smashed at goal from distance, a frustrated swipe at the ball.
The first Glover in the book was Matt Worthington, the skipper adjudged to have fouled Joe Guest on 38 minutes.
Confidence was starting to flow, Senior travelled a long way quite quickly down the left hand side, he went sideways to Cooper who couldn’t find Worthington down the right hand side.
Five minutes left of normal time and once again Stern – he of the short sleeves and gloves (are you cold or not?) – was throwing himself to the ground, all it did was give the Glovers the possession again, possession which found its way to Jordan Young, who couldn’t quite squeeze either himself or a cross into the box.
Senior did manager to get the ball onto his left foot on the edge of the area, but one touch too many saw the Peacocks snuff out the challenge.
Rhys Murphy was in something of a mood after squandering chances earlier in the half, some great work by Nouble and Young saw Murphy skip past the person closest to him, but his left footed shot was again, nestled into the Thatchers Stand.
Taunton would end the half with some sort of pressure, a free kick down the right hand side, taken by Lloyd James found its way back into the area and the Glovers would pounce on a Joe Day punch to counter.
Frank Nouble sending Murphy through again, but the Bagsman couldn’t quite convert as the fourth official announced four additional minutes to play.
Ollie Chamberlain was involved in some nice play with James for Taunton down the right, but his cross was slashed at by the Taunton Skipper, Nick Grimes… it wasn’t close to Joe Day’s goal.
Day got a replacement ball and launched it forward, Nouble sent a couple defenders for an early half time hot dog and found Jordan Young.
Young skipped past one and tricked his way past a second, but another high shot didn’t trouble the away keeper.
The Glovers were approaching double figures for proper chances, Rhys Murphy was too strong for Dan Ball after a long clearance, but the ball got stuck under his foot, with a run at the goal at his mercy.
2-0 to Yeovil, it could have been six.
Taunton made a switch at the break, Marcus Day was taken out of the affair with Cam Evans brought in.
The opening exhanges of the second half, were a little bit scrappy, both sides tried some longer balls to get their rhythm back, Courtney Senior was the first player to get the ball down and get attacking, he linked up with Alex Whittle, but his cross evaded everyone and it was cleared by the visitors.
Those two would team up again, as the Glovers took their time to force another attack, Smith and Young were equally well teamed together on the right.
He found himself in acres of space near the Taunton corner flag, but his first time cross wasn’t met by a Glover.
The action was all in the Taunton box, Courtney Senior couldn’t find half a yard of space after linking well with Rhys Murphy.
With ten minutes gone, a slip by Senior gave Zac Smith the chance to move the ball forward, Taunton progressed forward before Cooper broke up the attack, he was hauled down for the second time in the first period of the second half.
Neither goalkeeper had done much in the way of anything arduous since the break, both sides making progress down the flanks, but nothing in the way of a final ball, or shot to cause much damage.
Taunton had clearly had something of a rocket at half time, they were trying to break up play as much as possible, Austen Booth did just that with a bursting run forward, only to foul Jake Wannell in the process.
Zac Smith pounced on a loose ball on the left hand side as the clock ticked passed an hour, but a heavy touch and a loud shout from the Glovers’ keeper meant Joe Day mopped up with minimal fuss.
The second half didn’t appear to have the same fizz to it as the first, Taunton had the most of the ball, a long shot was easily claimed by Day whilst Ross Stearn moaned some more at the ref who wasn’t falling for his antics.
Whilst the Taunton attackers were having a moan, their defenders were doing some attacking, Dan Ball fired a shot in, but a combination of Glovers’ defenders saw it wide; the corner was dealt with by Jake Wannell.
With just over 65 minutes on the clock, Joe Day took a clattering when claiming a high ball, as Taunton maintained a bit of possession in midfield, the hosts prepped a change.
Courtney Senior’s final action was to win a free kick down the left hand side, Sonny Blu Lo Everton coming on, a switch in tactics with Jordan Young going wide on the left.
