January 2024 (Page 2)

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Yeovil Town have announced the signing of Olly Thomas on loan from Bristol City until the end of the season.

That’s not de ja vu, you’re feeling, back in July, Thomas joined the Glovers on a temporary deal until January, but was then recalled to be part of of a Bristol City – Newport County – Yeovil, ‘loanee triangle’.

A deal which saw Thomas head to Wales and a replacement for an injured Seb Palmer-Houlden, but the Glovers gain Joe Day.

All of that comes full circle with Yeovil now having both Thomas and Day! 

Thomas played six times for the Glovers in his first stint scoring goals against Havant and a strike to turn the tide against Truro City at Huish Park.

The 18-year-old rejoins as the Glovers are without Rhys Murphy and Jake Hyde for the “forseeable future” as per the gaffer, Thomas comes back to add some strength in depth.

Welcome back to Yeovil, Olly… your number 40 shirt is waiting to go!

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Yeovil Town return home on Tuesday evening to face Slough Town in the league.

After what was a difficult away day in St Albans on Saturday the Glovers come back to Huish Park looking to put that lacklustre performance to bed. A draw against a a team unbeaten in five should be seen as a good result, but for this Yeovil squad it will feel like a loss.

The same can be said for Slough as well, who lost to second bottom Dover Athletic. Being consistent has been the struggle for the Berkshire side, with an impressive wins against Bath being followed up with a loss to W*******.

Yeovil Town Team News

Manager Mark Cooper wants to take control of the league with a good result. He said: “We march onto Tuesday, we can put ourselves in a real commanding position with a positive result on Tuesday.”

Picture Courtesy of Gary Brown

Disappointing news for Glovers fans is that both Rhys Murphy and Jake Hyde are out with long term injuries. Cooper, 54, did confirm however that he has agreement in place for a “player who will help bolster the attacking line” to come in before the fixture.

Jordan Young is in danger of a suspension, with him collecting nine yellow cards so far, he is one away from being banned.

Slough Town News

Slough boss Scott Davies talked about how he is looking for different performance from their Saturday defeat. He said: “I expect a reaction from us on Tuesday, we’re the type of club that can get a result, we are capable of doing the unthinkable.”

The former Reading player sees the game as “a free hit” and that his players “will go there full of confidence”. 

Davies will be a name a few Glovers fans may remember. Whilst at Reading the 35 year-old came on loan to Huish Park, making four appearances for the club..

One player for Yeovil supporters to keep an eye on is Temi Eweka. The defender has been solid for The Rebels, playing over 2,000 minutes for the Berkshire team. Up front Nathan Minhas has been in decent form, with nine goals so far this season he is top scorer for The Rebels.

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Dave and Ian are joined by Sheridan Robins to chat about the 1-1 draw with St Albans at the weekend. Plus we take your #GCQs.

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A 1-1 draw against a decent St Albans City extended Yeovil Town’s unbeaten run to nine matches and keeps them top of the National League South table by ten points with games in hand over many promotion rivals.

But, they also lost defender Michael Smith to injury and we learned strikers Rhys Murphy and Jake Hyde are out for “the foreseeable future.” Here’s what Dave made of it all.


A great advert for National League South: Before the game, we’d heard about two sides on good runs of form who were capable of playing exciting, attacking football.In the first half, it was Yeovil who were in the ascendency and really should have gone in at the break with more than a 1-0 advantage. Second half, it was St Albans’ game and they showed excellent spirit to cause us more problems than any team I have seen us play this season. Their interim manager said they should have taken all three points, but I thought a draw was a fair reflection of the game. How many times this season have we heard opposition managers say they should have beaten us when they haven’t?Add John Meakes to the list.

Put yer laces through it, Jordan: I mentioned on the podcast the other week that Jordan Young needs to be more clinical. It sounds ridiculous to say about a player with 12 goals this season, but he had two glorious opportunities to either score of set up a team mate at 1-0 and another in the second half. Take one of those and we’re talking about three points rather than one. He does so well to get in to those positions, if he could find a more clinical edge he could be running away in the scoring stakes.

Jordan Young put the Glovers ahead in the 19th minute. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown

Super Joe Day’s in goal: It’s been a season where Joe Day has often not had a lot to do between the posts, but in the second half he showed exactly what he’s about. On a number of occasions he had to be on his game to keep St Albans out and was unflappable even in the nervy moments when the ball was pinging around inside our box. Sign him on!


Injuries starting to bite: If there were three players that were poster boys for Mark Cooper’s minute management, they would be Michael Smith, Rhys Murphy and Jake Hyde. Two players only at this level because of their injury records (Murphy and Hyde) and one who is 35 years young. In reality, we have done well not to lose them for longer. Smith will be the biggest loss, he’s been beyond exceptional this season, but hopefully he is not out for too long. Up front, we definitely missed the bit of devilment that either Murphy or Hyde give us off the bench at St Albans, but we have options. Hopefully the new arrival on Monday offers a focal point a’la Nouble for the links of Young, Pearson and hopefully Jordan Stevens to revolve around.

