February 2024 (Page 6)

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Jake Wannell scored two for the Glovers in the 4-2 win against Tonbridge Angels, and the defender said he felt confident attacking set pieces after working on hard on it training this week.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Ian Randall, Wannell was “100%” claiming the first: “It was on target and just took a little nick off the defender and luckily went in.[I’m] claiming it. I’ve got a target in mind that I’m close to. How many games that left now? 15 games? I need a couple more and I’m happy.

“Every time we had a set piece, I was confident today. Sometimes you get a feeling when going up for a corner or a free kick that you’ve got the better of your man and luckily today I did.

“We’ve been working on it [set pieces] this week. We feel like we haven’t been having a lot of joy with our set pieces as of late. So this week we regrouped, switched up our runs, started a little bit deeper and different kind of technique of a cross coming in and it’s it paid dividends there,” he said.

Yeovil started strong, scoring two early goals and despite an uncharacteristic error from Michael Smith, the Glovers rode out a tricky spell until half time.

“We actually started the game the best we probably started in a long time, so the goal came at a difficult time for us. Smithy, he’s been unbelievable for us, so it’s so out of character, but I thought we dealt with it well and got to half time, discussed what we could do better in the second-half and I feel like we dealt with that.”

With no fixture until Havant & Waterlooville next weekend, Wannell said he and his teammates would regroup ahead of Saturday, and that he’s not looking too far ahead. 

“It’s called the business end in football terms, but we’re not looking too far ahead. We’re just trying to tick off every game as it comes and that’s it.”

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Mark Cooper interviewed after Yeovil Town's 4-2 win at Tonbridge Angels

Mark Cooper interviewed after Yeovil Town's 4-2 win at Tonbridge Angels

Mark Cooper praised his ‘magnificent’ players as Yeovil bounced back from defeat at Maidstone last weekend to beat Tonbridge Angels 4-2 this afternoon.

The gaffer said the performance was ‘brilliant’ for the first 20 minutes and that the fitness of his side told towards the end. Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Ian Randall he said: “We we’re brilliant for 20 minutes. 2-0 up, everything we worked on, the way that we kept the ball, and they were a really aggressive pressing team, but we took that out of their game. The only problem was we gave them a really poor goal which gave them some encouragement and became difficult for us. It’s an error that gives them all the encouragement and momentum, I think, to get to half time 2-0 it’s a difficult one for them.

“These things happen. We have to keep going and just make sure we get the three points and the boys kept going and you saw the power at the end and the fitness, we had five players sprinting to get on the end of that ball, but Worthy decided to take it himself.”

Jake Wannell scored two from corners and Cooper revealed the assistant Chris Todd had spent some time working on set pieces in training.

“We’ve not scored for a few weeks. Toddy did a lot of work yesterday with that delivery, like your little stand up onto the six yard box for Wans to attack and it worked a treat today. Wans has been struggling with a stiff neck, but it didn’t stop heading the ball today, that’s for sure.”

Michael Smith returned to the starting line up after missing two matches through injury but with Charlie Cooper missing, Alex Whittle only lasting a half due to illness and now Olly Thomas out for month, Cooper said he would continue to adapt rather than add to his squad.

“You can’t keep signing players. I hear some managers moan. Injuries we can moan about; we’ve lost Coops, Hydey, Murphy, Michael Smith, Whittle. You can moan, but that’s what you build your squad for. We’ve got Olly Thomas, now injured for a month. Nothing to do with us. He got injured playing for Bristol City Under 21s on Monday night at Sunderland. We brought him in to replace Murph and Hyde, so that one’s gone, but as a coach you have to adapt. You can’t have everything, you know. And I don’t want to keep going to the chairman, he’s been fantastic, and asking him for more money.”

“I’ll be happy if I get that team on the pitch next Saturday. We’re happy. We could probably go and sign another player or two, but I don’t wanna upset the group. They are a magnificent group and I just wanna keep them together and give the boys that we’ve got opportunities,” he said.

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Yeovil Town maintained a 10 point lead at the top of National League South with a 4-2 win at Tonbridge Angels.

First half goals from Jordan Young and Jake Wannell saw the Glovers go in 2-1 up at half time before Wannell and Worthington scored in the second to clinch a valuable three points.

Coatesie travelled to Kent and here’s how he saw the win…

(Thanks to Deb Curtis for the videos)

First half

The breakthrough came after 11 minutes and it was all about Dylan Morgan. A superb run showing great strength to shrug off a number of challenges before playing in Jordan YOUNG who emphatically finished.

Four minutes later, it was Sam Pearson’s turn to be creator, picking up a long throw from Joe Day. He tried to find Dylan Morgan but Angels keeper Jonathan Henly got there first.