As the Free Kick came in, it came to nothing, but it soon would.
The Goal Kick from Lavercombe saw a loveley through ball from Matt Worthington, Rhys MURPHY kept his cool as he slotted past the on rushing keeper.
The chances kept coming, corners and crosses galore.
Sonny Blu LO EVERTON found himself a bit of space 25 yards out, not long after having a shot saved, his fired shot, low and hard, off the post and nestled into the back of the net. 4-0 and it was all happening too fast for this report to be written.
Taunton made a change again, Nick McCootie coming on for Ross Stearn, who had clearly spent too much time and effort flailing about.
Soon after Joe Day finally had something to do; give the referee his name… for time wasting, at 4-0 up… riiiiiight.
Jordan Young was replaced by Alex Fisher and the Glovers played their final cards from the bench.
It was about now, the stream dropped to black, Taunton got a goal back with just over ten minutes left, Austen Booth rising highest at a corner.
Zac Smith was booked (finally) and he had a shot on goal, which went wide.
Nick Grimes had a go too, but that went over, the Glovers were able to take their foot off the gas as the half wore down.
Taunton were reduced to 10 men, after the sub Nick McCootie saw yellow… twice, in quick succession. A reckless challenge followed by a confrontation and that was it, early bath.
Four additional minutes, if you’ve made it this far and were hoping for more significant updates, the stream never came back – Gloverscast Ben will send an angry email shortly after publishing this match report.
Game over. 4-1, could have been a cricket score. Top of the league by ten points. Merry Christmas!
4-0 @YTFC @gloverscast #ytfc pic.twitter.com/f62LZ3p4Yx
— Chris Hockley (@Chrishockley) December 26, 2023
Venue: Huish Park
Date: Tuesday 26th December – 3:00pm
Competition: National League South
Pitch: Cut up in places, but nothing serious
Conditions: Dry and cool
Attendance: 6,301 (406 away supporters)
Scorers: Frank Nouble (1-0 ’15), Michael Smith (2-0 ’20), Rhys Murphy (3-0 ’69), Sonny Blu Lo Everton (4-0 ’72), Austen Booth (4-1 ’78)
Bookings:
Yeovil Town: Matt Worthington ’38, Joe Day ’74,
Taunton Town: Dan Ball ’36, Zac Smith ’81, Nick McCootie ’85
Red Cards
Yeovil Town: None
Taunton Town: Nick McCootie ’85 (Second Bookable Offence)
Referee: Ross Martin
Yeovil Town (4-4-2)
Substitutes: Rhys Murphy (for Dawes ‘6), Sonny Blu Lo-Everton (for Senior ’67), Alex Fisher (for Jordan Young ’75), Josh Owers (not used), Jake Hyde (not used).
Taunton Town: Dan Lavercome (GK), Nick Grimes, Dan Ball, Austen Booth, Ollie Chamberlain, Lloyd James, Nat Jarvis, Joe Guest, Ross Stearn (for Nick McCootie ’72), Zac Smith, Marcus Day (For Cam Evans ’46)
Substitutes (not used): Lloyd Irish (GK), Rabi Tabu, Callum Doman
Alex Whittle returns to the starting line up for the Boxing Day clash against Taunton Town.
Whittle replaces Jay Foulston – who is unable to face his parent club. Jake Wannell does indeed start against his former employers.
If you read earlier that Jordan Stevens was back, he isn’t – call it a typo from the official account – but Will Dawes is, just as quick, I suppose.
Happy Boxing Day, Yeovil fans!
It’s a double header of local derbies against Taunton Town to wrap up 2023 and we thought we best have a double header of guests…
Rich Willcox-Smith and Jon Reed are both Yeovil fans, who talk all things Taunton Town on match day commentary duties.
We chat, Wannell, Foulston, Linton and the back to back fixtures!
Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Leave us a review and share the pod with a pal.
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Everyone at the Gloverscast would like to wish all readers, listeners and Yeovil Town fans a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2024.