 
Michael Smith limped off with a hamstring injury late in the second half at St Albans. Picture courtesy of Gary Brown
 
Three points on Tuesday, please: This game feels like a point gained against a decent side, and pick up three points at home to Slough Town on Tuesday and it looks even better. Win your home games and pick up points on the road is the recipe for success. Up the Glovers!

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Another week goes by, for some of our Glovers loanees it was a double match week, let’s wrap things up.

We start, as ever in the National League where Barnet played on both Tuesday and Saturday and lost them both.

Jordan Maguire-Drew started in the 2-0 loss to Oldham and was introduced into the game after 70 minutes of their 2-1 defeat to Gateshead on Saturday.

Alex Fisher had two games for Oxford and played even less time, he started in Oxford’s 2-1 defeat to York City, but was taken off at half time, he was introduced from the bench in the 89th minute as his side recorded a much needed win over Ebbsfleet on Saturday.

Into the National League South and Malachi Linton started both of W*ymouth’s two games this week, completing 81 minutes against Taunton, which they won 2-0 and the full 90 in their 1-0 win over lowly Dartford too. 

There was a cleano and 90 minutes more for Ollie Haste as Dorchester drew 0-0 with Plymouth Parkway.

Melksham lost 5-1 to Larkhall, but that one strike did come from Glovers loanee Benjani Jr 

 Sherborne beat Cowes Sports FC 4-2, Aidan Skiverton was named on the bench, no evidence as to if he came off the bench though… there is evidence though that Charlie Bateson did.

He came on in the 66th minute against Nailsea and Tickenham. The Mallet won 3-1, Bateson nearly added a fourth in the dying stages.

Welton Rovers put out a rather young side against Falmouth and were beaten resoundingly 6-0. Max Dyer, Mason Alden and Jacob Shore all started.

Gillingham won 1-0 against Chedder too, Harrison Foster started with Jack Bareham, Harry Lock and Josh Haskett all named on the bench… I assume at least one of them got on to the pitch, but the Social Media coverage of the game is somewhat lacking. 

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Matt Worthington echoed the sentiment of his manager following the 1-1 draw at St Albans City this afternoon, assured supporters that the Glovers would turn it around this Tuesday.

Speaking BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins, the skipper said the side were kicking themselves: “We had quite a few chances and we come in after half time, quite disappointed that we haven’t took the chances. [When] you come away from home, you don’t take the chances [it] always becomes a tough game. So yeah, we kick ourselves a little bit because yeah, like you said it should be out of sight in the first half.

“Fair play to them. They brought the game to us, but I thought I thought we defended really well. We just gave the ball away a few too many times. I think cheaply, which gave them a bit of a foothold in the game. It’s unlike us. We’ll turn around Tuesday.

Skipper Matt Worthington
Picture courtesy of Gary Brown.

On the disappointing start to the second half, he said: “We’ve looked at training this week to start the second-half fast and be better than what we have done. And again today, we sort of started a bit slow. So yeah, we’re disappointed, but we’re going to brush shelves off and go again Tuesday.”

Such at the high standards this season, anything but victory is disappointing, but Worthington seemed to tolerate a point: “I always said that’s it’s a sign of a good team. If you’re not playing well, you still end up getting points on the board. We had spells, we played really well and we should have been out in the first half, should have been three of four but it wasn’t. We didn’t lose the game. We got a point on the board and yeah, we’ve got to get all three on Tuesday.”

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Yeovil Town boss Mark Cooper bemoaned his side’s profligacy in front of goal after the Glovers wasted a hatful of chances in the 1-1 draw with St Albans this afternoon.

Jordan Young’s first half strike was cancelled out Mitchell Weiss in the second half, and after the match Cooper revealed that reinforcements will arrive on Monday following long term injuries to Rhys Murphy and Jake Hyde.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Sheridan Robins, Cooper said: “I thought we played brilliantly in the first half and should have been out of sight, in my opinion. We had some unbelievable chances. Jordan Young (was) clean through a couple of times, he has to score or he has to roll the ball across Frank to tap it in. I mean, when you have that many clear cut chances, you have to finish the game off. And you’ve seen recently games where teams have so many chances and you don’t put the opposition to bed.

“You always give them a chance to come back at you and we conceded a rubbish goal right after halftime and we give them encouragement. By us missing those chances, it gives St. Albans a real lift and I think we’re still in the game, where usually we kill them. You can’t miss that many really good chances.

“The overriding thought is that we should be at least three up at half time…”

“We said for us the start of the second-half is where we have to be better. Statistically, we’ve not been great at the start of the second-half. It’s something we need to look at whether we come out earlier for, I don’t know what it is. But, you know the players have to have a bit more devilment about them to either finish the game off early in the second-half. Or make sure we don’t concede. But in context it’s another unbeaten game. It’s a point. The overriding thought is that we should be at least three up at half time,” he added.

Yeovil Town celebrate Jordan Young’s opener.

Michael Smith limped off in the second half and Cooper confirmed the fullback would miss the visit of Slough on Tuesday with a hamstring injury. On Hyde and Murphy, he said: “They’re both out for the foreseeable future. They’re both had scans and they’ve got injuries that will be long term rather than short term.