Morgan was in the thick of it again soon after, this time almost finding Pearson inside the box but his effort went out for a corner. From the resulting flag kick Jake WANNELL rose highest and his header came off a Tonbridge defender to wrong foot Henly to make it 2-0 with 17 minutes gone.

But two minutes later the home side got one back. A mix-up in the Yeovil defence and Nathan ODOKONYERO lashed it in to the net. That led to a period of good pressure from Tonbridge with rain falling on the artificial surface which the hosts did better to control.

The best opportunity fell to Paris Lock who twisted and turned on the edge of the box but dragged his effort wide on the half-hour mark, and on 32 minutes Sean Shields hit a venomous shot which fizzed just past the post.

It was definitely advantage Tonbridge and there were a few more hairy moments inside the Yeovil penalty area whilst at the other end neither Pearson, Nouble or Morgan could make it stick up front.

With two minutes of normal time remaining, Scott Wagstaff put in a cross to the far post, Michael Smith was the coolest man on the pitch as his clearing header went over the bar. But it was a move that started from Pearson getting shrugged off the ball too easily, a point his manager let him know.

A strong opening 20 minutes, the final 25 minutes was definitely shakier from a Yeovil perspective.

Half time: Tonbridge Angels 1 Yeovil Town 2

Second half

At half-time, Jay Foulston replaced Alex Whittle who slotted in at left back where winger Paris Lock had been causing problems.

A quiet opening 10 minutes threatened to spring in to life on 56 minutes when Young was fouled on the edge of the box. But he lifted his effort over the bar.

If there was any doubt about whether the second goal belonged to WANNELL, there was no question about the third. A corner from the right was met by a thunderous header from the centre half after 65 minutes.

Immediately after the goal, Morgan was withdrawn and replaced by Stevens, making his first appearance after a lengthy period on the sidelines through injury.

Stevens was involved in a threatening move, released by Sonny Blu Lo-Everton and he pulled a ball across the face of goal.

There was a slightly worrying moment when Stevens went down after what looked a like a heavy landing on the solid, sodden surface.

With eight minutes remaining, Alex Fisher replaced Pearson, but it was Tonbridge who were pushing forward more.

Then with a minute to go the home side made it a nervy finish. A ball bouncing around inside the box and Kodi LYONS-FOSTER drilled one home to make it 3-2.

Five minutes of injury time added on and it was enough to put hearts firmly in mouths in the away end with even goalkeeper Jonathan Henly going up for a corner.

But the home side’s attacking intent ended up their undoing as Yeovil broke late with Matt WORTHINGTON and slotted under the oncoming keeper to settle it.

Full time: Tonbridge Angels 2 Yeovil Town 4

Match Details

Venue: Longmead Stadium
Date: Saturday 10th February – 3pm

Competition: National League South

Pitch: Plastic, but I’ve seen worse plastic
Conditions: Rained hard at the end of the first half

Attendance: 1386

Scorers: 
Young, Wannell (x2), Worthington
Odonkonyero, Lyons-Foster

Bookings: 
Yeovil Town: Stevens 82, Smith 88.
Tonbridge Angels:

Referee:  Steven Hughes

Yeovil Town (4-2-3-1)

Substitutes: Will Dawes, Alex Fisher (for Pearson 81), Jordan Stevens (for Morgan 67), Josh Owers, Jay Foulston (for Whittle 46)

Tonbridge Angels: Henly, Fielding, Lyons-Foster, Higgs, Odonkonyero, Lock (for Gard), Dabre (for Greenidge), Meade, Wagstaff (Mampolo), Shields, Sutcliffe Substitutes (not used): Velvick, Vincent

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Michael Smith returns to the line up today for Yeovil Town’s visit to Tonbridge Angels.

Charlie Cooper is still absent with injury and BBC Somerset’s Ian Randall said that Olly Thomas picked up an injury playing for Bristol City U21s 1-0 defeat to Sunderland U21s on Monday.

 

 

 

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Yeovil Town are on their travels again this weekend as they go up against Tonbridge Angels in the league.

The Glovers will be fired up to win this match after coming off a 2-1 loss to Maidstone a week ago. That game was the Somerset’s side fourth defeat of the season and will be dismissed in what has so far been a glittering season for them.

Yeovil Town after Maidstone United defeat

The Angels form is similar to that of a lot of Yeovil’s opponents this season, very patchy, but they are coming off of a 2-0 win vs Chippenham. The Kent side currently sit 11th in the table 22 points behind the Glovers.

Yeovil Town Team News

Manager Mark Cooper was in a complimentary mood when speaking about Tonbridge ahead of the game. He said: “[They’re] Very energetic, they press very full on and aggressive, which I like. I would think they have limited resources but what they do, they do very well.”

Cooper was very cautious on who was available and who wasn’t, only saying ‘we may have a couple back for Saturday”.