Merry Christmas everyone! Santa’s a Glover, so he needed something to get him through Christmas morning. Kick off the day with a treat from us.
We’ve picked a Yeovil Town Christmas XI and Dave’s done a special quiz for Ian and Ben…
Thanks for all the support, listens and clicks through 2023! Have a wonderful day!
It’s time for a festive double header against Taunton, that’s right, it’s time for El Ciderco…the A358 Derby (as literally no-one has ever called it)
The Glovers come into this game off the back of a 1-0 win away at Eastbourne.
There are changes expected to the squad, Jay Foulston can’t play against his parent club, Alex Whittle is expected to slot back in at left back. Jake Hyde is available again after missing the artificial surface game whilst it’s likely going to be a while before Jordan Stevens and Jamie Sendles-White are back in match day squads.
Courtney Senior will be in line for his home debut after signing from Barnet on an initial one-month loan – JM-D heading in the other direction takes him out of the equation for the rest of the season.
The game will also be Jake Wannell’s first game against his former employers, the central defender switching Wordsworth Park for Huish Park in the summer.
The Glovers are the only side in the league still unbeaten at home, with nine wins and three draws at Huish Park.
Yeovil couldn’t break down Hampton and Richmond at home 10 day ago, a resulted that brought a ten game home winning streak to an end across league and cup…
Following their 2-2 draw with Tonbridge Angels on Saturday, Taunton’s Head of Football (that’s ‘Manager’, right?) said of the back to back clashes against Yeovil;
“I think you have to try and enjoy these games, but at the same time, I want to get something out of them, I want to win a game, we’re not just going to roll up. With whats happening [Off the field] people tend to feel sorry for you, I can’t stand that, they think you’ve got a soft underbelly, I think that we proved today that we most certainly have not… the lads showed their steel and what’s under their left nipple…”
“As for the two Yeovil games, we’ll embrace it, these big games are what we are in the league for, we’ll be fresh and ready to go, we’ll have a proper go, like all my teams do.
We’ll look forward to these two big games, two big crowds, they’re the games you want to be involved in as a player and as a manager.”
[You’re still thinking about Rob Dray’s nipple aren’t you? Us too]
As for team news, Malachi Linton won’t be involved.
Taunton’s away form this season has seen them win just once (away at Tonbridge in September) in fact, they haven’t even so much as scored an away league goal since a 2-2 draw with Bath in early October.
The Glovers and the Peacocks played out a quite frankly terrible FA Cup tie last season, 180 minutes of dross.
Only a single Taunton penalty separated the sides and booked them a tie at MK Dons in the first round.
Yeovil Town’s 1-0 win over Eastbourne, took the Glovers to 50 points, eight clear of anyone else in the National League South.
The 9th ‘Cleano’ of the season so far has landed Jake Wannell a spot in the official team of the week.
The more Eagle-eyed fans out there will spot the strike force is an all Ex-YTFC line up too!
Congratulations, Jake.
Festive spirit has descended upon the country, and that spirit has only grown stronger as Yeovil left the South Coast as 1-0 winners against Eastbourne Borough. Let’s dive into the rest of the league action, and see if Santa has left us any early Christmas gifts!
We start back in Somerset, where Bath City hammered Welling United at home to register their first league win since Remembrance Day. Ex-Glover Shaun Jeffers got himself on the scoresheet once again as St Albans City downed Dartford 3-0 away from home to make it 3 wins in their last 5, while late drama at our holiday opponents Taunton went down, as Tonbridge Angels scored in the 89th and 94th minutes to give themselves a win… or so they thought, as a 96th minute equaliser from Nick Grimes meant both sides shared the points.
Santa was feeling generous this season for Yeovil fans, as there were many favourable results for the league leaders! Aveley fell at home to Slough Town, Torquay United were sent packing away to Chelmsford City, and Worthing were defeated away to Hemel Hempstead, all ending in 2-0 defeats. Maidstone also lost at home to Chippenham Town to further aid Yeovil’s title push, the only threat to their lead coming at Hampton & Richmond, as they won 2-1 against Weston-super-mare to continue their unbeaten run.