“No moaning from us. We’ve got enough quality players to Young, Pearson, Nouble, to finish those those chances. We will, with those two centre forwards out, we will bring one in. We’ve already agreed a deal for a player to come in on Monday to join us until the end of the season.”

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A game of two halves saw Yeovil Town held to a draw against an impressive St Albans City side in an entertaining encounter at Clarence Park.

The visitors had the upper hand in the first half and deservedly went ahead through Jordan Young after 19 minutes, before the forward had two great chances to double the advantage including one which came off the post.

But, St Albans, who lost manager David Noble on the eve of the game as he joined National League Premier side Wealdstone, rallied after the break and levelled early through Mitchell Weiss.

The Glovers rode their luck as the home side pressed for a winner and were indebted to goalkeeper Joe Day on a couple of occasions as they held on for a draw.

Here’s Dave’s view from his position in the away end…..

 

First half

The first opening fell the visitors way after five minutes when Sonny Blu Lo-Everton picked out Frank Nouble on the left of the box, but the striker opted to fire across the face of goal rather than on target. No-one was there to get a telling touch.

Thereafter the game lived up to its billing as a battle of two footballing sides. Free-flowing attacking play was on display with the Glovers enjoying the better of it, but they were unable to carve another opening. 
 
It took until the 17th minute for a hosts’ keeper Michael Johnson to be called in to action. A flick on by Nouble set Pearson free and his effort was well turned aside by the keeper.
 
Two minutes later Pearson was at the heart of the attack which gave Yeovil the opener. The former Bristol City man broke free and squared it to Jordan YOUNG who smashed the visitors in to a deserved lead.
 
Yeovil Town celebrate Jordan Young’s opener.
 
But just three minutes later the hosts’ top scorer, former Glover Shaun Jeffers, had a a gilt-edged chance to level the scores. Midfielder George Hoddle laid the ball off to him and his effort was goal-bound, but Michael Smith was patrolling the line to clear the danger.
 
On 26 minutes, a great jinking run from Young in to the box saw him lash a shot against the post, and on the half-hour mark Jack James saw an effort well stopped by Joe Day.
 
With six minutes of the first half remaining, Young had another glorious opportunity to double the lead. He took advantage of a loose back pass but lifted his shot over the bar with Nouble steaming in to the middle of the box.
 
The visitors could legitimately have expected to go in further ahead at the break, but with St Albans having some good opportunities of their own a 1-0 advantage at half-time felt about right.

Half time:  St Albans City 0 Yeovil Town 1

Second half

Within two minutes of the restart the home side were level. A ball to the back post was met by Mitchell WEISS who steered it past the helpless Day.

The bright start continued to with St Albans in the ascendency for the opening ten minutes of the second half without creating much in the way of clear-cut opportunities. 

A block from Jake Wannell to deny Zane Banton around the hour mark was as close as it came, whilst the attacking style which brought them success in the first half abandoned Yeovil who struggled to deal with the rampant Saints.

On 62 minutes, Smith hooked a ball which seemed certain to go out for a goal kick over the stranded Johnson but it was over the head of Nouble as well.

St Albans keeper Michael Johnson claims a ball from a Yeovil cross.

St Albans continued to look the more likely to score as they continued to press, but Young had another great opportunity on 73 minutes. He dribbled his way forward and in to the box, but took too long to pull the trigger and the chance disappeared.

With 12 minutes remaining, Mark Cooper introduced Dylan Morgan in place of Lo-Everton, and worryingly soon after Michael Smith limped off with what looked like a hamstring strain. He was replaced by Jay Foulston.

The Saints continued their relentless pressure and on 84 minutes the ball pinballed around inside the box. With a crowd of bodies blocking the view from the away end it was a hard one to follow, but I was most pleased to see the falling frame of Day drop on the ball.

On 86 minutes, another goalmouth scramble saw the keeper drop again on the line. Some goal service apps adjudged the ball to have crossed the line, fortunately the assistant did not.

Will Dawes was thrown on in place of Young as Yeovil looked to find a different way through, but it was to no avail.

On the strength of a strong first half, this could have been considered two points dropped but St Albans deserved a share of the spoils for their second half performance.

Full time: St Albans City 1 Yeovil Town 1 

 

Match Details

Venue: Clarence Park
Date: Saturday 27th January – 3pm

Competition: National League South

Pitch: Rutted in the penalty areas but otherwise in good nick
Conditions: Dry and cool

Attendance: 2,813 (470 away supporters)

Scorers: Jordan Young 19 (1-0), Mitchell Weiss 47 (1-1)

Bookings: 
Yeovil Town: Jake Wannell 55, Matt Worthington 80, Michael Smith 82
St Albans City: Ryan Blackman 32

Yeovil Town (4-5-1)

Substitutes: Dylan Morgan (for Sonny Blu Lo-Everton, 78), Jay Foulston (for Michael Smith, 82), Will Dawes (for Jordan Young, 85).