The former Swindon boss seem too worried about the loss to Maidstone. He said: “It happens, we’re allowed to lose a game, we are human. We just didn’t turn up for 15 or 20 minutes and never recovered from it, but we move on.”

Dylan Morgan shared how the squad reacted to Saturdays loss. He said: “We have looked at it both ways, obviously you never want to lose a game of football especially when you’re doing well. 

Picture Courtesy of Gary Brown

“But taking the positive’s out of it, we lose now it gives everyone a kick to get on another run, so that’s what will try and do.”

Michael Smith and Charlie Cooper are the concerns for the Glovers ahead of Saturday. Whilst Jordan Young and Frank Nouble are still at risk of suspension with both a yellow card away from suspension.

Tonbridge Angels Team News

Angels boss Jay Saunders hopes his side can build on their previous fixture on Saturday. He said: “They’re coming of a defeat last week and we come into after winning, so hopefully we can build on that performance and it’ll be good test for us.”

Saunders isn’t worried by it being a big fixture as he feels “every game is big at this stage of the season” and also hopes the fans “can get behind us”.

The Angels will be boosted by the loan signing of Ethan Sutcliffe from AFC Wimbledon for the rest of the season. Injury wise Goalkeeper Nat Gibbs is touch and go after getting a head injury against Gillingham B, Tariq Hinds misses out due to suspension.

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Ian, Ben and Dave return for your Friday dose of the Gloverscast. We talk Jamie Sendles-White’s departure, look ahead to Tonbridge and take your GCQs!

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Leave us a review and share the pod with a pal.

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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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Yeovil Town manager Mark Cooper says he is hopeful that some of his injured players may return for this weekend’s trip to Tonbridge Angels.

The Glovers were without influential right-back Michael Smith and midfielder Charlie Cooper as they went down to a 2-1 defeat, their first since the end of November, at Maidstone United last weekend.

He also confirmed that strikers Rhys Murphy and Jake Hyde would be missing for “months rather than weeks” and defender Jamie Sendles-White, who has not featured since suffering an Achilles injury at the end of September, left the club by mutual consent on Thursday evening.

Speaking on Thursday afternoon, the boss said: “We have got some bumps and bruises. We have done really well up until now and we have had a spell where we have picked up some key injuries and we are trying to get them back as quick as we can. We might have a couple back for Saturday.

“Murph and Hydey, you are talking months rather than weeks, so we are not looking at them playing any significant part for the forseeable future. But that is football, we are not a club like some that moan about injuries. All I know if that whoever comes in to the team will be trying their socks off to do a job for the squad.”

Rhys Murphy has been missing since picking up a hamstring injury last month.
Picture courtesy of Gary Brown

Cooper was also asked about midfielder Scott Pollock, who arrived last March under the ‘stewardship’ of SU Glovers during the period they were attempting to complete a takeover at Huish Park last year, but has not featured this season.

The former Northampton Town man revealed he had undergone an operation in November.

The manager said: “He had an operation nearly 13 weeks ago which I think everyone thought he would be fit and ready to play by now but he’s apparently not fit yet, so that is frustrating for him.”

Asked when the 22-year-old could be available, the boss said: “God knows! He’s been here for 13 months and he’s not been fit in that time, so how long is a piece of string. I would think a player of his age would want to play football, so I imagine it would frustrating for Scott.”

The Glovers make a trip to Kent for the second time in as many weeks on Saturday to face a Tonbridge side sat in 11th place in the National League South table. They picked up a 2-0 home win over Chippenham Town last weekend and have only been beaten four teams at their Longmead Stadium home.

The club play on a “FIFA Quality Pro 3G artificial playing surface” which was installed at the start of last season and Cooper reiterated his dislike for the inconsistent quality of non-grass pitches, laying the blame squarely at the door of the National League.

He said: “I do not like them, I think it’s a totally different game. At National League level, I don’t think it should be allowed, but I get why it is. We have to play on them and we will make no excuses.

“I do not understand the National League as an organisation, how have they allowed that to happen? Unless the league says that a club’s pitch has to be of a certain standard, as teams which ground-share with rugby teams have to have, then you know you are going to have issues.”

Taunton Town’s Wordsworth Drive pitch at the end of last weekend’s match with Truro. You don’t need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows.

In the division, Truro City, who Yeovil are due to travel to in a yet to be rescheduled fixture following a postponement last month, announced they will ground-share with Taunton Town until the end of the season.

The Cornish outfit had been ground-sharing with Southern League Plymouth Parkway, whose Bolitho Park surface is not famed for its quality, and appear to have swapped one problem for another by opting for Wordsworth Drive, which has suffered numerous postponements due to waterlogging this season.

Cooper believes that teams still scheduled to travel to face Truro should be given the option to host games.

He said: “It doesn’t come as any surprise. Plymouth Parkway’s pitch always seems to be a problem and the National League still let it happen, so I do not blame Truro, I blame the National League for letting it happen.