Dover Athletic extended their winless league run to 21 games, albeit with a credible 1-1 draw away to W*ymouth, while Farnborough and Truro City ran out as 1-0 winners, against Braintree Town and Havant & Waterlooville respectively.
Before the full results list and the tables below, I just want to wish everybody a Merry Christmas, up the Glovers!
National League South results – in full
Aveley 0-2 Slough Town
Bath City 4-0 Welling United
Chelmsford City 2-0 Torquay United
Dartford 0-3 St Albans City
Farnborough 1-0 Braintree Town
Hampton & Richmond Borough 2-1 Weston-super-mare
Hemel Hempstead Town 2-0 Worthing
Maidstone United 0-1 Chippenham Town
Taunton Town 2-2 Tonbridge Angels
Truro City 1-0 Havant & Waterlooville
W*ymouth 1-1 Dover Athletic
National League tables!
Here's how we're looking on Christmas Eve ?#TheVanarama pic.twitter.com/6hMXbrXgvS
— The National League (@TheVanaramaNL) December 24, 2023
Yeovil Town sit proudly (and deservedly) eight points clear at the National League South table this Christmas thanks to a 1-0 win at Eastbourne Borough yesterday.
A first half goal from Frank Nouble put the Glovers’ ahead before an excellent rearguard action ensure they ground out the three points.
Here are Dave’s conclusions from his vantage point in the away end of the East Sussex coast….
Not pretty but that’s the stuff: As halves of football go, there are not many duller ones I have seen than the second half of this one. But that was absolutely lovely. The first half saw us dominate the game, create the better chances and, see Conclusion #3, score a completely legitimate goal and after that we just had to make sure we did nothing silly. Eastbourne did not look the side which caused us issues at Huish Park and, even though they probed in the second half, I don’t recall Joe Day having a meaningful save to make. Meanwhile, we were able to rest players (notably Rhys Murphy) and conserve our energy for a busy next week. Lovely stuff.
The surface was a shocker: With the Gloverscast gagging order on 3G pitches removed, I can say that surface was everything Josh Staunton spoke about bad surfaces in the summer. It was rock hard, did not look like it had been touched in months, and totally unpredictable as to where the ball was going to go. We’ve played on half of the eight 3G surfaces in this division with Aveley, Maidstone, Slough Town and Tonbridge Angels still to come. But that’s two wins in our last two matches on 3G, so we’ll consider the hoodoo passed.
There was absolutely nothing wrong with our goal: Eastbourne coach Niall Clark saw red for his protests about the manner of our goal, but there was nothing wrong with it. Referee Jack Bloxham gave the drop ball to the home side’s Freddie Carter and he did absolutely nothing to play it, so Rhys Murphy nicked in, fed Nouble and goal. For my money it was naivety from Carter and nous from Murphy.
Courtney Senior looked lively: In the first half, we saw plenty of what Courtney Senior, the winger signed on loan from Barnet the day before, could bring to this team. There’s pace there, there’s trickery there, and enough to make you think that one the right surface he could cause issues. There were a couple of occasions where he lost it, or misjudged something but that is just the life of a winger, isn’t it?
Enjoy your Christmas Glovers: Eight points clear at the top of the table this Christmas, 50 points in the bag and having shown an ability to win convincingly and when we’re not playing well. I’ll take that and so will 99% of other Glovers’ fans. There’s been a few things said about us being a difficult fanbase to please, but let’s not obsess with a vocal minority. Social media is not the consensus. Given where we’ve come from to get here, this first half of the season has been outstanding. Yes, there’s half-a-season to go and nothing is won in December, but this team and this manager has us believing again. Let’s keep doing what we’re doing. Enjoy your Christmas Day one and all – and let’s have Taunton for dessert! Okay, second dessert!