“If we have a game cancelled, we have to fit it in within so many days and, if we don’t, everyone at the National League is screaming. But our game at Truro is cancelled and we are told ‘there’s no rush to fit it in, we are not even looking at the date yet’ because that suits the National League.

“Credibility-wise, it is not a good look, but I understand why Truro are doing it because they still have 13 home games left this season in what will be nine weeks after their game on Saturday is called off at Taunton.

“So it is just a bit of a shambles for me. The teams that still have to play Truro away should be offered the opportunity to play them at home, if they can get that game on.”

If you wondered whether Cooper was making a prediction about the viability of Truro’s first match in Somerset’s county town against Eastbourne Borough this weekend, the game (as of 6pm on Thursday night) is subject to a pitch inspection on at 8am on Friday. Roll out the ‘pretends to be surprised’ memes.

 

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Dylan Morgan has said that he’s settled in well at Huish Park and he’s set himself a 10-goal target for the season.

Speaking to BBC Somerset’s Jack Killah he said that having some familiar faces at the club has helped him hit the ground running.

“It’s been brilliant, this is the environment you want to be in and I’m just happy to be here, I’m taking every day as it comes, the lads have been brilliant and I’m just happy to be honest.”

Having made the move across from Taunton, he’s travelled a well trodden path with both Jake Wannell and Jay Foulston also making the move from Wordsworth Drive.

“I knew it would take a couple week to get my body back into the flow of things – I’ve been full time before, so I knew how it would affect me – but it takes a couple of weeks, but I’ve got my body there, I’m used to it, I’ve been taking care of myself off the pitch as well, because you’ve got to… i’m good to go”

“It makes it easier coming into the team when there’s people there that you already know, they’ve been a great help, got their arm around me early doors and it’s a great bunch to be a part of”

Picture Courtesy of Gary Brown

Going into this weekend’s game, the winger was happy to admit that defeat against Maidstone wasn’t enjoyable, but that it was full focus going forward to Tonbridge.

“You never want to lose a game of football, but if you take the positives out of it, lose now, it kicks everyone to go on another big run, so that’s what we are going to try and do”

“As far as 3G [pitches] go, I think there’s is the best, I’ve been there a couple of times with Taunton before and it’s a nice surface, so we’ll be able to do what we do, there’s no excuses from us, we’ll get there, it’s the same for everyone on the day, we’ve just got to be better.”

“I’ve been there a couple of times, I’ve been quite lucky to beat them, I think, every time I’ve played them [Ed: three wins and a draw, actually, Dylan, but we don’t mind] , they’re a good club, they do things right, they try and play, so we have just got to go there and get the job done”

“I already love the club, I just want to do the best I can every time I play”

“We’ve got good characters in the team, they’re not to going to let anyone not turn up on the day, they’re going to make sure everyone’s at it early doors, we’re going to go there and try and do what we do, and we know if we turn up and do what we do best, we’ll have too much for them”

With the season’s end on the horizon, Morgan said that there was always going to be pressure as league leaders, but the group as a whole was prepared for that, and he himself wants to make sure he’s as much of an influence as possible.

“Every team we play against are going to bring their best game, when you’re almost a bigger club in this league and doing well, everyone wants to beat you. 

Everyone is going to.bring an extra 10% with them, and we’ve just got to deal with that, which we have, the lads have done it all season, which is taking that pressure and thriving off it.”

“I came here on five goals, now I’m on six, I want to end the season on ten, I said that at the start of the season, so that’s my personal target, it contributes to the team and any contribution I have to the team is important to me, I already love the club, I just want to do the best I can every time I play.”

Here’s to goal number seven at the weekend then, Dylan!

 

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Yeovil Town and defender Jamie Sendles-White have parted ways by mutual consent, the club have announced.

The defender, who joined in late May having left National League South rivals Welling United at the end of last season, has not featured since he played and scored in a 3-2 win at Weston-super-Mare in early September.

He suffered an Achilles tendon injury in that match and underwent an operation in October when he said he was hopeful of returning to fitness. He was an unused substitute in the 3-1 win over Slough Town last month.

In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account following the announcement, the 29-year-old said: “It’s a shame that it hasn’t worked out like we would have all wanted. Thank you to @YTFC and the fans who have all been amazing to me!! Go and finish the job boys. I am looking forward to a new challenge wherever that takes me.”

The club said they had reached a “mutual agreement to terminate his contract“, adding: “Due to limited playing opportunities, it has been agreed that Jamie Sendles-White’s contract be terminated by mutual agreement.”

All the best, JS-W

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On this episode of the Glovers Past, Ian and Dave speak to former Yeovil defender Kevan Brown who spent a couple of seasons at Huish Park in the late ’90s.

Photo courtesy of Mike West

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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